This Portal Will Self-Destruct in Five SecondsThis Portal Will Self-Destruct in Five Seconds

Microsoft SharePoint is famous for its ease of creating -- and abandoning -- local workgroup portals. As readers of our latest Enterprise Portals Report know, this has not fundamentally changed in MOSS 2007. That could be a problem.Shawn Shell (former Dell consultant turned indie SharePoint guru) recently reminded me that administrators can set a SharePoint site to generate daily e-mails to a site owner when it goes unused after a specified period, say 30 days. Optionally, you can configure a SharePoint site to delete itself after X days thereafter.

Microsoft's genius here lies in recognizing that project teams often really do want disposable collaboration spaces. But if you're a records and information manager who cares about liability and retention, you're probably getting a little queasy right now. Those who require firm, enterprise-level administration and control may need to look elsewhere for their portal solution.

Tony Byrne is founder and lead analyst at CMS Watch. Write him at [email protected]Microsoft SharePoint is famous for its ease of creating -- and abandoning -- local workgroup portals. As readers of our latest Enterprise Portals Report know, this has not fundamentally changed in MOSS 2007. Here's why those who require firm, enterprise-level administration and control may need to look elsewhere for their portal solution.