Policies are not really IT's job

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: MICHAEL OSTERMAN ON MESSAGING
06/21/05
Today's focus: Policies are not really IT's job

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* IT managers need help on policy decisions
* Links related to Messaging
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Policies are not really IT's job

By Michael Osterman

Any organization should establish policies for the appropriate
use of e-mail, instant messaging, peer-to-peer file-sharing
systems and other corporate assets, for a variety of reasons.
Employees need to know what is considered acceptable use of
these tools, the employer's liability for inappropriate content
leaving the organization needs to be reduced, and so forth. In
most organizations, the IT department is charged with managing
these policies.

However, in a large messaging security survey we recently
completed, we found that a significant number of IT managers
would like some help from the rest of the organization in
managing policies.

For example, we asked IT/messaging decision-makers if C-level
line-of-business managers should be more involved in managing
policies for confidential information and regulatory compliance
in their organizations; 57% of respondents agreed or strongly
agreed that they should be more involved. Similarly, we asked
these messaging decision-makers if their IT group would like to
deploy technology that could help them engage other parts of the
organization in policy creation and enforcement; 50% agreed or
strongly agreed that they would like to do this. Nearly as many
would like a way to enable other parts of the organization to
manage the enforcement of policies for acceptable use and
regulatory compliance.

The message here is reasonably clear: a large percentage of IT
decision-makers charged with managing messaging systems would
like some help in managing policies. In large part, this is due
to the fact that many of the policies in place in an
organization really don't directly affect IT.

For example, while consumer IM use in an organization could
create problems for IT in the context of introducing viruses or
other malware brought into the network, much of the concern with
IM focuses on the productivity issues that line-of-business
managers are concerned about if their employees are chatting
with friends and family while at work.

In short, policy creation and enforcement is everyone's job, not
just IT's. I'd like to get your thoughts about this, whether
you're in IT charged with managing policies or in a
non-technical role and need to implement these policies. Please
drop me a line at <mailto:michael@ostermanresearch.com>

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Postini to promote reputation services
Network World, 06/20/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/062005-postini.html?rl
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Michael Osterman

Michael D. Osterman is the principal of Osterman Research
<http://www.ostermanresearch.com/>, a market research firm that
helps organizations understand the markets for messaging,
directory and related products and services. He can be reached
by clicking here <mailto:michael@ostermanresearch.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Good Technology
Network World Executive Guide: Wireless Security. New Standards
make it easier than ever

As wireless LAN technology reaches the mainstream of enterprise
IT, security continues to be the top barrier to adoption. In
this report, we detail the possible approaches to wireless LAN
security and talk to experts who provide analysis and
recommendations on which ones to use. Register today and get a
free copy of Network World's Wireless Security Executive Guide.

http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107066
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