Messaging in the Corporate Environment

Unified communications and collaboration can speed development, increase efficiency and reduce costs in the corporate environment. The interoperability of e-mail, phones, PDAs and collaborative web applications provides communication options that were unavailable just a few short years ago. These benefits do not come without a price, however.

E-mail

Managing a company e-mail system requires a great deal of technical and administrative time. User administration requires constant attention. Spam filtering is becoming more important as time passes, as e-mail has become one of the most popular attack vectors. The risks posed by phishing scams and malware must be minimized. Additionally, the sheer volume of spam has increased to the point that users may miss important communications if flooded with unsolicited advertising.

Mobile phone, Blackberry®, and PDA issues

Workforce mobility has added another dimension to this scenario. Mobile phone, BlackBerry and PDA users pose additional administrative issues and security risks. It’s important to have the ability to centrally reset device passwords for users, track devices, and lock and wipe lost or stolen devices that may carry sensitive company data.

Instant messaging and collaborative spaces

Instant messaging and web-based collaborative spaces are becoming more popular in the workforce. Productivity is greatly enhanced by these technologies. If uncontrolled, however, their use can have serious implications for the company. Without content filtering, these business tools can become avenues for malware and data leakage.

The DSI Difference

DSI has designed and managed such heterogeneous communications environments for companies ranging in size from a few dozen to thousands of seats. Our knowledge of our customers’ specific business needs allows us to tailor communication solutions that deliver firm ROI. Our knowledge of the administrative tasks, risks and benefits of each of these technologies has allowed us to enhance our customers’ workforce productivity while maintaining proper security and controlling cost. Additionally, DSI has been able to absorb much of the associated administrative workload, freeing our customers’ internal IT staff to handle more strategic business issues.

Example

DSI has implemented and continues to manage e-mail, mobile devices and content filtering for many of our customers. The following is a list of some of the major benefits.