Symantec on Nov. 9 came out with new updates to its backup, restoration and archiving software--including a new rapid search function--for use with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, which a lot of IT managers are already starting to look at for their next purchase cycle.

Symantec said the rapid search function is much more accurate in finding specific documents. The updated Enterprise Vault archiving package also adds direct drag-and-drop access to the archive from Outlook, so users no longer have to rely on shortcut links from the mailbox.

This is now available for previous versions of Exchange and is scheduled to be available for Exchange 2010 in early 2010.

The version of Enterprise Vault that became available Nov. 9 includes deduplication, tiered storage, policy enforcement and e-discovery of information in one package that operates across multiple applications, such as Exchange, SharePoint, file servers and instant messaging.

During the next few months, Symantec will release updated versions of NetBackup, Backup Exec and Enterprise Vault with deduplication for Exchange 2010, in addition to Microsoft SharePoint and Windows Server 2008 R2.