How safe is instant messaging?

Imagine a situation where despite putting all security measure in place your company’s secrets are being leaked. The culprit could be instant messenger whilst an employee can send sensitive information about his company using instant messenger (IM) attachments. One simple solution to prevent information leak through IMs is to disallow its use completely. But in companies where IM communication is part of the corporate culture and presents significant business advantages, organizations need a more flexible solution. To address these concerns, organizations need the ability to set and enforce policies for IM use within their organizations.

CIOL: Security Zone