A slew of instant messaging tools debuted this week, boasting advanced security and administration features deemed necessary for acceptance in the workplace. Smaller vendors such as WiredRed Software, Omnipod, and Akonix Systems are making a serious run at the enterprise, fortifying IM with security tools and reporting features largely absent from popular public services from the likes of America Online, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Most large companies today are contemplating how to satisfy employees who are clamoring for IM, according to Matt Cain, vice president at the research firm Meta Group, in Stamford, Connecticut.

Until now, many organizations have made due with public services such as AOL Instant Messenger or Microsoft MSN Messenger, which have been plagued with viruses and security holes in recent months. "These systems are typically insecure, with no user authentication, no encryption, auditing, or archiving," Cain says. "They are also outside the control of central IT and can bring in destructive payloads like worms and viruses. Most organizations are looking for some alternative to these public mail networks."