Classification Challenges in Email Archiving

This paper focuses on the technology of Email Archiving and how it has changed the way emails and other such communications are being handled in corporations of the world. In today's world, email finds itself at the top of the preferred modes of communications list. Emails are being increasingly recognized as an acceptable form of evidence in legal disputes and are treated as the most important wealth of information in a company. Every year governments in countries like Unites States of America introduce new laws governing the usage and handling of emails in the corporate worlds. In addition, industry standards are being made that require companies to retain their email communications as a mandatory requirement. These laws and regulations impose huge fines on corporations that fail to comply with these rules. In addition to the fines, any loss in email data makes the corporations susceptible to law suits and losses. To adhere to all the laws and regulations and also to make use of the wealth of information in emails companies have requirement for retention of email data, search and discovery and surveillance of this data. The Email Archiving technology has made it possible for companies to meet these challenges. In this paper; we will elaborate on the key aspects and the challenges that are faced in making an Email Archiving solution. The paper will show how most of the challenges that are faced in this area are closely related to classification and matching of data and how better and advanced techniques need to be devised to improve the email archiving technology.