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Why secure instant messaging is necessary for businesses to remain safe and competitive

September 21, 2005
By:  Alice Osborn

All companies want to communicate more efficiently, and Instant Messaging or IM systems address this need. However, all companies should ensure that their secure instant messaging system is:

• Secure against SPIM (spam for instant messaging)
   
• Helps employees manage and/or limit their personal instant messaging time
   
• Reliably archives and retrieves instant messaging conversations for government regulatory purposes
   
• Searches and retrieves instant messaging communications from a single graphic interface

According to the Radacati Group, an IT research firm, 85 percent of companies have public instant messaging in use, but only 12 percent support the use with enterprise security technologies and instant messaging-specific policies. The best secure IM systems are those that accomplish all of the above and also provide mobile messaging, Voice Instant Messaging, and document transfer to the workers’ desktops. Examples of enterprise instant messaging systems include e/pop Professional 3.0 by WiredRed Sofware, IMlogic IM Manager by IMlogic, and the ICS system by Ipswitch.

Secure IM saves time and offers virus protection

Obtaining access to instant messaging is now a fundamental requirement for businesses to increase their productivity and communication between managers and team members and between clients and account executives. The instant messaging tool is a valuable one for the user since it provides instant updates, information and timesaving answers any time of the day.

However, in order for records and files to remain secure, the instant messaging system software must allow its encrypted data to cross firewalls and networks without falling prey to viruses, data theft or inappropriate connections. Instant messaging is especially vulnerable to virus attacks because the virus can easily attach to a user’s Buddy List. Businesses also use this secure enterprise software to limit the amount of non-business communication that is prevalent among their workers.

How secure IM became a necessary business tool

America Online first introduced instant messaging in chat rooms and its messaging success has generated a prolific amount of instant message programs. Now technology has taken this innovation outside the home and has made companies, especially those in media and publishing who conduct most of their instant messaging transactions in real-time, realize how much more efficient they can be with a customized and secure IM service. For example, headquarters now can reach reporters and photographers in the field across time zones to meet deadlines.

With greater access to instant messaging, comes greater loss of communication integrity. Decision makers must always obtain a reliable and secure IM system in order to keep their data safe and keep their businesses competitive.

About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and contributor to Web-Conferencing-Zone.com.  Your definitive guide to web conferencing services, online collaboration software and web meetings for business.

Also See:  [ VoIP service integration -- web conferencing using VoIP services ]
[ Interactive web conferencing solutions for 3-D virtual meetings ]
[ What is web conferencing?  What are the benefits of web conferencing? ]

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