IDG Research Survey Reveals Current State of Email Management Strategies

December 1, 2009

Results Show an Anticipated 48% Increase in Cloud-based Storage of Email Data over Next 12-24 Months

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 2009-- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in information protection and storage services, recently teamed with IDG Research Services to conduct a survey on the current state of email management, and the strategies and tactics used by large companies to reduce the costs and risks associated with email’s growing complexity. The results represent responses from 115 executives serving in both IT and business capabilities at companies with 1,000 or more employees. A white paper and videocast discussing the survey’s findings are available online.

IDG Research Services surveyed IT and business executives on the state of email management within their companies—what they were doing, why they were doing it, and what challenges they faced. The results reveal a shift in the perception of email management—not only its implicit importance, but the explicit need for serving communication needs as well as compliance and regulatory requirements. Not surprisingly, they also reveal an increasing desire to make email management as cost-effective and efficient as possible.

Key findings from the survey include:

  • 82% of respondents report that email downtime at their companies would have a critical or high impact on productivity;
  • 71% indicate their IT organizations have been tasked with finding more cost-effective ways to manage email; 57% have been asked to do so within the next 12 months;
  • The top five drivers for email management strategy are business continuity (which 74% of respondents rated critical or very important), disaster recovery (72%), compliance with federal, state and/or industry regulations (69%), eliminating email downtime (64%), and preparation for any future litigation / eDiscovery (62%).

The survey also explored attitudes about cloud-based email management solutions, such as those offered by Iron Mountain. It found that cloud-based archiving could accommodate the concerns of those in IT, Legal, and Finance:

  • Respondents anticipate a 48% increase in storing email data online via a hosted/managed service over the next 12-24 months, along with a 30% decrease in offsite tape storage, today’s most common storage method;
  • 61% of respondents expect to lower the burden on IT by outsourcing email storage and management;
  • 62% percent of executives rate eDiscovery a top driver for email management strategies, since prudent risk management dictates the ability to find information quickly and accurately;
  • 52% of respondents believe it is critical or very important to lower email storage costs, coinciding with Finance department goals of wanting to tackle email challenges as cost-effectively as possible.

To learn more about the survey results, as well as the benefits of cloud-based email archiving, click the links below to listen to the videocast, or download the white paper, compliments of Iron Mountain.

For more information on Iron Mountain Digital’s email management services, visit http://www.ironmountain.com/email-management/email-management.html.

Videocast: Cloud-based Email Archiving
In this video interview, Sue Trombley , Director of Iron Mountain Consulting Services, discusses the merits of cloud-based email archiving solutions as an enabler of business value, security, and efficiency in enterprises. Click here to view.

Market Pulse White Paper: The Shifting State of Email Management
This white paper examines the survey results and offers strategic and tactical recommendations for companies facing the same challenges. Click here to read.

About Iron Mountain Digital

Iron Mountain Digital is the world's leading provider of Storage-as-a Service solutions for data protection and recovery, archiving, eDiscovery and intellectual property management. The technology arm of Iron Mountain Incorporated offers a comprehensive suite of solutions to thousands of companies around the world, directly and through a worldwide network of channel partners. Iron Mountain Digital is based in Southborough, Mass.

About Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM) helps organizations around the world reduce the costs and risks associated with information protection and storage. The Company offers comprehensive records management and data protection solutions, along with the expertise and experience to address complex information challenges such as rising storage costs, litigation, regulatory compliance and disaster recovery. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain is a trusted partner to more than 140,000 corporate clients throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.ironmountain.com.

Source: Iron Mountain Incorporated

Iron Mountain Incorporated
Laura Sudnik, 508-808-7528
Laura.Sudnik@ironmountain.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Amanda Keane, 617-520-7260
akeane@webershandwick.com