Windows Server Essentials Experience Overview
Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
This topic applies to a server running Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, or to a server running Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter with the Windows Server Essentials Experience role installed.
The Windows Server Essentials Experience role is available in Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter. When you install the Windows Server Essentials Experience role, you can take advantage of all the features that are available to you in Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials without the locks and limits enforced in it. The Windows Server Essentials Experience role enables you to:
Protect your server and client data by backing up your server and all the client computers within your network.
Manage your users and groups through the simplified server Dashboard. In addition, integration with Windows Azure Active Directory enables easy data access for Microsoft online services users (for example, Office 365, Exchange Online, and SharePoint Online users) through their domain credentials.
Store your company’s data in a centralized location.
Integrate your server with Microsoft online services, such as Office 365, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Windows Intune.
Integration with Office 365 enables you to synchronize and manage Office 365 user accounts and access through the Dashboard.
Integration with SharePoint Online enables you to create and manage SharePoint libraries through the Dashboard.
Use the Anywhere Access functionalities on the server (such as Remote Web Access and virtual private networks) to access your server, network computers, and data from remote locations in a highly secure manner.
Access data from any location and on any device by using the company’s customized web portal (through Remote Web Access).
Manage mobile devices that access company emails by using Office 365 through Active Sync from the Dashboard.
Monitor network health and obtain customized health reports. The reports can be created on demand, customized, and sent by email to specified recipients.
For more information about Windows Server Essentials Experience, see the following topics: