Email Archiving Solutions
Never lose a business email again- Automatic, professional email archiving
- Powerful enterprise-wide search and eDiscovery
- One-click restore, download, and migration
Email Archiving
Safeguarding your business email starts with a plan
Always included: Compliant archiving
Tamper-proof storage
Legally required retention periods
ISO-certified storage
30-day money-back guarantee
Compliant archiving
Tamper-proof storage
Legally required retention periods
ISO-certified storage
30-day money-back guarantee
Archive your emails in a tamper-proof, audit-ready format — compliant with IRS requirements.
Keep your emails protected from unauthorized changes or manipulation.
Archive securely with email storage that meets federal and state retention requirements.
Keep your emails in ISO 27001 certified data centers — independently audited to meet the highest security standards.
Try it out for 30 days and get your money back if you're not satisfied.
Federal and provincial sales taxes may apply. See General Terms and Conditions.
Always included: Compliant archiving
Tamper-proof storage
Legally required retention periods
ISO-certified storage
30-day money-back guarantee
Compliant archiving
Tamper-proof storage
Legally required retention periods
ISO-certified storage
30-day money-back guarantee
Archive your emails in a tamper-proof, audit-ready format — compliant with IRS requirements.
Keep your emails protected from unauthorized changes or manipulation.
Archive securely with email storage that meets federal and state retention requirements.
Keep your emails in ISO 27001 certified data centers — independently audited to meet the highest security standards.
Try it out for 30 days and get your money back if you're not satisfied.
Federal and provincial sales taxes may apply. See General Terms and Conditions.
Only at IONOS
Your personal consultant
Not only do you get the latest AI tech, but you get your own personal consultant to guide you every step of the way. 24/7 expert support
Technical questions? Our award-winning experts are always available to help by phone, chat or email.Email Archiving — FAQs
What are the legal requirements for email archiving?
Business emails aren't just messages — they're legal documents. Deleting them without following the proper rules can result in fines of millions of dollars or even criminal proceedings.
US businesses are required by law to retain copies of business emails for a set period of time. These rules come in three forms:
- Federal laws that apply to all businesses and organizations
- Industry-specific regulations such as those covering healthcare, finance, and legal sectors
- State-specific laws that vary by location
Key regulations to be aware of include IRS rules, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and the Freedom of Information Act. All of these require that archived data is searchable and accessible when needed.
Email archiving isn't just about staying organized — it's a legal requirement. A proper archiving tool ensures your emails are preserved with the right levels of quality, integrity, security, and privacy to keep you fully compliant.
Who is responsible for email retention compliance?
Every US business is responsible for retaining business emails — no exceptions. That said, the rules vary depending on your industry. Publicly traded companies must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), while healthcare and insurance providers are subject to HIPAA requirements. Other industries have their own specific regulations too.
The most important step? Find out which laws apply to your business and make sure you're meeting them.
How long do I have to archive business emails?
It depends on which laws apply to your business. Here are some common benchmarks:
- IRS regulations and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) both require a minimum of 7 years for all companies
- Credit card and payment processors may only need to retain emails for 1 year
- Some industries require retention for a lifetime
Even if you're confident you're meeting federal requirements, it's worth checking with your legal counsel to make sure you're also covered under state and local laws.
What is the difference between archiving and backup?
Both backups and archives store your data — but they serve very different purposes.
A backup is a copy of your data that can be used to restore the original if something goes wrong. Hardware failure, human error, or a natural disaster can all cause data loss, and a backup keeps you covered for those worst-case scenarios.
An archive is a long-term store of records that you may need to access in the future. Unlike backups, archives typically hold data that isn't in active use — freeing up space on your faster, more frequently accessed systems. The original data is moved to the archive rather than copied.
Which IONOS products include email archiving?
You can add the email archiving module to IONOS Mail Basic and Mail Business, as well as any IONOS product that includes an email address — such as web hosting and domain plans.
It works with IONOS Webmail and any other email client, including Outlook. All emails are securely backed up, professionally archived with tamper-proof envelope journaling, and fully searchable if you ever need them for a legal motion or audit.
What happens if I lose emails or suffer a data breach?
