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Dean Della Pella - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Consultant at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Consultant
Top 10
Offers great reliability and good mobile access features
Pros and Cons
  • "Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
  • "There can be occasional challenges during the product's implementation phase, making it an area where improvements are needed."

What needs improvement?

There can be occasional challenges during the product's implementation phase, making it an area where improvements are needed.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Exchange for twenty years. I am an end user of the product.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten. The product rarely has issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Exchange
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Exchange. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
853,831 professionals have used our research since 2012.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's technical support was very good. I rate the technical support a nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have experience with Office 365 and SharePoint.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the product's initial setup phase a five out of ten since it can be a challenging process.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Compared to the other options in the market, the licensing costs attached to Microsoft Exchange seem reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

In my company, the product takes care of email communications as it handles all the emails and scheduling emails. Within the tool, the calendars are used extensively by our company and its customers.

The tool has improved the areas revolving around calendars and scheduling tasks since it has helped in the unification of everyone working in the company under the same system.

The most beneficial features of email management stem from the tool's ability to let its users combine the tasks and the calendar while also being able to organize emails.

The security and compliance features have impacted our organization, and it has been extremely helpful since such functionalities are needed for compliance purposes. For the customers and my company, being secure and having control of the handling of emails is extremely important.

The integration capabilities do not have a direct impact on the email portion of the product, but it does have the ability to set up meetings with the help of Microsoft Teams.

The mobile access feature provided by the product helps our company in the area of productivity.

I recommend the product to others who plan to use it. Based on the features and functionalities of the product, it would be beneficial to rule for any company where it is chosen.

The product offers good functionalities and reliability.

I rate the overall a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
Benjamin Mpolokoso - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager ICT at NJIT
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
An affordable and stable solution that helps users access their company emails outside the organization
Pros and Cons
  • "The product works very well."
  • "The default storage capacity is too small."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for email, calendar, and integration into Zoom.

What is most valuable?

The product works very well. Being able to access email outside the organization is a very good feature. It is very easy to set up.

What needs improvement?

The default storage capacity is too small. Though the mailbox size is one terabyte on the cloud, the default mailbox size can be increased for on-premise products.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The tool is very stable. I rate the stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The tool is very scalable. It is easy to add additional servers and users. I rate the scalability a nine out of ten. It is very difficult to migrate the server. If a primary Exchange server needs to be moved, it is not very easy. The service has to be shut down completely before it can be moved.

If there were a way to move it in real-time while email is still running, I would give it a ten. However, at the moment, we have to shut down the server and migrate or scale it to bigger capacity servers or the cloud. About 100 people in my organization are using the product. It is extensively used in my organization. As the organization grows, we will increase the usage.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used a webmail service that comes with Plesk for Linux servers.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is moderately easy. It is neither easy nor difficult. It does require Active Directory to be set up properly. Setting it up is not difficult. It takes two days to set up an Exchange server.

What about the implementation team?

We deployed the solution in-house. We need a manager, a systems engineer, and two developers to deploy the solution.

What was our ROI?

We have seen very good returns on investment. The solution is almost free. We just worry about Microsoft 365 licenses, and then Microsoft handles the deployment in the cloud. Once we set up the cloud domain, the cost is almost zero.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing is integrated with Microsoft 365. Licensing is becoming easier. We can get Exchange in the cloud along with the Microsoft 365 license. We don't have to worry so much about Exchange licenses in the future. It would be deployed in the cloud.

What other advice do I have?

The tool is very stable and easy to set up. However, we need Microsoft-certified engineers to manage it. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Exchange
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Exchange. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
853,831 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Anna Virtsan - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Project Manager at UkrSibbank
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Efficiently manages alert policies and has a valuable mail flow management feature
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup was straightforward and fast."
  • "The product or service could be improved in terms of Microsoft Outlook client compatibility."

What is most valuable?

The features I find most beneficial for my work are primarily centered around mail flow management. Mail flow rules, tracing, and the ability to set up rules and generate reports within the Mailflow section are particularly useful. Additionally, the convenience of connectors to other third-party systems and the ability to manage alert policies proves beneficial.

What needs improvement?

The product or service could be improved in terms of Microsoft Outlook client compatibility. The transition from old versions of Outlook clients to newer ones would enhance administration and maintenance processes, particularly switching to the web version.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Microsoft Exchange for four and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the product's stability a nine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 4500 Microsoft Exchange users in our organization. We plan to increase the number of users up to 5000. It is a scalable platform. I rate the scalability a ten out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

We encountered significant challenges with response times and communication. In one instance, we had to escalate two tickets to the regional manager due to the lack of response from Microsoft engineers. It took two months to receive a resolution.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward and fast, taking only a few days. This swift migration to the cloud within days was particularly notable for a bank, demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of the deployment process.

What other advice do I have?

