Organizations requiring such capabilities often employ various networked servers (for large enterprises) or one server with combined functionalities (for smaller companies). For large enterprises the operating costs and investments of IT resources often represent a smaller percentage of turnover/profits than in the case of smaller companies. Hence smaller businesses with limited Financial and Human resources have to consider several factors when selecting a server platform. These factors include Simplicity, Functionality, Reliability, Security and Affordability, the latter being of greater significance given the present economic climate.

Server platforms are divided into proprietary and Open Source systems each one with their pros and cons. Proprietary systems represent greater market capitalization are often associated with high costs as each application has its own license cost also subject to the number of users accessing that application and although less complex still requires skilled personnel to implement and maintain it. Also developers of proprietary systems design their products to work well within its own family of offerings to “chain” users to that specific technology platform.

Open Source systems on the other hand are low cost or virtually no cost in terms of software licensing, secure, reliable but are highly complex requiring very skilled and highly scarce personnel to implement and maintain it. In actual fact the true benefactors of Open Source Systems are large enterprises able to attract the skilled professionals and lower their licensing expenditure. A case of the rich saving more money and the not so rich having little or no choice at all.

Recognizing this great divide, AVP (SEA) began looking for a solution and chanced upon IPBrick a web based Business logic solution designed to act as a simple yet functional intermediary between a user and an Open Source server platform. An IPBrick system installs in 15 minutes or less with core services/applications running out of the box and the rest easily enabled.

IPBrick can perform multiples sever roles such as a Domain Name Server (DNS), Email, VoIP, Proxy, File, VPN and more. Smaller organizations can start with a single IPBrick to run all the various services and add additional IPBrick servers to segregate the various services as number of users and business requirements grow.  The three main components of IPBrick include the .I module that handles Intranet Services (email, messaging, collaboration), .C for Communications Services (Web Server, Proxy, VPN) and .GT (IP PBX, Fax, VoIP).

By using Open source technologies to its advantage, IPBrick does not require Client Access License (CALs) making it a highly cost effective solution. The compatibility with standard hardware platforms and incorporation of Open standard applications ensures that the solution does not need specialized cutting edge hardware for most implementations and easily interoperable with other technologies. Eliminating network revamps and passing on equipment plus energy savings to the customer.  What’s more, IPBrick’s intuitive web-logic interface eliminates complex system commands and allows configurations plus data to be easily backed up and restored. Its elementary approach reduces the number of expert personnel required guaranteeing constant availability of administrators capable of optimally maintaining IPBrick systems.

Overall IPBrick successfully leverages on the best of both Proprietary and Open Source worlds to deliver core IT services to businesses with peace of mind. IPBrick is distributed in South East Asia by AVP (SEA) Sdn Bhd, Technology Business Review 2008 Award Winner for Best IT Security Application. Click here to know more about IPBrick