Wow… This is great information: Microsoft recently published a couple series of helpful information for small- and medium-sized IT shops. It’s a useful way for IT pros in businesses with less than 50 employees (small-sized) or around 50-250 employees (medium-sized) to get a strong start of planning and designing IT projects that are secure and reliable, and that meet business needs. Small-solution details can be found at the link above.

For those responsible for all or part of a medium-sized business IT environment, Microsoft offers a whole slew of valuable information. The entire solution package can be downloaded here (with the exception of the beta papers, referenced below - you’ll need to download those separately).

• Introduction to the Medium IT Solution Series
• Medium Business Solution for Core Infrastructure
• Medium Business Solution for Management and Security using Active Directory Group Policy (beta)
• Medium Business Solution for Messaging Services
• Medium Business Solution for Collaboration Services
• Medium Business Solution for Print Services
• Medium Business Solution for Remote Connectivity
• Medium Business Solution for Patch Management
• Medium Business Solution for Client Configuration
• Medium Business Guide for Antivirus
• Medium Business Guide for Backup and Recovery
• Medium Business Guide for Pilot Deployment and Migration (beta)

IT infrastructure is more and more complicated as time goes on - for Microsoft “shops,” this information series can save time and help make sure your work is solid. There’s information in these articles that I sound useful, and I’ve been pretty heavily involved in what’s covered for several years now.

Recommended.