Online messaging services are becoming cheaper and easier to implement for companies that want to move their email to the cloud and keep employees connected when working on the move
Amazon Web Services (AWS) market access email busiest early 2015 with cloud-based Workmail -
another expansion of its growing portfolio of software and professional services - before expanding to the region the EU in early 2016.
With Workmail, users can access their account through Microsoft Outlook, a native application in the Web browser, or through iOS and Android messaging applications.
But with a series of cloud messaging services already established available, AWS can compete with the likes of Microsoft and Google?
AWS Workmail: Features
Workmail is keen to promote its integrated security features, which are in line with those of most of AWS services. Encryption key is managed by the AWS Management Service and all the data is encrypted automatically "resting", using their own encryption keys. The data traffic is encrypted with SSL industry standard.
There is an easy to use option to decide which area you want your data stored in, contributing to latency and compliance issues.
These assurances have not stopped some commentators expressing concern about Amazon manage its data for e-commerce, or if asked to give law enforcement communications. This is of particular concern that the proposed powers of investigation of the bill in Parliament this year.
In comparison, Gmail offers similar guarantees encryption, some certificates of compliance and administration tools for verification and access control. Outlook offers unique level of compliance and corporate security functions such as encryption levels E3 and E5 company and Microsoft does not automatically encrypts emails.
Workmail is mobile optimized, with system administrators with the ability to enforce device encryption requires locking devices, specify password strength requirements, and wipe devices remotely using the AWS Management Console.
AWS Workmail: Web client
The Web client itself is very similar to that of rivals Gmail and Outlook.
The look and feel is very simple, with regular input tray, outbox, sent items, and deleted the list on the left side of the page. Workmail as Gmail more feature-rich in this regard, including the central system folders to organize your inbox and tabs for calendar and contacts from Outlook.
Workmail integrates naturally with WorkDocs too, so that teams can collaborate on documents much like Google Drive and Microsoft SharePoint. There is also a built-in calendar function that is in line with rival services.
AWS Workmail: Getting Started
AWS Workmail opened its application for European users through its region of Ireland in January.
Mail domain for your company must be registered with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Once registered, log on to the console and make sure to change your region Ireland in the upper right corner (we automatically gave Oregon) Workmail and select the tab or section enterprise application services.
You can create a new organization and personalized email domain in the cloud, or to connect to webmail service with your local phone book for existing users to access the platform.
Setup takes about 20 minutes (I am now the proud owner of the email user@scarey.awsapps.com domain) if you are starting from scratch and does not migrate an existing directory. Mailboxes are encrypted with the default key service your account. Later, you can manage your organization by adding mail domains, users, groups and resources, and mobile device policies.
AWS Workmail: Price
Amazon Workmail is the cheapest of the three main options at a price of $ 4 (£ 2.80) per user per month, which includes 50 GB of storage per user. This can be delivered with WorkDocs added by $ 1 per user per month.
Gmail applications have only two price levels, at £ 3.30 per user per month, and the premium of £ 6.60. Offers 30GB of storage base, meetings HD video through Hangouts, and 24/7 support beams in Google Docs, and slides. Prime comes with unlimited data storage and advanced management controls.
Outlook comes as part of a subscription to Office 365, which has six levels, which are detailed in this distribution, with essentials £ 3.10 per user per month.
AWS Workmail: Competition
Microsoft Outlook offers cloud-based mobile devices and an online version of your inbox via Office 365 logon applications. Yahoo and Gmail have options for corporate users of consumer products will be familiar messaging.
In fact, most users are willing to use email application on your phone by connecting to these mailboxes as Apple Mail. Android users generally use Gmail on Android pre-loaded application. This means new messaging platform faces an uphill battle to win new customers.
Dropbox acts as a warning to companies trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to an email. The company acquired document storage and collaboration pursuant popular mailbox for about $ 100 million in 2013, but the company has killed just two years later.
In his excellent article on the subject of The Verge Casey Newton said. "The market for productivity applications consumers, which has led companies like Dropbox and Evernote for multibillion valuations, proved to be a mirage Companies are increasingly more willing to buy the software for their employees time, people are often reluctant to buy the software for themselves and for all you have done well, the mailbox has never been more than an alternative user interface. other corporate mail servers. There was a lot of intelligence in it, but no money. "
AWS Workmail: Verdict
AWS Workmail not expect to change the way you use email. In essence, this is another mail server that will take over a striking resemblance to a popular service used in the past. It is easy to configure and manage, and the Web client is practical without seeking anything innovative in terms of functionality and design.
If your company is already using AWS services may be useful to configure your mail domain through Workmail for convenience.
However, if you already use Gmail or Outlook not rush me to migrate.
