Shedding some light on information security

Unified Communications This newsletter is sponsored by MessageGate Free Research: Reshaping Info Security In this insightful study, you will understand the key drivers that are reshaping information security resulting from the convergence of content and security in corporate messaging. Through candid discussions, info-security executives from leading US companies share what's keeping them up at night and solutions to help solve these messaging issues. Network World's Unified Communications Newsletter, 05/24/07 Shedding some light on information security By Michael Osterman MessageGate recently published a report entitled ‘Reshaping Information Security: The Convergence of Content & Security in Corporate Messaging.’ The report focused on understanding the impact that growing quantities of e-mail and deficiencies in end-user security are having on organizations’ ability to manage their messaging-related data. Here are a few highlights from this very interesting report: * E-mail storage is ‘out of control’ in many organizations, a finding that Osterman Research has consistently uncovered in its own research. * People are a critical factor in managing the security of information systems and the content they manage. Decision-makers are actually more concerned about how their employees use technology than they are about the technology itself. VoIP: Lessons from Early Adopters Experts say VoIP isn't a magic wand that will solve all of an organization's communications challenges right out of the box. Learn why VoIP may not produce expected savings and productivity gains, and other lessons from early adopters. Click Here to Watch * E-mail will expand into unified communications and will include a broad array of communications media, making management of content and systems more difficult. However, none of the respondents in the roundtable discussions conducted for the MessageGate report was desirous of ‘turning voice mails into e-mails.’ * IT departments and information security functions are increasingly called upon to become expert in data retention, e-discovery and legal issues, since internal demand for these skills is increasing significantly. * Companies should develop committees or other internal groups whose focus is security, content management and other issues related to e-discovery, data retention and similar issues. Being proactive in this way can make a company better suited to address key governance issues early on that they will eventually have to face anyway. * It is essential to understand what information assets an organization has, where these assets are stored and the individuals or groups that have access to them. * Although organizations are becoming better able to respond to e-mail-related e-discovery requests, systems do not exist in many organizations that will allow them easy access to this content. The full report is available for download from the MessageGate Web site.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

TODAY'S MOST-READ STORIES: 1. A cynic rips open source 2. IT jargon you just love to hate 3. Top 15 controversial Microsoft quotes 4. Cisco routers cause major outage in Japan 5. Foundry readies monster Ethernet switch 6. Alltel agrees to $27.5B buyout 7. Why Argonne has pulled the plug on VoIP 8. Slideshow: Foundry's biggest Ethernet switch 9. DoD software protection comes to commercial sector 10. Microsoft won't sue over Linux - yet MOST-READ REVIEW: Midtier management tools register high marks

Contact the author: For webinars or research on messaging, or to join the Osterman Research market research survey panel, go here. Osterman Research helps organizations understand the markets for messaging and directory related offerings. To e-mail Michael, click here. This newsletter is sponsored by MessageGate Free Research: Reshaping Info Security In this insightful study, you will understand the key drivers that are reshaping information security resulting from the convergence of content and security in corporate messaging. Through candid discussions, info-security executives from leading US companies share what's keeping them up at night and solutions to help solve these messaging issues. ARCHIVE Archive of the Unified Communications Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007