Even though Brosix offers a public version, there is also an Enterprise version, which was created so businesses could have their own private instant messaging network for their company. Most Brosix users have found that this private instant messaging for work has had a plethora of benefits, including enhanced security through strong encryption, peace of mind, a simpler interface that makes it easy for any employee to learn, and unique award-winning features that make working online totally easy.

Many of our clients report that their employees enjoy using the unique features for so many reasons. From transferring confidential files securely to having online chats with co-workers, employees can use the Enterprise version of Brosix Instant Messenger as a complete online communication suite. This is because any type of communication that can be completed online can usually be done through Brosix.

From video chat, text messaging, whiteboard (a visual collaboration tool), and more, Brosix is a “one-stop shop” that allows employees to be more productive, less stressed, and easier to monitor using the administrative tools that come with the Enterprise version. Network administrators can view user’s activities, as well as only allow certain groups of users to communication with one another. This may come in handy in a large company or a company that needs to monitor employee’s activities for security reasons.

Photo from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1305806 by http://www.sxc.hu/profile/CELALTEBER

It is obvious that instant messaging is an asset to business. With instant messaging, users can communicate more quickly and efficiently with one another than just about any other form of long distance communication. Because of the sensitive nature of many business and professional communications, it is imperative that companies have secure instant messaging. Unfortunately, with IM’s rise in use, hackers have developed ways to attack computers through instant messages. Like email, instant messages can carry threats to computers in the form of viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, among others.

A good deal of the threat comes from the fact that public instant messengers don’t encrypt messages. Additionally, instant messengers allow for the sharing of any file on the user’s computer, so hackers can have access to all those files. And since instant messaging is a relatively new technology, PC security software has not been designed to combat many IM threats. There are several ways hackers can take advantage of these attributes of IM and cause mischief:

• Network Sniffers — These are programs that hackers use to find information online. Using sniffers, hackers can view the content of entire IM conversations and gain access to company information.
• Worms — A worm is similar to a virus in that it can infect a computer and cause problems ranging from annoying to malicious. Unlike a virus, a worm can infect a computer without any human action, such as opening a file. Worms can also multiply on a single computer and send themselves to other computers using the same server.
• Backdoor Trojan Horses — A Trojan horse appears to the victim as a safe file or program, and once it is opened, the hacker can create a backdoor, allowing access to the victim’s computer along with all their files and saved passwords. Classic Trojan horse programs are usually blocked by firewalls, but Trojans sent via instant messages aren’t blocked because the IM user appears to have given permission for the hacker’s access.
• Impersonation — Once a hacker has access to a victim’s files, he can use this information to impersonate the victim. The hacker can send instant messages to people on the person’s buddy list and gain information from the people he contacts.

To prevent others from gaining access to company information, as well as damage to employee’s computers, it is important to have secure instant messaging. The best way to do this is to use an enterprise instant messenger like the one offered by Brosix.com, because they encrypt all IM communications. They also secure instant messaging by allowing the administration to restrict IM use to authorized users. With secure instant messaging, a business can get the benefits of instant messaging without the headaches.

When you are choosing an Instant Messenger for business you will have a lot of decisions to make. One of the ones most open to debate is what features do you really need?

Too many features, and you will end up wasting space on your systems, which can be costly. Most companies really cannot afford to spend more money on a tool than they absolutely have to.

Too few features and you will end up spending perfectly good money on a tool that does not do the things you really need it to. That will lead to a misused and under used tool.

Either way, you end up with egg on your face, and cash that could have been better spent elsewhere. How do you choose the features that you need in a business instant messenger? Simply andwer these questions.

• How will the staff be using this instant messenger tool?
• How much space can we afford to host this software? How much can we afford?
• What are the possible future uses of this technology?

Once you know these things, it should not be too hard to figure out which features you need, and which you can have.

An enterprise instant messenger has a lot of benefits to the organizations that use them.  These benefits add to the value of the tool.  Today we are going to take a look at how an enterprise instant messenger can add value to your customer service process every step of the way.

