How to Use a Hosted Cloud Email Platform

When your business migrates to a hosted cloud email platform, the user experience will be very similar to using an in-house infrastructure only with a few enhancements and new procedures. Hosted email allows you to increase productivity while reducing costs associated with maintaining an in-house infrastructure.

Hosted cloud email is also commonly referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS). This type of service provides you with access to the latest applications in business class email without being required to purchase the necessary infrastructure and maintain it on the premises. Instead, you pay a monthly subscription fee while the hosted email provider worries about maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure. You can also access the email service from any location that provides a connection to the Internet.

Using a Hosted Email Platform

A hosted cloud email platform can be customized to meet individual needs. This means that the setup for a hosted email service may vary according to the requirements of each company. That said, here are a few basics on some of the common ways you can use a hosted cloud email solution and some of the services which can be included in this type of infrastructure.

First, we should mention that once a hosted cloud email platform has been installed and configured it provides the end user with access to a broad range of email services some of which include:

• Business Class Web Mail: This application is typically delivered through Outlook Web Access or similar application and provides you with a way to access your email from any location that has Internet connectivity regardless of whether the location has Outlook Web Access installed on the system. A web mail service also is capable of supporting a broad range of applications such as PowerPoint slides, Word documents, Excel files and much more.
• Shared Access: By using a hosted cloud email platform you have shared access to a broad range of services which can include public folders, task lists which help team members with collaboration on specific tasks, calendars which help workgroups to collaborate on meeting dates and schedules, and workgroup space that allows for project collaboration, to name a few services.
• Synchronization: Hosted cloud email services also allow for the synchronization of important business applications such as contact lists, email, and calendars to ensure continuous access from any location or device and to prevent loss of information.

There are also customized services which can be added according to the requirements of your organization. When you use a hosted email service it functions similar to an email platform that is maintained in-house except the hosted solutions provider monitors and maintains the infrastructure from a remote location.

Hosted email platforms also ensure business continuity since the end user focuses on using the applications while the email solutions provider takes care of patch management, security, maintenance, updates, and monitoring to guarantee the system does not crash.

Scalability

When you implement a hosted cloud email platform, you can begin with a minimal investment if necessary and then add services as your business grows. This reduces costs of implementing an infrastructure that may sit idle until you are ready for expansion and allows for a ‘pay as you go’ type of configuration.

When you are ready to expand your email services applications can be added from a central control panel. There is no need to install costly hardware or server space to accommodate the additional services.

If you are looking to reduce costs while improving productivity and flexibility for your organization, contact Thrive Networks today to discuss your requirements with one of our hosted cloud email experts.