Web filtering company SurfControl has introduced new technology that helps companies block instant messaging - -an application beloved by employees but a headache for some information technology managers.
SurfControl Instant Message Filter lets companies thwart staff from installing and using IM applications from companies such as AOL Time Warner, Yahoo and MSN. In addition, the tool stops employees from using peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa, which can be technologically cumbersome to corporate networks.
"The problem is that these tools pose significant risks to corporations, including security risks and losses to productivity and network bandwidth," said Craig Copeland, director of local distributor, Networks Unlimited.
Instant messaging has become so popular that it`s practically replaced the watercooler for office chitchat among co-workers. IM is rapidly infiltrating the workplace, with traffic from instant chat expected to soar by 130% next year to 4.3 million messages each day, according to researcher IDC. Still, most IM use in the workplace is without the knowledge or consent of IT administrators, Copeland said.
As a result, companies have already started to ban IM at work -- a trend that has become both a threat and an opportunity for IM providers. On one hand, service providers risk losing customers through corporations shutting down IM services and turning to other software vendors that will comply with their demands for better security. At the same time, the big three Internet companies are jumping on the opportunity to sell versions of their IM services -- which are traditionally free -- to the corporate market.
Copeland said SurfControl`s filtering tool bolsters corporate security on a number of fronts. Companies face legal liability when or if employees use IM to leak confidential information about business dealings, for example. In addition, many virus-infected files can be imported through IM or file-swapping applications, he said.
The filtering technology allows companies to pick a specific public IM or file-sharing application to block from the server; it can also let companies select groups of employees who can continue use of such applications. IM Filter will be available mid-May.
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Networks Unlimited provides product solutions in the areas where efficient networking communications is the key to success. Our solutions are focused on providing tangible results to our clients through network management, productivity and security solutions.
SurfControl
SurfControl is the world`s number one Web and e-mail filtering company, offering a total content security solution. SurfControl combines Web and e-mail filtering technology with the industry`s largest, most accurate and relevant content database and adaptive reasoning tools to automate content recognition.
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