Sembee - UK Microsoft Exchange Consultants

UK Based Microsoft Exchange Specialist

 

 

Microsoft MVP Logo

Simon Butler
Microsoft Server System
Exchange

Original award 2005
Renewed 2006, 2007,
2008 and 2009

 

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) Logo

 

Microsoft Exchange consultancy from MS Exchange MVP Simon Butler.

Who We Are

Sembee Ltd (pronounced S M B) is the consultancy company for Simon Butler, a current holder of the the prestigious Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for Microsoft Exchange, one of less than 150 in the world and a dozen in the UK.

While specialising in Microsoft Exchange, with a background in network administration, I often get involved in general network admin work as well, as this can be required before Exchange can be deployed or is the cause of problems with the Exchange installation.

I provide support both directly to businesses as well as to IT support companies across the UK using remote control technologies such as Remote Desktop and Log Me In Rescue. From my base in Fleet, Hampshire, I can provide most support services remotely across the UK, and on site visits within a 90 minute travelling time.

Sembee Ltd was established in 2003 as Amset IT Solutions Ltd., changing its name on 1st April 2009 to match the key username of its principle consultant - Simon Butler, aka Sembee.


About Me

I am a Microsoft Exchange MVP, originally awarded in 2005 and have been renewed each year. My skills and knowledge are on the internet.
You can find me posting on a number of forums, such as Petri.co.il, msexchange.org and Experts Exchange, where I post under the name of Sembee and more recently on Experts Exchange as Mestha. (Mestha is an Egyptian god, as was Amset). I have been in IT for over for over 14 years, specialising in Microsoft Exchange for the last five.
I have contributed to books on Exchange, presented on the subject, as well as blogged and written technical articles on the product.

I blog, which you will find here: http://blog.sembee.co.uk/
I have also written extensive technical articles which you can find here:  http://www.amset.info/ That web site receives over 100,000 visits a month. 


What I Do

I can provide the full scope of Exchange services, except for emergency support.

Some of the most popular requests include:

  • Configuration of a specific feature, or troubleshooting an issue that is not causing a server down status
  • Installation and migration of new, additional or replacement servers - both full Exchange product and Small Business Server
  • Deployment of mobile solutions, such as Blackberry BES/BPS, Windows Mobile etc
  • Review of existing server deployments.
  • Clean Ups of Exchange and SBS Servers that have had little or no maintenance

As my background is in network administration, I can also carry out the full range of network administration tasks for Microsoft Windows based network, including the deployment of an Active Directory domain for your company (which is required for Microsoft Exchange). Once the server has been deployed, I can then offer you monitoring and ongoing maintenance.

All servers and services are deployed to Microsoft's best practises, so that internal IT support or your own support company can take over the on going maintenance.

Got a Blackberry? Got SBS? Forwarding Email? You need a BES/BPS.

If you have a Blackberry user on your SBS server then you are probably simply forwarding the email to their device. What you really need is a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES). The entry level version of BES - Professional Edition - is free for the first device and installation directly on the SBS server is supported. Additional devices can be added by buying more CALs. An SBS will give you full synchronisation with the mailbox over the air. I can install and configure it for you remotely in a few hours.


What I Do for IT Support Companies

If you are an IT support company then my skills are available to you, allowing you to have a top level Exchange consultant to assist with your clients. All I ask is that you tell me what you have told your client, particularly if I need to communicate with them directly. Some clients tell them I am an independent Exchange specialist, others prefer to tell them the consultant is a member of their own staff. I don't mind either way, as long as I know.

A common service I provide is bringing Small Business Servers up to date with the installation of service packs and updates, and deployment of BES.

Arrangements with other IT support companies are set on an individual basis. Many client companies operate on the basis of a pre-purchase of a specific number of hours, which are then used as required. As I bill in 30 minute increments for remote work, this makes it very cost effective for you.
While there is time outstanding on the pre-purchased amount, basic email support is free.

Special Offer for IT Support Companies: Purchase 5 hours in advance and get another 30 minutes free.

For larger jobs, I will usually quote for that specific work. In some cases the complete deployment of the servers and network for a particular client is handed over to me on behalf of the IT Support company and then once the job is complete they take on the ongoing support.


How I Do It

There are a number of ways that assistance can be provided with you Exchange project.

