Mason Hymas | On 19, Mar 2013

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 is a messaging platform that offers email, scheduling, and the tools for messaging service and custom collaboration applications.

Exchange Server 2013 provides a rich set of technologies, features and services to the Exchange Server product line.

 

So, what’s new in Exchange Server 2013?

 

The new features and functionalities include:

 

Session Indifference: In Exchange 2013, the client access and mailbox components reside on the same Mailbox server and no session affinity is required at the Client Access servers. This allows inbound connections to Client Access servers to be balanced using the techniques provided by load balancing technology such as round-robin and least connection.

 

Unified Messaging: Unified Messaging in Exchange 2013 contains essentially the same voice mail features included in Exchange 2010. Certain new and enhanced features have also been added to the existing features. Exchange 2013 integrates with SharePoint 2013 to allow users to collaborate more effectively. OAuth authentication lets partner applications to authenticate as a service.

 

Anti-malware protection: The implicit malware filtering capability of Exchange 2013 helps protect your network from malicious software spreading through email messages. If malware is detected, the message is deleted. Notifications can also be sent to administrators when an infected message is deleted and not delivered.

 

Batch mailbox moves: This new move architecture is built on top of MRS (mailbox replication service) moves with advanced management capability. The features include:

 

• Ability to move multiple mailboxes in large batches.
• Email notification during move with reporting.
• Automatic retry and prioritization of moves.
• Periodic incremental syncs to migrate the changes.

 

Automatic recovery from storage failures: In addition to the Exchange 2010 bug check behavior, Exchange 2013 includes additional recovery behavior for long I/O times and excessive memory consumption.

 

Support for multiple databases per disk: Exchange 2013 includes enhancements that enable you to support multiple databases on the same disk.

 

Automatic reseed: This helps you to quickly restore database redundancy after disk failure. If a disk fails, the database copy stored on that disk is copied from the active database copy to a spare disk on the same server.

 

Managed Store: The newly rewritten Information Store processes in Exchange 2013 is known as Managed Store. This new Managed Store is written in C# and tightly integrated with the Microsoft Exchange Replication service to provide higher availability.

 

Who can use Exchange Server 2013?

The goal of Exchange 2013 is to support people and organizations as their work habits evolve from a communication hub to a collaboration hub. You can get business class email, calendar and contacts delivered on your PC, phone and browser. With a simplified approach to high availability and disaster recovery, you can achieve new levels of reliability and reduce complexity, while protecting sensitive information.

 

If you are using Exchange 2010 and if your needs increase beyond those covered by this version, then you should upgrade to Exchange 2013. For instance, if you wish to have DLP then you’re supposed to upgrade.

Features	Exchange 2010	Exchange 2013
Simplified administration: Using a single web-based interface with the Exchange Administration Center for all Exchange services, both on-premises and online.	Partially supported	Fully Supported
Managed availability: An integrated, high availability solution monitors and manages service availability end-to-end across all roles and services.	Partially supported	Fully Supported
Outlook Web App: Get web based email that supports access from smartphones, tablets, and browsers.	Partially supported	Fully Supported
Manage inbox overload: Navigating email more easily with conversation view, avoiding undelivered or misdirected email with MailTips, declutter email with inline compose and reply.	Partially supported	Fully Supported
Manage eDiscovery: Using a single interface to search your Exchange mailboxes, SharePoint sites and Lync conversations.	Partially supported	Fully Supported
Touch-optimized: Get an email experience that is designed for either touch or mouse control.	Not Supported	Fully Supported
Support for apps: Effortlessly write apps for Outlook and Outlook Web App with web technologies and then control and deploy them from within Exchange.	Not Supported	Fully Supported
SharePoint integration: Get access to project information from SharePoint and Exchange, all from within Outlook, using site mailboxes.	Not Supported	Fully Supported
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Using implicit DLP rules to identify, monitor and protect sensitive data and inform users about policy violations before emails are sent.	Not Supported	Fully Supported

Hence, Exchange Server 2013 can actually help lower the total cost of ownership whether you deploy it on-premises or provision your mailboxes in the cloud.