Email in the Enterprise has grown into a necessary evil for corporate leaders. In today's workplace, email has become as much a staple as the copy machine. Because of its speed, low cost, and efficient use of technology, it is a management headache for every C.I.O. on the list of Fortune 1000. Besides the worry of ever changing viral and worm threats, supervisors have to monitor and manage the personal use of the company email system. There is also the need for companies to provide a certain amount of email archiving to allow for data recovery without exposing the company to unnecessary expenses in the event of retrieving evidence in legal matters. Another consideration is the way email has grown from an informal Internet line of communication to a high level and formal way of communicating in the modern workplace. Email in the Enterprise has brought on new challenges for the CIO, forcing the Chief Information Officer to safeguard against mal-ware, to be prepared for legal responsibilities, and to establish guidelines for use.
             Email has several pitfalls, which managers must learn to deal with. Of these concerns the more serious and prolific are the guarding against mal-ware, preparing for disasters, and the onslaught of the unsolicited email known as Spam. All of these problems can cost a company a lot of money to safeguard against and prepare for. For most companies this means managers are trying to do more with less personal and resources in today's competitive global economy.
             Most of us can remember when, in March of 1999, we heard on the news of a new virus, Melissa that was shutting down email systems around the world. It was a simple exploit as described by CERT (originally called the "Computer Emergency Response Team" formed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) that used a macro to spread itself by enticing the victim to open an email attachment. The reason this virus was so successful i...