Readers weigh in on benefits, risks of outsourced messaging

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: MICHAEL OSTERMAN ON MESSAGING
07/19/05
Today's focus: Readers weigh in on benefits, risks of
outsourced messaging

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Mailbag: outsourced messaging
* Links related to Messaging
* Featured reader resource
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THE NEW DATA CENTER: SPOTLIGHT ON STORAGE

Network World's latest report takes a look at storage trends
such as virtualization, encryption and archiving. Here you will
also find seven tips for managing storage in the new data
center, how storage encryption can help ease the threat of
identity theft, why one exec believes its all about the
information and more. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108434
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Today's focus: Readers weigh in on benefits, risks of
outsourced messaging

By Michael Osterman

I received quite a few of responses to my recent article on
messaging outsourcing. Here's a sampling of what I received,
revealing the wide range of opinions on this subject.

* "We have two distinct e-mail user groups: internal employees
  and contracted agents. We use Lotus for the employees and host
  it ourselves. We have outsourced the agent e-mail, and they all
  use Outlook clients to access iPlanet mail [and Webmail]. All of
  our e-mail [is] routed through the outsourced servers. This
  basically provides us with a line of defense against spam, as it
  is filtered at the managed service provider before it ever makes
  it to our mail servers. This also ensures our agents have access
  to e-mail even if the home office mail servers should encounter
  a problem."

* "If a hosting company were to offer low rates for Domino or
  Exchange hosting, what would the performance be? These
  client/server connections require much more bandwidth than SMTP,
  and what would the associated costs be to accommodate this?
  Often a pretty blue sky is painted by the salesman selling these
  outsourced services, and when the deal is signed, the service is
  nowhere near the level end users currently experience with a
  dedicated staff."

* "Because my messaging system is in-house, I control the data.
  I know it is backed up and I can access it as I see fit. I don't
  have to rely on some other company to do what they say they will
  do. I don't have to worry that the messaging company might go
  out of business. If I outsourced our messaging, costs would go
  up, risk would go up. It is an obvious choice for me to keep it
  in-house."

* "I started using... hosted Exchange 2003 services for my
  company's messaging about two months ago and couldn't be
  happier. My small business enjoys all the premium,
  productivity-enhancing services of a Fortune 500 corporation at
  only a few hundred dollars per month, with no need for any
  in-house technical resources. The service is as reliable as
  dial-tone."

* "Outsourcing is a viable solution for many; especially if the
  companies are using e-mail in its most simplistic way. Once you
  get beyond people manually answering e-mail, outsourcing gets
  trickier."

Many thanks to everyone who provided their comments.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Cisco covets anti-spam role
Network World, 07/18/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/071805-cisco-spam.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 Dupont
Reduce Fire Safety Risk in Your Network!

Concerns are rising about the growing number of combustible
cables present in buildings required to service the
ever-increasing demands of IT networks. More workstations are
taxing the infrastructure. These concerns are the thrust behind
new "limited combustible" cables that reduce fire safety risk.
Click here for news, a free demo CD and more. Visit DuPont's
Cabling center today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108631
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Messaging newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/gwm/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
THE ROI OF VOIP

When it comes to VoIP, most network managers are satisfied that
the technology works. But there are questions: What will the new
technology cost to roll out and support, and what benefits can
companies expect to reap? Check out NW's step-by-step guide on
how to determine the true cost and benefits of VoIP. Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/research/2005/071105-voip.html>
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