How secure is it to access my email over the Internet?

Accessing your Hosted Exchange account at Nirix is very secure. All access is encrypted via HTTPS and Secure SSL 128-bit bank grade encryption. In addition, access to your email requires your user name and password, which you should always keep in a safe place.

Can I have an alias for my mailbox? If so, how many?

Yes, multiple aliases can be used to attach to a single mailbox. Each mailbox is granted up to a maximum of 3 email aliases. For example, if you are a small business and require multiple email addresses such as "Sales", "Info", or "Support", you can attach all three addresses to a single email box.

Which smartphones will the Nirix Hosted Exchange service work for with full synchronization over the air?

Nirix's Hosted Exchange platform is based on the Microsoft Exchange 2007 platform. Currently all Windows mobile Smartphones running Microsoft Windows Mobile OS version 5.1 and above are supported. Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS are also supported. If you require BlackBerry support for your mobile email, Nirix's Hosted Exchange can also provide full BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) support. All three platforms provide full over-the-air (OTA) syncing of your email in real time.

Where is my email hosted?

All of Nirix's hosting services are delivered from and stored in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. No data is ever stored, copied, or backed up outside of Canada.

Is my email backed up, and if so, how?

Emails are backed up nightly with encryption as an extra security precaution to our ultra resilient SAN and tapes for offsite storage.

What version of Microsoft Outlook is provided?

Depending on your preference, you can choose to have Microsoft Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Outlook 2007.

Am I able to share my calendars and contacts with other people in my organization?

Some of the biggest benefits to Nirix's Hosted Exchange service are the collaboration capabilities such as shared calendars, the ability to book shared resource rooms or equipment, having a centralized corporate directory that you can share with your sales team, or managing and assigning tasks -- all from within Microsoft Outlook.

Will other companies using the Hosted Exchange service be able to see or have access to my emails?

Security is of the utmost importance to us as a service provider. Therefore, we have taken many security precautions to ensure that your data is safe and that no one can get unauthrorized access to your information. All of your data is stored in a CICA 5970 certified data center facility and our knowledgeable support team operates under strict standard operating procedures to ensure your data is safe and secure.

What are the technical requirements for my company to be able to use the Hosted Exchange email service?

To start getting the benefits of Hosted Exchange, all you really need is an Internet connection and a PC. If you don't already have a personalized email domain (e.g. www.yourdomain.com), we can help you secure a domain to your liking and get it all set up for you so you don't have to worry about the technical details. We will also provide you a free copy of Microsoft Outlook 2003 or 2007 and you can get started right away!

Does Hosted Exchange come with any anti-virus or anti-spam filters or capabilities?

Spam is generally a big problem for everyone who uses email. However Nirix's Hosted Exchange service has anti-spam and anti-virus systems in place to minimize the amount of spam that you receive. All emails go through at least two anti-spam/anti-virus scanning engines that have frequently updated protection rules.

What is the difference between POP3, IMAP, MAPI, and RPC over HTTPS?

All the acronyms above are really just technical protocols that define how your email client (typically Microsoft Outlook) will communicate with our Hosted Exchange servers when receiving emails.

POP3 is the most basic method of how your email client communicates with our Hosted Exchange servers to get email. If you configure your email client to use POP3 to download emails from our servers, all emails will be downloaded locally to your PC or laptop and the copy on the server will be deleted. This is a quick way to get your email and to save them locally; however, if you ever get your laptop or desktop stolen or it crashes, we will not be able to recover your emails.

IMAP takes your email client to the next level and allows you to download your emails locally but still keep a copy of your emails on the server. However, you must manually manage two sets of email inboxes (one on your local machine, and another set on the server). While this may be a slight improvement this is not an easy way to ensure your two sets of emails are the same.

MAPI is Microsoft's standard email client communications language between the email client and the email server running Microsoft Exchange. This is the recommended and preferred method to configure your email client to get emails using the Nirix Hosted Exchange service. There is no need to "manually" manage your email inbox, as there is always only one central copy. This way you always have a clear picture of which emails are current and which have been filed.

RPC over HTTPS is a special method of connectivity configured for those road warriors that require remote email access but like to have the full Microsoft Outlook experience as the email client. RPC over HTTPS can be configured on your Microsoft Outlook client for a secure encrypted connection to Nirix's Hosted Exchange service. The beauty of this connection type is that you no longer have to deal with configuring cumbersome VPN connections or deal with SSL VPN login issues. Once you are connected to the Internet from your desktop or laptop, simply click the Microsoft Outlook icon as if you were in the office! That's it!

What is BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES)?

BES stands for BlackBerry Enterprise Server and these BES services provide full BlackBerry sync capabilities including the ability to synchronize calendars, contacts, emails, and much more to your phone while you are on the road with your BlackBerry. Some of the advantages of BES services and why you may want to subscribe to BES services include the full synchronization services as well as being able to centrally manage your email. With other types of email sync technologies you can end up trying to manage multiple "sets" of emails and it can become very cumbersome and confusing. With BES services, your email is consistent and you see the same set of emails across your mobile BlackBerry and your desktop or laptop.

Will I be able to access Hosted Exchange on a Mac/Apple computer?

Yes, you will be able to use the Nirix Hosted Exchange service if you own or operate a Macintosh desktop or laptop. The Microsoft Exchange platform will support Microsoft Entourage as an Exchange client. Email can also be accessed via any standard based browser on a Mac. Supported browsers for Outlook Web Access (OWA) include Firefox, Safari and the Opera browser.