DirectPointe releases enterprise networking solution for small businesses 23 January, 2007 By Vanessa Ho

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Available now, the Small Office Solution provides all of the core server and networking hardware, software and support services a small business needs for a consistent, monthly fee. Pricing is tiered based on the number of users and starts at introductory price of $250 per month for up to five users.

As well, the solution can scale to accommodate growth by adding more users or additional applications with support for up to 50 users per location.

"Small business owners generally don't want to worry about how much storage they have or how their backup system works. They just want to know that their e-mail and data are available to them 24/7," said Michael Proper, DirectPointe CEO in a statement.

Some of the network components that Small Office Solutions encompasses include such things as VPN and firewall management, content filtration, intrusion detection and prevention, wireless access and bandwidth management. On the server side, components include everything for file management, print, messaging, FTP, proxy, LDAP, local backup, Web and database.

"Right now there is a lot of complexity around setting up an environment," said Proper. "You need to have Internet that is solid and available if you want VPN users. You need to have firewall that will work with the router and a router that works with the ISP proxy that works with the server. You also need back-up systems and processes for local back-up. You need to have a person that can orchestrate and make sure the pieces of this environment are correctly built," he added.

Proper said that the DirectPointe Small Office Solution simplifies information technology for small businesses by fully integrating their server and network components into a single plug-and-play server.

For channel partners, the benefit of Small Office Solution is that it is scalable.

"It is a simplified way for them to install an environment and give them a recurring revenue stream to be able to add value where they are strong," Proper said.

In June, the company will be announcing a channel program that will help and support DirectPointe's channel partners with any questions they may have during implementation and management of the Small Office Solution for end-users. Currently, DirectPointe will be supporting and managing the solution on behalf of customers until the channel program is launched.

Vince Londini, research analyst with Info-Tech Research Group, said that DirectPointe's Small Office Solution definitely meets a demand for workgroup servers.

"Workgroup/branch-office servers are a growing field. Lots of small businesses don't have the in-house IT skills to do it themselves, but need or want the technological benefits of remote access, centralized storage and easier backup," said Londini.

Because of the complexity in setting workgroup servers up, the analyst sees value in organizations using DirectPointe's solution. Looking at the cost justification, Londini calculated that at a monthly fee of $250 (for up to five users) to $750 (for up to 50 users) is a better deal than paying someone $50,000 a year to manage an in-house solution.

However, he did question if DirectPointe's offering was competitive or if customers can get something similar cheaper and locally.

"Customers need to shop around," Londini advised.

However, an advantage that DirectPointe has over its local competitors, Londini said, is that the company has a network operations center that offers 24/7 support, redundant power and back-up that many local companies may not have.