Zardon

Enterprise instant messaging (EIM) security provider IM-Age Software is introducing a tool that safeguards private networks from the issues associated with introducing public IM into private enterprise networks. While other companies offer similar protection through either hardware or software configurations, IM-Age says it performs its tasks at a low price.

The IM-Age for Desktops service, introduced today, lets companies bring security features like authentication, encryption, auditing and logging into networks that access the public IM networks of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, MSN Messenger/Windows Mess and Yahoo Messenger. One unique feature of the software is that it also protects networks that use IBM Lotus Sametime.

The software's auditing feature archives all sessions on public IM networks. This ensures compliance with legal and industry-specific requirements for companies who have to deal with rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), as well as healthcare and insurance firms that have to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

Certain human resource, legal and business-communication guidelines also require that EIM conversations via the public IM networks be logged. A special "alert" feature, meantime, provides keyword tracking and reporting that can alert an administrator or manager via pager, phone, e-mail or SMS.

The system uses blowfish 448 bit encryption for internal and external communications. And the software eliminates "spoofing" by authenticating other users upon inquiry.

IM-Age goes beyond security features, though. The software's "OneKey" lets users assign canned responses or commands to specific function keys. An option that forces disclaimers on all IM transmissions is also available, although a "stealth mode" is also available for enterprises that don't want to notify users that communications are being recorded.

The retail price for IM-Age for Desktops is $39.95 per desktop -- a one-time price. Companies have two choices, in terms of where the service is hosted. A self-hosted model costs $2,995 per server. An application-service provider (ASP) model is also available for a 30% per year annual hosting fee, including a 20% subscription fee that gives enterprises all updates and upgrades to the purchased software. The subscription fee is also available for the self-hosted model.

The new "IM-Age Sniffer" is also available for free. This software lets companies measure the amount of current IM traffic on their corporate networks. The Sniffer can also perform keyword searches to help identify specific non-compliance issues.

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