[FunkyZero]

Of course it is a different level. This is not a backup mechanism, it is document retention. There are entire software package suites that are purpose build for this. If you type a message and click send, the message router copies the email to the archives. It is completely out of the control of the user and in an environment this large. 99% of the admins can't even access it because it's a legal issue...

The options are limited, but quite granular. You can even choose to strip or keep file attachments, set storage limits, archive length, which user folders to ignore or include, etc...

Server backups are another facet of this whole lie. I can believe that their rotations overwrote the backups from 2 years ago, that is completely feasible... but not the archive system.

[FredZarguna]

I can believe that their rotations overwrote the backups from 2 years ago, that is completely feasible...

It really isn't.

[dirtboy]

but not the archive system.

They fired the company providing the archive system a couple of months into this process. The entire situation was engineered to have the emails age off with no archive, local or server or tape. This was deliberate and directed from above.