Dell and Symantec are teaming up to deliver protection for Microsoft Exchange-based e-mail systems, the companies said on Wednesday.

The PC and server maker and the Cupertino, Calif.-based software vendor are combining their products in an offering called Secure Exchange. The new offering will take the time and development out of

The product is designed to take time and complexity out of running a secure, reliable Microsoft Exchange e-mail system with archiving capabilities, the companies said.

The new offering represents a compelling combination of hardware, software and services that will help customers take control of their email, said Jeremy Burton, group president, Security and Data Management Group, Symantec.

Secure Exchange is made up of Dell PowerEdge servers, PowerVault storage, Dell/EMC storage and several Symantec products, including Symantec Mail Security 8200 Series, Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange, Symantec Enterprise Vault and Backup Exec, the companies said.

The starting price for a backup and recovery system for 500 mailboxes is $60,780, which includes Dell PowerEdge 1950s, PowerVault 112T, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Exchange 2003 and Symantec Backup Exec, Dell and Symantec said in a statement.

The need for effective email management is evident with the nearly 84 billion emails being sent daily worldwide in 2006, according to IDC

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