Skype making a smart move in partnering with a security company
on February 1st, 2007 at 2:24 pmI picked up on this story from a post at the nCircle blog. Looks like Skype is trying to make themselves palatable to security admins by hooking up with security companies. The first one they are partnering with is FaceTime Communications, who produce software and appliances that help businesses monitor and secure use of instant messaging. Also in the article:
Skype is looking to team with a number of security companies, also for consumer applications. In a recent interview, Skype Chief Security Officer Kurt Sauer said the company is in discussions with security firms to provide add-ons to its software to scan text sent through Skype’s chat feature for malicious links.
I think this is a good move for Skype and will likely help them become more “sticky”, but I still agree with Andrew at nCircle:
I’d welcome a Skype client that I could monitor, configure and centrally manage. Until then, keep it away from my networks.
Vet
“Yup, Skype needs to make sure they are very aware of their place and market. They simply cannot market to companies big enough that might face regulations and the requirements to log/monitor the traffic.”
That may be true but I am sure the entire energy trading industry would be interested in greater security around this application considering how rampant it is in that market. Everyone from traders to schedules and accounts use some form of IM in that space and Skype has had a large presence in many of the ones I have experience with. I think the market could be there but am still not sure. The execution of their strategy should be interesting.
Yup, Skype needs to make sure they are very aware of their place and market. They simply cannot market to companies big enough that might face regulations and the requirements to log/monitor the traffic. They need to make sure they just stop and don’t go there unless they’re willing to make those changes.
Personally, I like Skype for personal use, and really do not like it on my networks. I really dislike how it just kills any attempts to check out firewall connections because the P2P nature sends its tendrils everywhere; Japan, Norway, China, Chile, Canada…all Skype. Nonetheless, I can’t always condemn it in smaller networks or more open networks. If people use it to do business and make life happier, be more productive, ad save some money on phone calls, so be it. I’m not always a fan of lockdowns and filtering.
Thanks for the article post, I hadn’t seen this one yet!