IBM recognizes that the requirements for archiving go beyond just the initial reduction of mail files, which is why it's working with third-party archiving providers to deliver a rich set of archiving APIs. In the near future, this will allow your Notes environment to integrate more easily with Notes archiving products. Your changing technology, regulatory and legal requirements mean the requirements to manage e-mail beyond just basic operational savings are becoming increasingly critical.

If you are already starting to think about a comprehensive strategy for archiving, the following are my top 10 tips as you evaluate the market.

1. Don't implement any product that requires wholesale changes to your mail server.

2. Beware of products that require changes to, or software to be installed on, your Notes mail clients.

3. Make sure that products are storage technology agnostic.

4. Make sure that any product you select can handle more than just e-mail.

5. Consider whether you want to implement a product in-house or whether a hosted solution might be more appropriate and cost-effective.

6. Make sure that the product you select has been developed specifically for Notes (beware of Microsoft Exchange retreads!).

7. Ensure products can address your operational, regulatory and legal requirements - within the same application.

8. Check that the product can provide full mailbox management, as well as capture all messages.

9. Find out what retention, legal hold and records management capabilities are available.

10. Ensure the product supports your current and planned infrastructure.

David Thompson is managing director of records compliance management software solutions company, AXS-One.