SAAS Email Archiving

Written from a high level viewpoint, intended audience non technical readers.

SaaS or Software as a Service is a method of providing applications remotely while allowing users to access them over a private network or over the internet. Also referred to as 'Software on Demand' this method of providing a service is the most flexible and scalable to date.

A real life example would be Hotmail or Gmail. The whole infrastructure is hosted remotely at Microsoft's or Google's site, while users access them via the web. This allows any user to utilise the system regardless of technical knowledge or geographic location. The prevalence of both Hotmail and Gmail is testament to the success of this system.

This kind of setup is becoming more popular, with Microsoft reportedly considering it for its next version of Office. It's recent 'Cloud Computing' model announcement indicates a radical shift in its strategy from heavy client based software, to a remote access solution.

While we find ourselves in a difficult financial climate, SaaS is even more attractive. Lower up- front costs and a scalable pricing structure will be attractive to many companies. This is especially true for new or small companies who can be up and running without the fuss and expense of building an IT infrastructure. 

From a customer viewpoint SaaS is a very cost-effective way of using software. All of the hardware and support of the product is handled by the vendor, meaning a much lower IT footprint. This saves time, money and building space as the user doesn't need hardware or the support staff to maintain their applications. Many companies view IT systems as a necessary evil, not a tool to accomplish their goals. Outsourcing as much as possible allows customers to concentrate on their business without the unwanted distractions technology can provide.

The hosted software will have resiliency and will always be up to date. No vendor would risk marketing a product without a completely resilient network, as uptime is critical when serving web based applications. This means much less downtime for the users either scheduled or otherwise, while still ensuring you will always be using the latest version of the software. The applications can also be accessed from anywhere, allowing freedom of movement for staff and users as well as the potential for home working.

In essence the customer absolves themselves of all responsibility for maintaining the product. It also forces the vendor to be responsive and customer focused on this 'pay as you go' model. They need to keep the customers paying month to month to make the business viable. There can be none of the sell and forget strategies of the past. Customer Support takes a new meaning, and vendors have had to radically rethink how they provide this. No longer will you be waiting days for faults or issues to be addressed. The longer customers are down, the less money the vendor makes.

One of the fastest growing markets for Software as a Service is email archiving. Generally known as Hosted Email Archiving.

Companies like Archive Compliance are riding the crest of the wave as far as hosted solutions go. They specialize in SaaS Email Archiving. Offering a wide selection of solutions that conform to all US legislation on email storage, access and retrieval.

There is a raft of legislation worldwide regarding email storage and accessibility. Responsibility for compliance can be passed to your host and you can have the confidence to sit back and let them get on with it. Safe in the knowledge that all your legal obligations are being satisfied.

With literally hundreds of millions of emails traversing the ether every day, storage can be a problem. Retrieval can also be an issue for larger companies. Storing data is a black art in itself, but finding the specific piece of data you need once archived is just as difficult. Archive Compliance and companies like it, takes care of those worries for you. All of your storage needs are addressed and when you need something from your archive, they will provide it for you.

The solution is designed to sit alongside your existing business, it doesn't force you to accommodate it. The Archive Compliance solution integrates with most email clients and through the web. This means no system rollouts or integration headaches. New users, changes and features can be implemented without disruption, giving you the flexibility to operate as your needs dictate.