Beware of Skype

By Tim Greene, NetworkWorld.com, 12/13/05

Check out Network World's debate on whether Skype is ready for use in the enterprise and you will agree that the peer-to-per communications software is not ready.

Columnists Rodney Thayer and James Gaskin go into more technical detail but the bottom line is they both acknowledge potential flaws in the security of Skype that should scare network IT executives away big time. Even the columnist taking the pro side points out potential security problems and acknowledges that safe use of the technology in a corporate setting relies on properly trained end users doing the right thing. That is never a comforting thought.

Add to this the potential unbridled use of Skype draining available Internet bandwidth and you've got more than enough reason to say no.

This isn't to pan Skype. It's a useful tool that represents inspired work by smart people. And there is every indication that as it works its way into daily use on e-Bay that advertisers will demand the security uncertainties with Skype be addressed. The huge investment eBay made in Skype and the revenues it hopes to reap from that investment mean eBay must address these concerns. Other businesses should wait for this to happen before embracing the technology themselves.

Corporate IT time is better spent now keeping Skype off corporate networks , difficult as it may be, than trying to make it safe for business use.

Back to Convergence / VoIP Notes

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