Instant Messaging Rules: A Business Guide to Managing Policies, Security, and Legal Issues for Safe IM Communication

IM Rule # 11: Don’t Rush to Standardize Instant Messaging.

Enterprise IM offers undeniable benefits including antivirus and encryption tools, as well as the ability to control user IDs, monitor content, and save and store messages. On the downside, enterprise systems limit users to internal chat with other people on the same system. Expect some defiant employees to disregard policy and attempt to download personal IM clients for external use—even after your enterprise-grade system is installed.