SmallBiz-Info

Effectively using technology to implement an information management and archiving strategy is imperative to the efficiency and overall well-being of your small business. Not only can such solutions dramatically reduce storage costs and increase control of and visibility into information, but they can also reduce server procurement and administration costs and provide a means of cost-effective information retention and compliance.

Step 1: Create an information governance policy. Good information governance integrates business objectives with information management policies to address corporate mandates, regulatory compliance, electronic discovery, and privacy requirements throughout the life cycle of information. By ensuring that information is managed (archived, deleted, etc.) according to business value and policy, companies can improve business operations, gain a greater return on investment, and assume a competitive advantage.

Step 2: Find the right technology. An information governance strategy is most effective when policies can be carried forward consistently with enabling technologies. According to a recent study by AIIM, 54% of organizations with more than 10 employees have yet to implement e-mail management and 46% rely on basic mail-server functionality. Today, e-mail management and archiving technologies can be implemented as a standalone system or as part of a companywide enterprise content management or records management solution. Whichever you choose, be sure to find a technology solution that addresses your pain points today, while being flexible enough to address future requirements and help your information work for you.