IMlogic Boosts IM Security

IMlogic is rolling out an updated version of its IM Manager software, adding virus scanning, content filtering, and antispam capabilities, in response to what it says is increasing concerns over the security of companies' instant messaging infrastructures.

IM Manager 5.0, set to be unveiled at the RSA security conference in San Francisco Monday, builds on the product's existing IM management and logging features to offer companies security features that they are used to having in e-mail.

"IM security is one of the most significant issues on the minds of enterprise executives right now," said Jon Sakoda, director of products at IMlogic. "As people wake up to the benefits of instant messaging they see that security is something they need to address."

More Secure

The new software offers keyword blocking, to ensure that messages fit the corporate environment, spam identification and controls, and a policy enforcement mechanism for archiving and logging that can map to employee IM screen names.

IM Manager is aimed at roping in employees' IM use and adds security and control to popular consumer messaging products from providers such as Yahoo, Microsoft, and America Online. It also works with enterprise messaging products from IBM's Lotus Sametime, Reuters Messaging, and Jabber.

IM Manager is based on an open and extensible architecture so that customers can also integrate it with other corporate security products, the Waltham, Massachusetts, company said.

"I think that 90 percent of [IM users] are still on public IM and what we are doing is partnering with security companies to bring corporate functionality to these networks," Sakoda said.

Setting a Standard

Although a variety of companies, including Microsoft and Yahoo, have rolled out corporate instant messaging products with security features, Sakoda believes that companies that already have a "heterogeneous" IM environment, with employees using different IM clients, need a product that can bring them all in line with a company's standards.

"Companies need to have control over their IM use but they also need to be able to communicate using different clients or else they are at a competitive disadvantage," Sakoda said.

IM Manager 5.0 offers a quick start package that supports up to 100 users for $15,000, with additional licenses priced at $15 per employee.