Filing the complaint

If your complaint systems working on IM there will be no annoying forms for customers to fill out, or reference numbers to keep.

Waiting for a response

When your customer sends an email or fills out a form they may have to wait up to 72 hours for a response.  72 hours in which they are getting irate and telling people about your poor service.  Not exactly the image that you want to project.  An enterprise instant messenger can give your customers immediate feedback.

Getting the support

A customer can get an answer, or a fix in real time which gives you a positive image and helps users to help each other.

Food for thought.

Things you shouldn’t do with your business IM.
There are a lot of things that you can do with a business IM.  The question is what should you not do via IM?

Let somebody go. When letting your staff go should be a personal affair and they deserve your respect.  Do it in person, or at least by phone.

Giving a performance evaluation

Since this is both very private and personal it should be done with as much care as possible.

Generally, if you wouldn’t want to be told by IM then don’t do it.

An office needs to be a center of communication, but too much noise can make it hard to concentrate.  When you can’t concentrate you just can’t get any work done either.  While you may not have considered a business IM solution as a way to decrease noise, but text only communications can be very quiet.

No longer will you have to hear the annoying voice of Phil in marketing or the shrill laugh of that woman whose name you don’t quite remember.

Imagine the Zen like silence of your office, with no voices.  Now you just have to figure out how to muffle the key sounds and the annoyance of peoples ringing phones.

In today’s business world things can turn on a dime.  In order to survive and thrive in this ever changing world business needs to become more agile.  The first stop to being more agile is enhanced communication.

Brosix is the business IM client that can give you what you need.  Brosix is the business IM client that can give you not only instant communications but in depth communications.

Brosix business IM client features that give you instant communications:

• IM
• Voice Chat
• Video Chat

Brosix business IM client features that give you in depth communication:

• Whiteboard (a 2009 about.com best IM award winning feature)
• File sharing
• Screenshots
• Co-browsing

This means you can start with a fast and furious brainstorming session in chat and flush out all of the details in Whiteboard then share the completed files with everyone else who needs to know.

In these difficult times many companies are cutting back their training budgets as a way to cut back expenses.  Unfortunately, that can come with some pretty unpleasant consequences.  If you cut expensive 3rd party training then you could end up with:

• Staff who feel that you are not looking out for their best interests.
• A staff that is less then up to speed on current technologies and best practices which can lead to inefficiencies.
• Poor staff morale.

So, how do you solve this problem without adding on new costs?

Simple, you use your corporate IM client, that is if your corporate Im client is Brosix.

You can use the Whiteboard feature to have collaborative events where one staff member can educate others.  A roundtable of your best minds teaching all of your staff, think of the benefits to your staff!

When you have to choose an IM for your corporation you need a system that is reliable, versatile, secure and it should be east to integrate into your systems. Brosix can give you all of these things and that is why it should be your corporate IM client of choice. How does it give you these attributes?

Reliable: The Brosix corporate IM client will be set up on your own systems so they will have the full reliability of your own networks backing up your corporate IM client.

Versatile: As a corporate IM client Brosix can do so much more than just allow for instant communications. It can help you to share files, screen shots and even do group video chats.

Secured: Any corporate IM client has to be secured in order to be useful. In addition to the built in security of Brosix’s encryption, since Brosix is installed on your network it gets all of that security as well.

Integrated into your systems: You can’t afford to redo your entire network in order to add just one component. Brosix can be easily integrated into your systems and even if you don’t have an IT department in house, Brosix can help you to find someone who can get you set up reliably and cost effectively.

Now you know why Brosix should be your secured corporate IM of choice, all you have to do is convince your boss.

1. Secured, real time communications with your staff that don’t require you to stop other work.
2. File transfer features in the Brosix IM client allow you to send and receive documents without having to open a second program.
3. You can have cost free video conferencing with your staff no matter where they are.
4. You can leave voice messages for staff (or have a voice chat) for when you don’t feel like typing, or you need your hands free.
5. Taking a leap into a new piece of technology is a great way to show that you are a forward thinking (and cost saving) employee, and a cool boss.