Risk Management Strategies for Instant Messaging
Part Two in the Series – The Increasing Importance of
Compliance Programs and Archiving Solutions
By Paul Ritter, Vice President, Interactive Media Strategies
Instant Messaging is now universally viewed as a form of electronic communications in the same way that e-mail has been for more than two decades. A rapidly growing number of regulations require businesses to preserve and maintain copies of electronic communications as “business records” and to produce the content of those communications on demand to ensure firms are properly following compliance guidelines that have been promulgated.
One of the primary objectives of this white paper is to drive home the key message that companies should not view compliance efforts as merely a means to avoid fines, but rather as part of an overall strategy for managing a range of risks posed to the firm by uncontrolled electronic communications such as instant messaging. True and effective compliance requires a three-pronged approach involving both physical controls and administrative measures. The three prongs to compliance are:
- Develop effective policies and procedures that address the specific requirements mandated by the compliance regulations
- Enforce the policies and procedures
- Deploy technology that automates the process of monitoring.
Implementing effective controls for complying with the range of regulations that exist will help firms achieve business value far beyond the intangible benefit of the peace of mind gained from satisfactory compliance. Organizations should look to derive meaningful benefits such as more streamlined operations, increased efficiency of IT systems and enhanced communications across the company. This white paper examines several of the myriad regulations that impact how organizations use, transmit, secure, and preserve instant messages, and presents control strategies for minimizing risks associated with noncompliance.
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