We recently transitioned from on-premises Exchange servers to cloud Exchange, primarily for enhanced security and ease of management. In the past, we had shared mailboxes with multiple users who were accessing them simultaneously, posing security risks and management challenges. With the switch to cloud Exchange, we adopted shared mailboxes with individual user access, providing better security and accountability. This transition also streamlined our operations and reduced maintenance costs. While we still maintain a hybrid environment with Azure Active Directory, all our mailboxes are now on cloud Exchange.

It has indeed improved our email system. In the past, with on-premises Exchange servers, there was a higher risk associated with granting extensive access to Exchange admins, potentially exposing sensitive data. However, while transitioning to a cloud Exchange admin center may offer less flexibility for admins, it provides a more organized and structured approach. The preset scenarios and settings reduce the likelihood of incidents caused by manual admin actions, thereby lowering the personal impact on the overall system.

The calendar and scheduling functionality of Microsoft Exchange has been essential to my daily workflow. As a user and a manager, I rely heavily on the calendar feature to organize my tasks and appointments. I utilize color-coding for different types of events, set up repeated meetings efficiently, and sync my calendar with other planning tools seamlessly. Overall, it has had a very positive impact on my productivity and activity management. The flexibility and plethora of features, such as customizable settings for meetings and the ability to share calendars, add groups, and specify user permissions, make it an indispensable tool in my work routine.

Compared to other platforms like Google Workspace, it provides seamless connectivity between Teams, Outlook, Exchange, and other Microsoft products. Additionally, recent updates have improved connectivity between tools like Planner and Projects, allowing seamless task management across the platform.

I rate it an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
IT manager at GCT
Real User
Very stable with an easy-to-use email management system
Pros and Cons
  • "The email management system is very easy to set up, configure, and use."
  • "The setup is difficult so could be easier."

What is our primary use case?

Our company uses the solution as our server. We have 20 to 30 users who collaborate across the solution. We prefer the solution on our web servers for committee users. 

What is most valuable?

The email management system is very easy to set up, configure, and use. 

The integration and features are very good. 

What needs improvement?

Creating an email for one user on a different domain takes time. 

The setup is difficult so could be easier. 

Our version of the solution is legacy so is no longer supported. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for fifteen years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable but you need to keep updating it. 

The solution's old version is discontinued with no support. 

How was the initial setup?

The setup is difficult because it requires specialists to create domains and activities. 

What about the implementation team?

We implemented the solution in-house. It was difficult and might have taken a day or more. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is expensive to maintain because it requires frequent updates and ongoing server maintenance. 

The 365 email only costs around $8 per month, per user. 

For all 365 applications, the cost is $12 per month, per user. For comparison, Google Workplace costs $8 per month, per user for all applications. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We are looking to other providers like Google Workspace because the solution is legacy and no longer supported. It is also very expensive to maintain. 

We are deciding if we should upgrade our server and version or move to a different server and product.  

What other advice do I have?

The solution is a very, very stable product so I recommend its use if your budget can handle it. 

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
NileshRade - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Engineering at Hexure
Real User
Top 20
Effective communication tools with a good exchange server and good scalability
Pros and Cons
  • "With the cloud coming in, scalability is not an issue even for Microsoft."
  • "I do not have any notes for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I use Microsoft Exchange as our mail server. Google is free, so I use it for my personal use, and for our office, we have the 365 option.

What is most valuable?

I use Exchange Server for email. That's why I am using Outlook for Exchange email. 

What needs improvement?

I do not have any notes for improvement.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I face some issues. No system is perfect, so I do face issues. They fix it and then get going.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

With the cloud coming in, scalability is not an issue even for Microsoft. They probably will be able to scale up and scale down as and where it's required. Scalability probably is not proper.

How are customer service and support?

I contact my technical support team, and they probably might be able to troubleshoot it on their own. If not, they'll take a ticket. I have a technical support team, the help desk, who will try to resolve it.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

For my personal use, I am using Google Gmail, and I am okay with it.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I am satisfied with the product. I am used to it, and it's all good. From my experience, I would rate the product stability eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
GeorgeTzifas - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Operating Officer at Anyrobotics RPA Experts
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Provides easy exchange of files, documents, and simple setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The deployment is a plug-and-play process."
  • "I don't have the best impression of customer service and support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human. T"

What is our primary use case?

We use it to share information and collaborate with each other, even when we're working remotely. 

We exchange files and documents, and we also use it to store recordings and other information from meetings with our customers. 

What is most valuable?


What needs improvement?

There are some bad days or hard ways when it's tough to connect with people who don't have MS Teams products. But this is only a hard situation when we need to communicate with people outside MS Teams.

So the connectivity could be improved.

Another area of improvement is the sharing of files, the sharing part of Teams. How I can easily share information files or video files with the colleagues I'm working with? So, this is an area for valuable improvement.

Another area of improvement is support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for the last five years. We use the latest version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability a seven out of ten. There are hard days. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is very easy to scale. Just add on licensing and keep working the same way.

