Instant messaging in the workplace is a mixed bag. For employees, it's a convenient and reliable communication medium. For employers, it's a serious and worrisome security risk. Attackers are increasingly targeting IM users with viruses and spim, the IM version of spam.

Sybari Software's response to growing corporate concerns over IM monitoring and protection earned its Antigen for Instant Messaging Version 7 a Silver Award in the messaging category. Antigen earned high marks for performance, functionality and ease of use. The one factor that clouded judges' reviews was pricing -- licensing costs vary depending on a company's size and network complexity.

Antigen for Instant Messaging integrates with Microsoft's Live Communications Server and IMlogic's IM Manager to inspect and safeguard corporate and consumer instant messaging activity. It allows administrators to scan instant messaging programs for viruses, monitor conversations, filter content and block file transfers. Administrators, senders and recipients can receive real-time notifications via pop-up text messages and SMTP e-mail notifications when viruses are detected or rules are triggered.

For those concerned with corporate confidentiality, privacy and legal issues, the product also provides conduct and security parameters in four categories: spam, profanity, racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Administrators can customize these pre-populated lists to include additional confidential and unacceptable words.

Pricing: Licensing costs vary based on network size and configuration and number of clients supported.

Christine Polewarczyk, editor