Carbonite Boosts B2B Solutions with MailStore Acquisition
by Robert Palmer | 12/17/14
On December 15, Carbonite announced plans to acquire popular email archiving solutions provider MailStore. Carbonite is a leading provider of cloud and hybrid backup and recovery solutions for both individual and business use. The move is expected to advance Carbonite’s plan for global expansion and enhance the firm’s portfolio of continuity solutions. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2014.
In a prepared release, Carbonite says that the deal is a great fit for both companies. “In addition to offering email archiving to businesses worldwide with MailStore’s existing solutions, Carbonite will integrate MailStore’s robust full-text search and indexing capabilities into our product portfolio to help our business customers better manage, understand and leverage their data,” said Carbonite CEO Mohamad Ali.
MailStore provides e-mail archiving solutions that work with virtually all of the major e-mail systems, including cloud-based applications such as Office 365 and Gmail, as well as Exchange, PST, iMap, and P0P3-compatible servers. The German-based company’s flagship product, MailStore Server, is used by more than 22,000 businesses. The primary function of MailStore is to produce 1:1 backup of all emails in a central repository to ensure long-term security and accessibility of data. MailStore also released a Service Provider Edition that enables channel partners to run the software on their own infrastructure and adapt it to customer requirements.
Our Take
For SMBs, the marriage between Carbonite and MailStore would seem to be a perfect fit. Many smaller businesses understand the need to secure and protect their data, but lack the necessary resources and IT budget to invest in complex, integrated systems. Backing up data and creating duplicate copies of information for storage in a remote location is crucial these days, particularly when it comes to e-mail and attachments because so much of an organizations business-critical information never leaves the in-box.
Meanwhile, the acquisition clearly helps Carbonite in its endeavor to expand its business solutions portfolio. Carbonite is most often recognized as a company that provides cloud-based, secure back-up and data protection services for consumers. But the firm has actually been transforming itself from a B2C company that primarily sells direct to end users, to a B2B company that works with highly specialized channel partners. The acquisition of MailStore further strengthens Carbonite’s channel partner program, while broadening its reach into the SMB space.
Robert Palmer is chief analyst and a managing partner for BPO Media, which publishes The Imaging Channel and Workflow magazines. He is an independent market analyst and industry consultant with more than 25 years experience in the printing industry covering technology and business sectors for prominent market research firms such as Lyra Research and InfoTrends. In December 2012 he formed Palmer Consulting as an independent consultancy focused on transformation, mobility, MPS, and the entire imaging market. Palmer is a popular speaker and presents regularly at industry conferences and trade events in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. He is also active in a variety of imaging industry forums and currently serves on the board of directors for the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA).
