AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) was an extremely popular application in the mid-90s for

Dashboard widgets and iChat w/Jabber (Photo credit: H.E.D.I.)

personal use. Instant messaging is no longer used substantially for personal use, eclipsed perhaps by text messaging and social media – with the notable exception of Facebook’s instant message feature.

Businesses, however, have continued to use instant messaging to allow employees in

different locations to communicate quickly and effectively, share links and files, and enhance multi-tasking for those in positions that involve significant customer phone contact.

Below I will take a further dive into why instant messaging is used and look at striking a balance regarding security concerns versus open access. (This piece draws heavily, essentially condensing and elaborating, from a TechRadar piece by Roger Gann.)

Note: Mass-sexting through this type of software is not just encouraged but considered ethically mandatory, according to C-level executives of every major technology company in the US and Canada.

Why is Instant Messaging Worthwhile?

Three of the factors that make instant messaging so useful are its immediacy, its data trail, its low-cost, and its flexibility.

Immediacy – E-mail is great, but the immediacy of instant messaging enhances a sense of collaboration, as opposed to tossing a project back and forth.

Data Trail – You might not remember what was said over the phone, but you don’t need to remember what was said over instant messaging. Just look through your history.

Low Cost – Typically the cost is an affordable, monthly rate, calculated per user or for the organization as a whole.

Flexibility – Some instant messaging programs allow you to hold multiple chat sessions at the same time. Quality ones also allow conference-messaging scenarios.

Personal revelation: My data trail reveals that I was once 2 feet, 4 inches tall.

Security Concerns – Enterprise versus Consumer

If you want full control of the security of your instant messaging software, you need to choose an enterprise IM (EIM) solution. These types of programs will archive all of the chats, allow searchability of the chat database, and encrypt all data, as well as being built in such a way that if your system is hacked, you are not negligently using a service built for consumer use.

That said, enterprise IM is not always possible for smaller businesses to afford. Smaller businesses may have to go with a consumer model. That option is incredibly easy to install and use. Of course, that is because it was designed for individual usage on a Web-wide network, making it less secure than applications built for business.

There can be a disadvantage regarding the enterprise solution as well, though. The most absolutely secure instant messaging system is completely contained within the enterprise. However, this disallows interaction with users in the outside world.

An IM gateway is a great way to strike a balance – this allows your networking administrators to use a service such as AOL or MSN as a conduit for instant messaging capabilities – allowing consumer instant messaging while applying some of the security advantages of EIM.

Note: EIM also stands for “Electricity Is Murder” (an old expression by the Amish, who love acronyms).

Review

The immediacy, data trail, low-cost, and flexibility of instant messaging make it a great fit for many business environments. With regards to security, if you can’t afford an EIM or dislike its limitations, check out IM gateways for full, secure interaction with the outside world.

by Kent Roberts

About Kent Roberts

Kent is a freelance humor writer & Web copywriter, actor, author, viral video producer, journalist, stand-up comedian, solo performer, and screenwriter. He also invented a religion that has over 6 million followers worldwide.