My CIO has asked me to attend a meeting in which IBM is going to propose outsourcing our e-mail services, taking over for our 350 Exchange 2000 mailboxes.
I'm looking for arguments to marshal against outsourcing. So far, what I've got is: * security: We use Clearswift MIMEsweeper to block incoming (and outgoing) messages containing viruses or executable files (.bat, .exe, etc.). This being IBM, I'm sure they can protect against viruses, though. * disaster recovery: Our disaster site is updated in real time. During the blackout in August e-mail was up twenty minutes after I arrived at the DR site. Again, probably not a potent line item against IBM. * regulatory: we have some regulatory requirements for keeping all records (including e-mail) on site for seven years. * integration: Our CRM solution integrates directly into Exchange, adding contacts directly to the users' mailboxes. * performance: I have trouble seeing how performance would be adequate when the mail server is off site. * price: 250 users. 350 mailboxes. 140GB/month (according to the Journal folders). That can't be cheap. * legacy: Seven years of preexisting e-mail, spread out among mailboxes and pst files. About 200GB all told. What else am I missing? _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Web Interface: http://intm-dl.sparklist.com/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=exchange&text_mode=&lang=english To unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