There are around eight end users in our company. It's suitable for our current level. We're a small company, so it's quite okay.

How are customer service and support?

I don't have the best impression of customer service and support. It should be faster and more clear, and more human. The support team deep dives into thousands of documentation pages, making problem-solving time-consuming without human interaction.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward. It just took a minute. It is very easy. 

What about the implementation team?

The deployment is a plug-and-play process. You simply need to access the administrator platform, set up the configurations easily, and share enrollment links with people. It's a very easy process.

The deployment was done in-house. However, you need an IT-oriented person, an IT manager with knowledge of Microsoft.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The license can be both monthly or yearly. It is not expensive.

What other advice do I have?

It's a useful tool for remote work and communication. Start slow and educate yourself. Learn about the solution and give it a try.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

PeerSpot user
Fritz Richard-Quiras - PeerSpot reviewer
DevOps Platform Engineer at Trend Micro
Real User
Top 20
Organizing tasks effectively with seamless integration and good compatibility
Pros and Cons
  • "The most used feature of Microsoft Exchange is the email capability, especially since it integrates with the calendar."
  • "The filtering of spam needs significant improvement, as many spam emails are not getting detected."

What is our primary use case?

I use Microsoft Exchange more for organizing tasks than as an email client. We have integrated Exchange with Teams for organization and communication.

What is most valuable?

The most used feature of Microsoft Exchange is the email capability, especially since it integrates with the calendar. We integrate Exchange with Teams, and the single sign-on feature is very helpful. I use Exchange to organize tasks with implemented rules, and its integration with Teams enhances our organizational abilities.

What needs improvement?

The filtering of spam needs significant improvement, as many spam emails are not getting detected. Exchange should provide higher security and better spam filtering.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Exchange for more than ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution has faced performance issues, especially lagging, in recent updates.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is not a major issue, as it's easy to scale up and provide Exchange access to new users.

How are customer service and support?

I do not need to contact Microsoft directly as the IT department handles any support interactions for us.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Microsoft Exchange is straightforward. It requires simply having a user and password to initiate, and a lot of the process is automated.

What was our ROI?

Microsoft Exchange saves time by allowing users to send emails or set schedules instead of making calls or holding meetings.

What other advice do I have?

I can recommend using Microsoft Exchange as it is a functional product, but users should be aware of cybersecurity issues and potential spam. It is important for users to be cautious when opening or forwarding emails. My total rating for Microsoft Exchange is eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
reviewer2126463 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 20
Needs to offer better support services but is beneficial for managing emails
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool's most valuable feature is associated with the fact that it stands out for being beneficial for managing emails."
  • "At the end of the day, the biggest area for improvement is having better and more knowledgeable support technicians."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution in my company because it is an email system, and it can be hard to get by without one. I also use the tool for different companies and offer support for it. As a consultant, I support it for many different organizations. I use the tool across a whole bunch of different industries, so there are too many to name.

What is most valuable?

The tool's most valuable feature is associated with the fact that it stands out for being beneficial for managing emails.

What needs improvement?

At the end of the day, the biggest area for improvement is having better and more knowledgeable support technicians. Anytime I have to call in with issues about Microsoft Exchange, I know more about it than the consultants or some other people to whom Microsoft pays to offer support for the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Microsoft Exchange since it came into existence. I used to work at Microsoft, so I have been familiar with Microsoft Exchange when it was Microsoft BPOS. My company has a partnership with Microsoft.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I am a small business person, so the tool's scalability is just fine.

The tool is meant for small businesses.

How are customer service and support?

I rate the technical support a zero out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Negative

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I don't see any differences between Microsoft Exchange and some other email applications I have used. Microsoft Exchange is just a tool. The biggest I see in Microsoft Exchange is that it is much easier to access it through multiple platforms.

What was our ROI?

There is no ROI from the use of the tool in my company. It is a required piece of tool for business. I can have a functionality-related discussion about the tool that I need to run the business. The tool's ROI discussion is kind of moot for me.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution's pricing is fine. There are not many options out there, so it is not fair to rate the tool's pricing on a scale of one to ten. I do think the tool offers value for money.

What other advice do I have?

The security and compliance features impacted our organization to a minimal extent because we use third-party products for most of such stuff.

Speaking about the tool's integration capabilities with other software, I would say that they vary a lot, so some things are good, while some areas are challenging.

I utilize the mobile access features of the tool all the time.

Speaking about the tool's productivity, I would say it is the number one email platform in the world. The product works just fine. It does what I need it to do. The only time I get frustrated is when it breaks down or doesn't do things the way it is supposed to and when the support people are unable to assist me.

As I support Microsoft Exchange for many people, I can recommend it to others.

When the tool is working just fine, it is a great product. When it breaks and I cannot get it working the way it is supposed to, it is bad.

I rate the tool a five out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Exchange Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Exchange Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.