Business IT infrastructure is often viewed as a expense that companies would rather do without. The benefits are undeniable, but the associated costs of being able to enjoy those benefits are extensive. Even the supposedly simple task of archiving email is a time consuming and expensive undertaking, and there is no company in the country that can get away with not doing that.

Most organizations who have been around a while know that traditional mail servers simply aren't up to the task of securely storing and archiving email as well as processing it. For the most part, it's necessary to install a complete email archiving solution designed specifically for the task. There are many considerations a business has to take into account when planning an email archiving solution. Cost is the obvious one, anyone who hasn't spent the last three years on the moon knows times have changed, and wallets are tighter than ever. Most companies simply won't countenance spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on new systems, training and new staff to run them. Often, there simply isn't the money there in the first place to pay for it. The infrastructure necessary to run a company needs a significant investment. The network , the servers, hardware, software and licensing all eat into essential capital. Let alone the support the new systems need.

Any new system being implemented onto a live corporate network also needs to consider compatibility. Making sure the new stuff works with the old stuff needs considering when extending, re-configuring or adding new features. It's essential that any email archiving system integrates with the existing mail system otherwise it simply won't work. Getting things right is essential as most organizations simply can't function without electronic mail.

Once the initial system is in place, how easy will it be to expand? Can a new system grow with the company? Is there enough space? Will it integrate with existing hardware and so on. The development, expansion and integration of new system with old is a never ending circle that never ends. Technology is evolving incredibly quickly and once a business benefit is identified with any new technology, most companies want to use it. Archiving email is one such integration that is regarded as an expense, but no longer is it an optional one. The consequences of non-compliance are so severe that they will almost always outweigh the cost of implementation.