Businesses of all sizes use e-mail and instant messaging (IM) for critical communications, yet many overlook the importance of archiving electronic documents. In fact, recent studies suggest that less than half of all companies keep "e-records," despite regulatory requirements and legal concerns.
Archiving is often thought of as a burden that big businesses have to carry, but the truth is, many smaller companies can benefit from holding onto their electronic communiqués.
Data retention regulations in health care, financial services and other industries affect businesses no matter what their size. Then there are more sweeping regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires public companies to save a copy of each e-mail that’s sent for a certain period of time.
For a small business, being able to produce e-mails or instant messages documenting how the company responded to a consumer or negotiated a business deal could save thousands of dollars in a lawsuit.
