The new version of Exchange has been re-architected for "In-Place Archiving" so that a primary email server can also be used for data capture retention, compliance and e-discovery, Microsoft said in a .

This applies to both the on-premises edition, Exchange 2013, and the cloud-hosted edition, Exchange Online. Both are currently in beta testing. Providing archiving, compliance and e-discovery capabilities in cloud-hosted email servers is key for vendors like Microsoft, as CIOs become increasingly comfortable with shifting away from on-premises systems.

In addition to simplifying the lives of Exchange administrators and end users, this can also broaden the scope of data that is archived beyond messages to also include other Exchange elements, like calendar entries, contacts and tasks, according to Microsoft.

The new architecture also opens the door for non-IT professionals such as human resources staffers to perform certain tasks that Microsoft says will be simpler to carry out using Exchange 2013, such as flagging data that should be archived and not modified.