Silicon.com has an interesting article on the precautions that need to be taken when introducing Skype into the enterprise environment and whether it even should be introduced at all.
Ross Armstrong, a senior analyst at Info-Tech Research, stated that the most important thing was to raise awareness to the issue:
“The real message is not to ban Skype flat-out but if you are going to consider its use, then rein it in or lock it down, the same as you would with IM.”
Armstrong likened the VoIP app’s rise in businesses to instant messaging. “IM snuck in through the back door… and wasn’t managed centrally by IT,” he said. “Any rogue item like that always presents vulnerabilities [in an enterprise] whether or not the technology itself has vulnerabilities.”
Skype’s security holes may not threaten businesses more than those in IM or email, Armstrong explained, “but because Skype is new, the vulnerabilities might not be as well known”.
Hmmm…. interesting. I don’t go much on it myself, I’ve had it running
for a few weeks now.. and I don’t think it’s any better than MSN Messenger.
Think I’ll uninstall it now.
Cheers.
Actually, as an IM, it is lacking quite a few features but it is most definitely the best voice client I’ve ever used. I have some relatives that have gone the whole 9 yards and signed up with SkypeOut and SkypeIN and services like that. For instance, you can get a number in pretty much any area code for about $11 per three months and people can call you on that number any time….and, if you’re not there, you have a digital copy of their voicemail on your computer. I would highly recommend trying it out. Also, Skype has had the LARGEST amount of growth over the course of one year that I do believe I’ve ever seen in a software application. Just my $0.02. :-) Thanks for the comment.