Email archiving: Hardware and software considerations

Every customer needs email archive. Some may believe they don't but it takes only one disgruntled employee to change all that. So if every customer needs email archive, it's natural for a reseller to offer a solution.

There are several components to email archive though unfortunately many customers only think of it as a piece of software. An email archive offering will include both hardware and software, the characteristics of which are detailed in this tip.

Email archive software

There are a number of email archive programs varying widely in price and functionality. To put together an offering to resell to a broad customer base, you will need more than one software option for the simple reason that not all customers use the same email program. The most popular is Microsoft Exchange but you may come across others like Lotus Notes. Most email archive programs are also specific to the email software.

A determining factor for which email archive program to use is the number of mailboxes supported: The more mailboxes the more expensive the software; many times the price is actually a graduated scale based on the number of mailboxes. Customers have an aversion to that type of pricing. They want to pay one price and it's the reseller's job to determine how to meet pricing requirements for customers. The software support costs are usually a percentage of the purchase price.

Another factor is whether the software meets some regulatory requirement function to manage email deletion. Many less expensive solutions and customers using home-grown email archiving approaches may fail the scrutiny of lega

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Data Backup and Data Protection How to solve out-of-space problems on NetApp replicated volumes Low-cost disk backup vs. tape Five questions to ask in a disk array data replication project Tape drive autoloader vs. cloud backup NetApp/Data Domain deal: The impact on VARs Step-by-step: How to size a virtual tape library (VTL) Enterprise virtual tape library (VTL) decision: Performance issues Helping storage administrators save money: Telling both sides of the story Remote data replication: Hardware vs. host vs. backup replication The top five data theft protection tools for solution providers Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity NexentaStor adds HA features; VMotion between data centers looms How to solve out-of-space problems on NetApp replicated volumes Five questions to ask in a disk array data replication project Disaster recovery services for solution providers VARs give CA high marks for deal registration, incentive program Remote data replication: Hardware vs. host vs. backup replication EMC polishes Celerra arrays; Brocade sees slowdown in convergence demand (news roundup) Assess your customers' disaster recovery risk Strategies for disaster recovery contingency planning Weigh your backup and DR technology options

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

l requirements -- when needed most. You must carefully examine and choose a product that has the integrity to meet such requirements.

Hardware

Most email archive software programs are agnostic about which hardware is used to store data. Customers don't always understand the implications of hardware selection, providing an opportunity for you to inform them and make a sale. The storage for the archive must meet immutability requirements, so data on the archive can't be modified once written. Usually a WORM device is used. Some believe that beyond immutability where the data cannot be altered once written, a chain of custody tracking (where the control of who has access to data and when is established) is needed in the hardware solution as well. There are archive solutions, usually referred to as archive appliances, that utilize removable disk technology, which is ruggedized so that it may be handled and transported without damage to the media, tape or optical to meet regulatory requirements. Since there are different types and sizes, a configurable hardware solution makes the most sense.

Email archiving is a requirement for customers. Customers using cobbled together solutions or no solution present tremendous opportunities for resellers. The reseller must put together the right technology in an offering that fits each customer segment.

About the author: Randy Kerns is an independent storage consultant. In the past, he served as vice president of strategy and planning for storage at Sun Microsystems Inc., and covers storage and storage management software including SAN and NAS analysis.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchStorageChannel.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.