Small business Network Solution required

[Paid but not qualified]

I need to set up a network for a small project attached to a charitable organisation. The project will have 3 PC's for staff use and a laptop for client use, all running Windows 7. The laptop will mainly be used for general internet browsing by clients whilst the 3 PC's will predominantly be used for recording client details, therapist/counsellor details, appointments etc. The software we plan to use is Microsoft Office 2007 using Outlook BCM to collate records and report from.

I'm looking for some general advice on the best way to set this network up, I sort of know what I want but don't know if it's practical/achievable. Here are the key elements:

Roaming user profiles
Outlook for email
Peer to peer (really don't want a server)

I think it's quite clear from what I've written that I don't know much, so any help would be gratefully received.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Roaming profiles....although I can't stand them, work better with active directory...thus a server.

HIPAA matters here...I'd want active directory for locking down data, and the laptop you may want to look at FDE (full disk encryption) if it's going to be used by a road warrior.

If it's a non-profit...look at www.techsoup.org to get Microsoft software cheap...practically donated...

Or..actually, since they are small and probably don't want the expense of a full server....I'd look at a hosted Small Business Server package..."hosted in the cloud"...access via RDP...thus no worry about roaming profiles. I think Small Business Server would give you the functionality, security, and collaboration that you need.

 

[Paid but not qualified]

Thanks for the info, i'll take a look at the link, is there another simpler way to have the PC's networked so that they can all access and update the same documents, my brother mentioned something about scheduled cloning but I didn't fully understand

 

[timjowers]

Google apps too

Also consider google apps and business email. Its free and available from everywhere. basically.