Overview
Gomez's mobile monitoring solution was used to test performance levels of communication to AppRiver-enhanced mobile devices with, and without, Akamai acceleration over U.S.-based mobile broadband networks. The series of tests simulated users with identical login credentials, signing into their Exchange accounts, and running through a typical Exchange transaction. Response times were tracked at three designated U.S. mobile testing nodes (Boston, Chicago, and Seattle) within each major U.S. cell carrier's network. To view graphical test results, please click here.
Key findings include: Speed and Reliability
- The amount of time it takes users to connect and sync with Exchange was reduced by half when using the Akamai-enabled AppRiver Secure hosted Exchange solution.
- Connection speeds degrade the further away a user is from the origin server, leaving a network to lose up to 25 percent of data packets that transverse its links, causing mobile devices to hang or lose connectivity. Since AppRiver is not at the mercy of the Internet and its many bottlenecks, AppRiver customers enjoy one-of-a-kind, optimized hosted Exchange.
- AppRiver Exchange customers received clear, consistent e-mail delivery over a variety of wireless networks, regardless of their location or what was happening on the Internet.
The AppRiver-Akamai offering contributes to several strategic objectives for any enterprise, including:
- Mobile worker support. Mobile device users receive secure, on-the-go access to information, including e-mail, calendars and tasks. The AppRiver hosted Exchange offering dramatically improves worker productivity by allowing for seamless e-mail access, with no performance problems, regardless of how, or where, an end-user checks their messages.
- Secure e-mail delivery. AppRiver and Akamai privatize the connection between the user and the Exchange server(s) in order to create a high-speed virtual private network for AppRiver
customers. The private network acts as a "secure perimeter," which eliminates public entry points to cloud infrastructures. AppRiver Exchange also provides the award-winning SecureTideª Spam and Virus Protection, keeping users safe from spam, viruses and other malicious threats.
Faster Internet
Using Akamai's SureRoute technology, AppRiver dynamically plots the fastest path between the user and their email. SureRoute uses a global network of over 30,000 servers in more than 70 countries to keep an up-to-the-second map of the Internet's performance characteristics. This system ensures strained or congested segments of the Internet are not used to connect a user with their information.
Result: Users of AppRiver's Hosted Exchange Service with Akamai's SureRoute technology see a 30-40% improvement in Email system availability.
Better Mobility
While laptop adoption has been on the rise, purchases of desktop PC's have been declining. Even while today's workforce becomes more mobile, their access to email, schedules, contacts, tasks and shared information become more demanding. Whether accessing this information from the office, a hotel, the airport or using a BlackBerry in the back seat of a New York City cab, connectivity must be quick, consistent, and fast. An industry first, AppRiver has integrated Akamai's unique and proprietary TCP Optimization technology to achieve dramatic improvements in connectivity and performance especially for global and wireless email users.
Result: Users of AppRiver's Hosted Exchange Service with Akamai's TCP Optimization technology enjoy consistent system performance whether they're located close to the data center, half way around the world, or while using a poor quality wireless connection.
High Availability
While achieving five 9's of availability within the data center is required for a High Availability Hosted Exchange solution, on its own it does not achieve this goal. Exchange and Outlook were designed to connect using a Local Area Network which can be described as fast, stable and very deterministic. Using the Internet instead with its designed in tolerance for high packet latency, packet loss, and even significant outages will result in a user experience inconsistent with expectations for what is arguably the most mission critical application used by businesses today. Control outside the data center is as important as control inside when delivering Microsoft Exchange as a hosted application using the Internet.
Result: AppRiver and Akamai have taken end-to-end control of the Hosted Exchange service resulting in improved user experience and greater productivity.
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