Getting a small-business network up and running can be a daunting task. Choosing the proper components, both hardware and software can be a big pain, but there's some good news.

Microsoft's Windows Small Business Server 2003 offers everything a small business needs to get connected to the Internet, establish email, share files and printers, send and receive faxes, and so on.

The product was designed with your small business needs in mind. It has good installation and deployment tools, simple and elegant management capabilities, excellent backup and restore tools, and strong security-related functionality.

Still, this is fairly complex stuff for many small business owners. Installation requires a solid understanding of networking, protocols, and security settings. If you lack in-house expertise, you're definitely going to want to hire a consultant to help install Windows Small Business Server 2003.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 delivers a complete business server solution for small businesses with up to 75 workstations and is available in two editions: standard and premium.

• Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard is the ideal small business solution for increasing employee productivity through core end to end information worker scenarios, in a secure easy to manage system. Standard Edition is ideal for those customers who do not require the high-level of functionality provided by the Premium Edition.
• Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition is ideal for those small businesses with more demanding IT needs, such as data-intensive line-of-business applications. It is built on Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 technology, and adds SQL Server 2000 together with Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server.

With Windows Small Business Server 2003, you can have confidence that your data is secure, untap new productivity from your desktops, empower your employees to do more, and connect to your customers like never before.

In a world where small businesses must increasingly do more with less, Windows Small Business Server is a good investment. The feature set is incredibly robust, and as your business grows, you can simply tap into the features you need when you need them.