A data breach or accidental deletion doesn't have to mean lost emails. IONOS Email Archiving keeps your business running with powerful search and one-click recovery.
- Works with all your IONOS email accounts — archive as many as you need
- Set and adjust access rights to suit your team
- Storage starts at 5 GB and expands automatically as you grow
- Fully compatible with Microsoft Outlook
Can I recover deleted emails with IONOS Email Archiving?
Accidentally deleted an important email? No problem. Find, recover, and restore any message with one click.
All existing emails are archived on activation, with new messages added automatically. You can manage access rights, set individual retention times, and place a legal hold on your archive whenever needed — keeping you fully compliant.
All emails are stored securely in our ISO-certified US data centers.
Email archiving — FAQs
What are the legal requirements for email marketing?
Business emails aren't just messages — they're legal documents. Deleting them without following the proper rules can result in fines of millions of dollars or even criminal proceedings.
US businesses are required by law to retain copies of business emails for a set period of time. These rules come in three forms:
- Federal laws that apply to all businesses and organizations
- Industry-specific regulations such as those covering healthcare, finance, and legal sectors
- State-specific laws that vary by location
Key regulations to be aware of include IRS rules, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and the Freedom of Information Act. All of these require that archived data is searchable and accessible when needed.
Email archiving isn't just about staying organized — it's a legal requirement. A proper archiving tool ensures your emails are preserved with the right levels of quality, integrity, security, and privacy to keep you fully compliant.
Who is responsible for email retention compliance?
Every business is responsible for retaining business emails — no exceptions. That said, the rules vary depending on your industry. Publicly traded companies must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), while healthcare and insurance providers are subject to HIPAA requirements. Other industries have their own specific regulations too.
The most important step? Find out which laws apply to your business and make sure you're meeting them.
Who is responsible for email retention compliance?
It depends on which laws apply to your business. Here are some common benchmarks:
- IRS regulations and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) both require a minimum of 7 years for all companies
- Credit card and payment processors may only need to retain emails for 1 year
- Some industries require retention for a lifetime
Even if you're confident you're meeting federal requirements, it's worth checking with your legal counsel to make sure you're also covered under local laws. Learn more about email retention periods by industry in our Digital Guide.
What is the difference between archiving and backup?
Both backups and archives store your data — but they serve very different purposes.
A backup is a copy of your data that can be used to restore the original if something goes wrong. Hardware failure, human error, or a natural disaster can all cause data loss, and a backup keeps you covered for those worst-case scenarios.
An archive is a long-term store of records that you may need to access in the future. Unlike backups, archives typically hold data that isn't in active use — freeing up space on your faster, more frequently accessed systems. The original data is moved to the archive rather than copied.
Which products include email archiving?
You can add the email archiving module to IONOS Mail Basic and Mail Business, as well as any IONOS product that includes an email address — such as web hosting and domain plans.
It works with IONOS Webmail and any other email client, including Outlook. All emails are securely backed up, professionally archived with tamper-proof envelope journaling, and fully searchable if you ever need them for a legal motion or audit.
What happens if I suffer a data breach or lose an email?
A data breach or accidental deletion doesn't have to mean lost emails. IONOS Email Archiving keeps your business running with powerful search and one-click recovery.
- Works with all your IONOS email accounts — archive as many as you need
- Set and adjust access rights to suit your team
- Storage starts at 5 GB and expands automatically as you grow
- Fully compatible with Microsoft Outlook
Can I recover deleted emails with IONOS Email Archiving?
Accidentally deleted an important email? No problem. Find, recover, and restore any message with one click.
All existing emails are archived on activation, with new messages added automatically. You can manage access rights, set individual retention times, and place a legal hold on your archive whenever needed — keeping you fully compliant.
All emails are stored securely in our ISO-certified US data centers.
We help you succeed online
Compliant email archiving, set up in one click
Professional email archiving that's easy to use and reliably hosted by IONOS.Archive every email exactly as sent or received, with full access logging, so you're always audit-ready.
All incoming and outgoing emails, including attachments, are archived automatically, so you're always covered.
Choose which mailboxes to archive and control access rights for each user individually.