Security experts predict that the next level of attacks will target services such as VoIP as well as Internet telephony (Skype). Although Indian usage of these services is yet to gain critical mass, organizations that are already using these services need to watch out.
Express Computer [IT Weekly News]
Userplane is working to develop network integration between its community Web-based chat and IM tools and AOL LLC’s AIM network, a company executive said. AOL acquired the 15-person company in August, which licenses its chat technology to social network sites, such as Dogster, Honda, MySpace, Friendster and Tagged.
TechWeb
Userplane
The Ponemon Institute and Vontu, Inc. have announced the findings of a new study on the issues associated with protecting corporate ‘data at rest’ residing on storage systems and mobile devices, as well as ‘data in motion’ exiting the network via email, Web mail, file transfers and IM. The survey examines risks associated with the storage and transmission of confidential information; technologies, practices and procedures used for preventing data loss; and primary concerns expressed by organizations facing the challenges of protecting stored sensitive data from unauthorized exposure. Among the study’s most significant findings, Internet communication protocols likely to contain unprotected sensitive information, in order of risk level, were secure Webmail (56% probability), file transfer protocol (51%),Webmail (HTTP) (33%), email (31%) and IM (25%).
SecurityPark.net
Some months ago I wrote a feature: Instant Messaging (IM) services for transmitting securities orders? It appeared that there was some push for adoption of this medium for transmitting securities orders in the US markets, however, there were a number of technical and regulatory compliance issues to be addressed before IM for transmission of securities orders could gain widespread acceptance.
[IT Director]
According to the Radicati Group, a market research firm, the number of worldwide instant message (IM) accounts will increase from 944 million in 2006 to over 1.4 billion in 2010. IM's success as a communications tool is clear.
One huge value of IM is the way it allows business users to talk to each other in real time without incurring huge long distance bills. For SMBs, IM lets employees talk to customers and partners almost instantaneously, providing excellent customer service for a very low cost. A small company can communicate like a big company does, anywhere in the world.
ITBusiness - Canada
Vericept Corporation, the leading provider of comprehensive compliance and content control solutions and Akonix Systems, Inc., the premier provider of enterprise-class solutions for ensuring security and compliance for employee use of instant messaging (IM), today announced a strategic alliance to offer organizations maximum outbound content control over email, P2P, FTP and I'm. As part of the alliance, Vericept will integrate Akonix's award-winning L7 Enterprise product into the Vericept 360-degree Risk Management Platform.
Freshnews.com
Though VoIP company Skype has promised a more enterprise-friendly, manageable version of its popular service, Akonix Systems has announced an appliance designed to monitor and manage users of the consumer version behind the corporate firewall.
The company today announced L7 Skype Manager, an appliance that brings management features similar to those offered by other appliances in its L7 line, which is primarily aimed at instant messaging security and compliance.
More at Enterprise Networking Planet
Case raises questions about employer’s responsibility for electronic communications.
October 2, 2006
Former U.S. Rep Mark Foley said Monday he has checked himself into alcohol rehabilitation in the wake of a scandal over suggestive instant messages the Florida republican sent to Congressional pages.
The scandal raises questions about an employer’s responsibility for electronic communications made in the workplace. Mr. Foley, who resigned from Congress Friday, chaired the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
Instant messaging software is used in 93 percent of all organizations, and 35 percent of email users also use instant messaging, according Black Diamond, Washington-based messaging analyst firm Osterman Research.
The stakes could hardly be higher. The instant messaging scandal has damaged House Republicans, raising questions about what they knew of Mr. Foley’s behavior. Political analysts said the scandal ups the odds that Republicans will lose control of the U.S. House of Representatives in upcoming midterm elections.
Tough regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA, however, mean that all organizations are on the hook—and instant messaging software can bypass many of the protections set up to control other forms of electronic communication, such as email.
“If you install any consumer-grade IM client in an enterprise, typically you have bypassed all the security defenses set up for email,” Michael Osterman, president of Osterman Research, said.
Fixable Problem
The problem isn’t unfixable, however. Organizations can opt to ban instant messaging software. They can rip out consumer-class IM software and replace it with an enterprise-grade instant messaging system. Or they can install software that will manage all kinds of consumer IM clients.
Companies such as Symantec, Facetime, and Akonix all sell software to help business manage the use of instant messaging in the workplace. “You really have a couple of good options,” said Mr. Osterman.
Such a fix typically costs between $20 and $100 per user, Mr. Osterman said. Microsoft, however, is offering its instant messaging management software free to customers using its Exchange email software, he noted.
Such software can be used to track, encrypt, and even filter instant communications made via popular instant messaging clients, such as AOL Instant Messenger, made on company time with company equipment.
To review web story or Contact the writer: BCaulfield@RedHerring.com
Posts
All Comments
