Mailbag: Large vs. small organizations

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: MICHAEL OSTERMAN ON MESSAGING
08/23/05
Today's focus: Mailbag: Large vs. small organizations

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Readers discuss messaging differences at different
  organizations
* Links related to Messaging
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponosred by Arbor Networks
Special Report: Internal Intrusion Prevention: Providing
Network Security Inside the Perimeter

In order to meet the demands of today's enterprise IT
infrastructures, enterprises must deploy the right solution for
mitigating threats that target internal resources. This paper
discusses the requirements for enterprise-wide network security
- to monitor, analyze, and react to threats across the network
in real-time.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110800
_______________________________________________________________
MOOCHING WI-FI

Have you ever connected to an open wireless network that you
knew was not yours? Aside from the moral question, identity
theft, eavesdropping and virus attacks could be real security
concerns when connecting via an open access point. Find out why
the debate rages over mooching Wi-Fi. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110665
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Mailbag: Large vs. small organizations

By Michael Osterman

My recent article on messaging at smaller vs. larger
organizations led to a couple of very interesting observations
from readers of the column.

The first reader wrote:

"As someone who has worked in senior IT in small, medium and
large organizations, I believe that I can shed some light on the
differences [among them]. You are quite correct when you look at
the messaging cost per user, particularly in terms of labor
costs. For example, adding a word to an anti-spam list is a
fixed time cost, but the impact will vary quite considerably
depending upon the number of mailboxes affected. In the hardware
and software arena this can also be true, especially when
expensive hardware, back-up solutions and software are
purchased. Fewer users mean that less powerful (cheaper)
hardware can be used. In cases where the licensing is based on
the number of users, rather than the server product, the savings
to small business are so great that they can often afford to
implement solutions which the larger organization cannot.

"I think that a large portion of the problem centers around the
social aspects of the organization. In a large organization, the
IT department is largely unapproachable and users tend to focus
less on the small issues, such as spam. Certainly, complaints
about spam generally do not filter upwards to management
meetings on a regular basis. In a small company, however, these
minor issues are frequently tabled at management meetings and
the IT department is much more approachable - so approachable,
in fact, that the CEOs of these companies will often ask IT
managers to come into their offices and look at what is on their
screen. When the CEO of a company points out a spam problem, it
is difficult to ignore it or brush it off as a necessary evil."

The second reader wrote:

"At smaller companies, such as [the one] I work at now, we're
not allowed to have a militant stance on anything that cramps
upper management's environment - users and other employees see
this and want [the same thing]. So militant corporate
environment versus homestyle companies is the real difference."

The bottom line, at least for some companies, is that the
corporate culture in smaller companies - much of which is
dictated simply by the size of the organization - may be a key
determinant in how messaging systems are managed. Smaller
organizations face a similar, but meaningfully different, set of
problems than do larger organizations, a fact that vendors need
to take into account when designing and supporting systems aimed
at smaller organizations.

The original article can be found here
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5627>.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco preparing management play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5628>

2. VoIP security threats: Fact or fiction?
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg3761>

3. Questions surround smartphone security
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5629>

4. CLECs play a new tune
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5630>

5. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5397>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco preparing management play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmsg5631>
_______________________________________________________________
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 sponosred by Arbor Networks
Special Report: Internal Intrusion Prevention: Providing
Network Security Inside the Perimeter

In order to meet the demands of today's enterprise IT
infrastructures, enterprises must deploy the right solution for
mitigating threats that target internal resources. This paper
discusses the requirements for enterprise-wide network security
- to monitor, analyze, and react to threats across the network
in real-time.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110799
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Messaging newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/gwm/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
WIRELESS LANS BUYER'S GUIDE: THE GOODS ON 185 PRODUCTS

We've compiled the largest buyer's guide ever on wireless LAN
equipment. Whether you're looking for an access point, PC Card
or trying to decide between 802.11a, b or g, take a look at the
information that vendors have provided us. We've got the goods
on 185 products. Click here for more:
<http://www.networkworld.com/bg/wlan/index.jsp>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005