SBS2011 replacement with only standard ADSL internet (10mbs)??

[GM2]

We're a small business and have been running SBS2011 for a few years now on what was a fairly over spec'd Dell server (from their 'outlet' and a bargain!).

Most of the time about 7 or 8 users, plus a couple of 'consultants' who have email accounts they access remotely.

We also hold just over 1TB of data, typical office docs etc, but mostly a lot of photographs of buildings and bits of buildings!

SBS is obviously past it's 'best before' date (and strictly it's 'use by' date too!). So we need to replace it with something. The obvious option for exchange/email would seem to be O365. But, due to a twist of fate, and although we're close to the centre of a major city (Birmingham), we can currently only get a fairly poor ADSL internet connection at max 10 mbs download and 1 mbs upload. Frustrating as there is a fibre cabinet 50m away - but out lines run straight to the exchange, which was apparently better when they were installed a few decades ago!

We're working on trying to get a fibre connection (ideally FTTP), but realistically, it could be anything from 6 to 24+ months away.

SBS has been great for us over the years (we were on SBS2003 before). But I'm really not sure what our best option is now - especially when 'working from home' is now with us and likely to be for a while.

Options / thoughts / suggestions / solutions greatly appreciated!

 

[GM2]

Thanks all for your responses.

O365 certainly seem to be the best option for email going forwards.

We've been trying to get sense on a faster connection for a number of years - the really frustrating thing is that there's a fibre enabled cabinet so close! A leased line may be an option.

For remote access to data, at least short term while we have more home workers than usual, I'm considering some sort of manual back up to an off-site NAS drive (at a location with decent internet). Not ideal and always slightly out of date, but 99% of the time, would be fine.

And probably a small server on site for file, print, back-up, domain controller, active directory etc.

 

[GM2]

If a FTTP cab is close, then see if FFTPoD is available and/or what leased line options. Plus more bandwidth would alleviate a lot of headaches and open up a few other possible solutions.

Close but Openreach won't connect us to it - at least no-one I've been able to speak to at OR. All comes back to us being connected directly to the exchange. I'm trying to get beyond the 'computer says no' people at OR, to see if someone can authorise a new

Other than file (/network storage), do you need the other services?

File - yes. Print - yes. Back-up - somewhere! Others, not sure?

Document I would transfer to OneDrive or a Teams site (synced with OneDrive)

We produce reports which can have 100-200 photos fairly regularly. Trying to put those together with a 10/1 mbs down/up wouldn't be fun!

So any other suggestions or thoughts appreciated.