Applications that archive e-mail, whether with simple archiving in mind, or for the express purpose of providing extensive discovery, are invaluable to those businesses that are subject to the most stringent retention regulations. Those organizations that don't have to provide seven or more years' worth of documentary evidence may still be subject to regulations that require them to provide information upon request, but to a far more relaxed degree of proof.

By taking a view of exactly what the retention, discovery, and recovery requirements are, a business can choose the appropriate archiving solution or a simple, basic backup utility to protect its Exchange servers. Regardless of your selection be sure to deploy a powerful application in conjunction with archiving or simple backups that provides database, mailbox, and message recovery capability--as well as any message discovery that may be necessary.

This Essential Guide, provides some of the regulatory and technical challenges that a business faces and the ways in which an IT department may approach recovery and discovery requirements in an integrated manner.