  • On Site Visits
    These are restricted to within 90 minutes drive of my base in Fleet Hampshire, or within 20 minutes of the M25.
  • Remote Control - Log Me In Rescue
    Log Me In Rescue allows you to see what I am doing, without having to give out any usernames or passwords, change firewalls etc. Once the session is over, I cannot access the server again.
  • Remote Control - RDP - Remote Desktop
    RDP is built in to Windows 2003 and higher and is therefore a popular choice, particularly with my IT Support clients.

VPN
I don't tend to use VPN if possible due to the network security risks on both sides.

Other remote access solutions

If you have an existing remote access solution, such as Log Me In Free (popular with IT Support companies) then I can use that as well.


Technologies Supported

I can assist you with

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000
  • Microsoft Exchange 2003
  • Microsoft Exchange 2007
  • Microsoft Exchange 2010
  • Small Business Server (SBS) 2000
  • Small Business Server (SBS) 2003
  • Small Business Server (SBS) 2008
  • Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) (Including Express, Small Business, Professional and Enterprise editions)
  • Windows Mobile deployment /  Exchange Active Sync
  • SSL Certificate implementation

I can also assist with migrations off Exchange 5.5, but I am unable to support that product beyond migrations.


What It Costs

Remote Control of your server is £50 per half hour, charged in half hour blocks. In many cases I find that the problem is resolved within the first 30 minutes. However if I think it is a more complex problem then I am quite happy to quote for the work instead. Please note that I may require advance payment of at least the first 30 minutes before work begins. This is due to some companies deciding that they will not pay my invoices.

On site visits start at £300 for half a day, however this is location dependant. If you are close to our base in Fleet, Hampshire, then I can also charge on a per hour basis.

For specific tasks, such as server deployment, migrations etc, then I can usually quote for the work in advance at a fixed price.

All pricing is based on 7 day terms or advance payment and is excluding VAT. Work is carried out subject to standard terms and conditions.


What I Do Not Do

For many reasons, there are some things that I am unable to do

  • Provide emergency technical support for server down situations.
    This is not a service that I offer, simply because availability cannot be guaranteed. If your server is down, call Microsoft, pay their fee. The earlier in the incident that you do that, the better the chance of a successful recovery.
  • Email support for non-clients.
    If you have a question then please post it on a forum or email list as I will be unable to help you directly. If you are based in the UK and would like to be able to send email queries to me, then please contact me below to setup a contract to do so. 
  • Work for anyone outside of the UK.
    For insurance and legal reasons I am unable to accept work for anyone outside of the UK or where the billing address is not within the UK. The server must physically be located in the UK. 

Why should you hire me to work on your Exchange server?

You have read about who I am and what I can do for you, so why should you hire me?
First and foremost - I know what I am doing. You do not clock up 2 million points in less than three months on Experts Exchange (at least 1000 questions answered as the maximum points earned per question is 2000) if you do not know your product.

It can be more cost effective to bring in someone like me to resolve minor issues or setup a feature or even a new server because it will be done correctly. I have a very high success rate, to the best of my knowledge every Exchange server I have built is still in production (except where it has been upgraded). I have even been asked to upgrade my own work on more than one occasion.

My activities in the Exchange community expose me to a lot more problems and resolutions than many other consultants. However I will not say I know everything, but through community contacts if I don't know then I will probably know the right person to ask.

In short, I can most likely enhance your deployment of Exchange allowing you to make the best of your investment in the product.


Contact

If you would like to speak to me about your Microsoft Exchange project, or are an IT Support company looking to improve your support of Microsoft Exchange, please contact me to find out how I can help you.

Phone: 08456 442 669

Email: contact @ sembee.co.uk

Please note that I am unable to assist you if you are outside of the UK.
NO EXCEPTIONS.


Other web sites operated by Sembee Ltd.

We also operate a number of web site to provide support and assistance to the wider online community.

These include kbsearch.info, certificatesforexchange.com, dosprompt.info, wuauclt.info, blog.sembee.co.uk, exbpa.com, and amset.info.

 


Copyright 2003-2009, Sembee Ltd.
Sembee Ltd. 2 Swan Way, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 5TT.
Sembee Ltd. is registered in England and Wales at the above address, registered company number: 4704428. VAT Number GB 904 5603 43.

Use of this web site is subject to our web site terms and conditions.