Unmanaged Skype use increases security, compliance risks in firms

According to Akonix Systems Inc., a provider of instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products, enterprises are facing increased security and compliance risks due to the unmanaged use of Skype on corporate networks. In a September 2006 survey, Akonix found that nearly 43% of respondents claimed that Skype is allowed on their corporate networks, and only 27% said their organizations blocks the use of Skype.

IT News Online

Yahoo! copies Google, will offer IM within email

Despite the enormous popularity of Google’s Gmail, and the massive flip Gmail received when it launched offering 1Gb of free storage, which doubled to 2Gb and is now nearly 3Gb, Yahoo! Mail still has 10 times the users Gmail enjoys. So why copy Google?

More at IT Wire

Study: IM Equaling Popularity of E-mail

Instant messaging continues to grow as a medium for online communication, according to details of a study released by America Online on Thursday. Instant messaging is up 19 percent, and 38 percent of all users say they now send more IMs than e-mails.

The survey also found that one-third of users connect to instant messaging networks through their mobile phones. This is nearly twice the number recorded last year, when only 19 percent said they used such services, and over three times as high as in 2003, when the number stood at 10 percent.

BetaNews Survey Results

CRM, ERP, ILM . . . & iPods?

iPods, smartphones, instant messaging, blogs, wikis and nearly every form of consumer technology have begun to infiltrate the enterprise, sometimes with profound effects. If you’re looking to slash your phone bills, turn to instant messaging platforms or even Skype, a consumer VoIP tool. Just be sure to archive any instant message the same way you do for email or spreadsheets, all the more if Sarbox, HIPAA or other regulations apply. Business-grade IM systems, such as those from WebEx, Akonix, and Jabber, can help.

Processor Product News

Manage Skype use in your SME

IT managers face new security challenges every day, and the different types of threats are on the rise. In addition to detecting and blocking the usual cyber attacks, IT directors are growing aware that they must also now guard against the vulnerabilities surrounding Skype technology as employees bring it into the workplace. To help IT managers deal with the vulnerabilities associated with Skype in the workplace, Akonix rolled out a new security appliance, the L7 Skype Manager 2.0.

Processor Products News