Bullet-Proofing Instant Messaging

Information workers on the job often turn to the same software tools they use at home for quick, unfettered communication. When that involves consumer-grade instant messaging (IM) programs, such as AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger, your organization's network is at risk for malware infections. You may also have to deal with the results of regulatory compliance breaches and copyright violations. Management must confront these risks squarely, or face potential losses of millions of dollars for malware clean-up, fines, damages and legal costs. At least one Internet Service Provider went out of business due in part to exposure of insecure and inappropriate IM traffic among its executives, and security experts have ranked IM as a leading vector for malware infections at work since 2003. Don't get caught in the IM trap!

Incorporation of Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings lets you sidestep the risks of uncontrolled use of IM in the workplace. These services filter and screen IM traffic to block malware, impose content and access controls to prevent compliance failures and stop the unauthorized exchange of copyrighted materials by inspecting and blocking specific types of content, such as music, movies and videos. By controlling who uses IM at work, and how IM gets used, your organization can proactively manage IM communications and mitigate its potential risks. MessageLabs hosted IM Security Services (IMSS) enables organizations to turn a source of potential loss and trouble into a productivity enhancement. Read our white paper to get all the details.