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Exchange Hosting vs. SharePoint Hosting
SharePoint
and Exchange are products of the same corporation, so it is natural that the two have similar features. The two are distinctly different, however, with entirely different purposes. As a result, there are similarities and differences in Exchange hosting and SharePoint
hosting that you need to be aware of when deciding the best one for you.
Deployment
Both SharePoint
hosting and Exchange hosting boast rapid deployment capabilities. In the case of SharePoint
, there are templates and forms that can be used "out-of-the-box," or they can be easily modified, using Office programs, to suit the needs of any business or organization. In the case of Exchange, it takes only minutes to have the entire messaging and collaboration environment fully operational. For a dedicated hosting platform, Exchange hosting providers may need a few days to have everything fully functional.
Accessibility
SharePoint
and Exchange hosting are both highly accessible to users. SharePoint
sites are accessible through a password-protected site. That site can be accessed from any internet connection in the world, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. While Exchange is also accessible any time, anywhere, it requires Outlook, Outlook Web Access, or an internet-based email client for access. In addition, all of the functions of Exchange are only available with the use of Outlook or Outlook Web Access. Exchange does offer the ability, though, to synchronize mobile devices to allow access through the device if the user is away from the computer.
Control
SharePoint and Exchange both offer a great deal of control to users and administrators.
For the individual user, SharePoint hosting offers control of their workspace. Users can create sites and site templates, and can personalize their view by moving, resizing or changing Web Parts. Additionally, SharePoint offers document authors the ability to control how their documents are distributed and used by others.
Exchange hosting offers similar control to individual users. Users can take advantage of rights management for documents that not only set the rules for how the document is distributed and used, but also allows for an expiration date for the rules or the document itself. Exchange users can also set up and track their own calendars and task lists.
For administrators, SharePoint
hosting allows for monitoring and moderating usage of sites, as well as setting restrictions on which users can access various areas. Administrators can manage unused sites, including deleting inactive sites or those which site owners have not confirmed. Similarly, Exchange hosting comes with a management console that controls every component in Exchange setup. Administrators can restrict access, create organizational calendars for all users, and create task lists for individuals and groups.
Features
Because of the difference in overall purpose, SharePoint and Exchange hosting offer a different range of features.
SharePoint is easy to use for most users because it is fully compatible with Office applications that are familiar to most users. These applications enable users to add members and contacts, assign tasks and edit documents. For those without installed Office applications, documents can be read using SharePoint viewers.
SharePoint also makes it easy for users to quickly find needed information with a built-in search feature. The search feature enables users to search specified lists or to search the entire site, including document libraries and contacts. Documents are automatically coded with latest version numbers, and documents can be stored and organized using the document libraries. This allows users to spend time working on projects rather than wading through paperwork.
Exchange hosting offers more of a focus on security and data preservation. Exchange is equipped with anti-spam and virus scanning features, and is set up to allow for blocking senders or attachments. In addition, with Exchange hosting, message data is backed up on a regular basis, safely preserving messages and collaborative documents.
Both hosting options offer communication and collaboration tools that are essential to any business. For collaboration efforts, SharePoint offers built-in lists, photo libraries, and document libraries, while Exchange offers the ability to send project-specific emails, create task lists for groups and teams, discussion groups and folders that allow all or selected users to access various documents. SharePoint offers the ability to communicate with email or messaging, in both audio and video, and discussion boards for users. Exchange offers discussion boards and email messaging as communication options.
The essential difference between SharePoint hosting and Exchange hosting is the desired outcome. SharePoint hosting is geared toward businesses and organizations who want to offer a virtual collaboration areas, uniting team members without time or location restrictions. Exchange hosting is geared more toward businesses who desire messaging and collaboration capabilities, but who cannot afford the expense of hosting their own exchange.
Both Exchange hosting and SharePoint hosting offer a wide range of benefits and services at a relatively low price. Benefits and features of the two programs are very similar, with the primary difference being the main purpose of the hosting service. While either service can be a valuable asset to any business, you should evaluate your business needs and choose the service most suited to those needs.