Chris,
By "IM" I assume you're referring to Instant Messaging as an ideal, not
any particular protocol or vendor implementation. Which begs the
question, is "IM" is a risk because Christopher J. Wolff, VP CIO a
self-proclaimed tier 1 provider, says so, or because you have facts to
prove it, which you neglected to post? IRC and AIM have been
scrutinized pretty heavily and I can't think of any inherent flaws
(other than lack of out-of-box for support for encryption... but is the
PSTN really any more secure?). Just buggy clients under-educated users
opt to install.
A non-trival amount of providers here use AIM/IRC to help facilitate
inter- and intra-NOC communication, even if they won't readily admit to
it.
Are you blocking "peer-to-peer file sharnig programs" because of
security risks, or because your employeees are wasting your
already-scarce capacity to Global Crossing downloading the new Barry
Manilow album?
Frank Rizzo
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanog at merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog at merit.edu]
Jane,
This brings up a good point about IM. IMHO, IM is a security risk and I
am
establishing a company standard where users behind the firewall
are
prohibited from using IM, IRC, and peer-to-peer file sharing programs.
My
opinion is that these types of programs contribute more to lack
of
productivity than to real problem
solving.
So my question for the group is, do chat programs (IM, IRC, yahoo) serve
a
substantial network support purpose or are they more of a
distraction,
allowing staff to communicate with friends, relatives, drifters,
interlopers
on company
time?
Regards,
Christopher J. Wolff, VP
CIO
Broadband
Laboratories
http://www.bblabs.com
From: owner-nanog at merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog at merit.edu]On Behalf
Of
Pawlukiewicz
Jane
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 12:06
PM
To:
nanog at merit.edu
Subject: How important is the
PSTN
Hi
all,
Thanks so much for all the great answers. (Could everyone please
stop
telling me that im = instant messaging). I knew I should've never
gotten
out of bed this
morning.
Anyway, 75% of the respondents said the phone is critical. 25% said
some
form of IM is
critical.
Just in case anyone was
curious.
Is it me or is it very quiet in here
today?
Jane