Microsoft Lync Server 2013 is the sixth generation of an increasingly popular universal communications and collaboration platform. It provides real-time communication and collaboration features such as presence, instant messaging, native Voice over IP audio and video calling, conferencing, application and desktop sharing; Lync also serves as a full PBX and telephony replacement through integration with PSTN and SIP networks (which Microsoft refers to as Enterprise Voice).

A great deal of documentation and tools exist on how to implement key elements of a successful Lync solution (including this very book). At face value, Lync installation seems like an easy, wizard-based, repetitive process. What many seem to overlook is the impact of adding real-time communications to an existing network infrastructure, an issue that we have seen occurring far too often.

The reality is that Lync is a complex ecosystem with several dependencies, some of which are not strictly technical.

Deploying certain features, such as voice and video (full HD is supported on Lync Server 2013), clearly has a considerable impact on any existing IT infrastructure, starting from the lower OSI layers. Designing a stable and capable Lync solution is not a simple task, and there is no way you can expect to deliver a successful implementation without accurate knowledge and assessment of existing IT infrastructure, planning, and design, and accurate plans for maintenance and upgrades. Nevertheless, even after following a technically impeccable deployment, your project might fail if you overlook some of the key elements, which we aim to describe here. This chapter will give you some insights on fundamental but often overlooked elements of the design, implementation, and ultimately, success of a Lync solution through a mix of technical and non-technical recipes.