However important eDiscovery may be, it is but one of the challenges facing large companies in respect of their data. For many sectors, compliance with regulatory obligations and industry standards is not merely desirable but compulsory, a prerequisite for doing business at all.

The pharmaceuticals industry is an obvious example, and Sheila Mackay of Xerox Litigation Services has written an interesting article called How to Make E-Discovery Compliance Part of Your Business as Usual on the website Pharmaceutical Compliance Monitor.

The article includes six practical tips:

Build a team

Create a culture of information governance

Develop a litigation readiness plan

Educate employees

Invest in technology

Document everything

Following these steps, Sheila Mackay says, allows companies to integrate eDiscovery processes into their existing business practices, enabling them to meet eDiscovery challenges promptly, efficiently and accurately.