Businesses failing to monitor IM

Businesses are failing to track and archive information contained in instant messaging (IM) conversations among employees.

According to a survey of 690 IT directors across Europe, the Middle East and Africa by vendor Hitachi Data Systems, only 22 per cent of medium to large UK organisations monitor IM and just nine per cent say they archive IM data.

Failure to record such details could mean that UK firms are not complying with regulations that require auditing of all electronic communications, including email and IM.

The research found that the UK lagged behind many European countries. Spain has the highest rates of scrutiny, with 70 per cent of Spanish IT directors monitoring IM and 63 per cent archiving IM data.

On average, 36 per cent of companies surveyed monitor IM and 26 per cent archive IM data.

IM is one of the world's fastest growing communications tools, expected to surpass email in terms of worldwide traffic by 2006.

Analysts estimate that in many organisations employees are using IM whether or not their bosses are aware of it.

Tony Reid, director of solutions marketing at Hitachi Data Systems, said in a statement: "Part of the reason why companies have been slow to monitor IM may be that it was originally intended as a consumer tool.

"It has unexpectedly caught on among business users because it is a more instantaneous alternative to email which allows a rapid two-way dialogue."

See also:

Microsoft updates corporate IM

Live Communications Server 2005 released as beta  05 May 2004

IT missing from compliance planning

Two thirds of financial firms fail to involve IT in meeting regulatory requirements  26 Apr 2004

Spim is the new spam

Spammers turn to instant messaging to peddle porn and get-rich-quick scams  31 Mar 2004

IT key to regulatory compliance

Major technology challenge ahead for financial services firms as legislation looms  26 Mar 2004

Legislation increases pressure on business

Companies are struggling to cope as compliance burden grows  24 Mar 2004

UK banks failing to regulate IM use

Important transactions being made via free instant messaging networks  31 Jul 2003

Companies ignore IM risks

Many IT managers are adopting a head-in-the-sand attitude toward instant messaging  12 May 2003

Comment: IM can be good for business

Despite scare stories that say instant messaging undermines security and productivity, companies should now be considering IM as a business tool, says Madeline Bennett  28 Apr 2003

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