Attempting to justify an enterprise instant messaging (IM) system is difficult for small firms. However, under the loose policies and controls typically present in small organizations, public IM tends to creep in and becomes a threat to the enterprise. The following case study looks at the dynamics at play within Company X and examines how it learned the hard way that public IM should be banned and replaced with an enterprise solution.
This case study takes a 360-degree view of Company X's IM implementation and studies the following aspects:
- Decision drivers.
- Limiting criteria.
- Vendor selection process.
- Software launch.
- Business communication.
- Lessons learned.
The experience of Company X illustrates that enterprise IM can be implemented and company security increased, even with no strong executive support and scarce resources.
