Stories about: Ferris Research

Unison Technologies is offering its Linux-based unified communications software without charge to small and mid-size companies willing to share their employees' eyeballs and attention spans.

Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration server software is, by many accounts, a huge hit, providing that seemingly irresistible formula of solid technology for free or at a low price.

Spam. It fills our in-boxes, wastes our time and spreads malware -- and it's only getting worse. According to Ferris Research, which studies messaging and content control, 40 trillion spam messages are expected to be sent in 2008, costing businesses more than $140 billion worldwide -- a significant increase from the 18 trillion spam messages sent in 2006 and the 30 trillion in 2007.

E-mail: Can't live without it, can't stand the hassles. Is it any wonder many people rely on Instant Messaging for co-worker communications?

While Google has reportedly shown an interest in collaborating with Yahoo to ward off a potential takeover bid from Microsoft, and other companies have contacted Yahoo, it's unlikely that any of them could beat Microsoft's offer, analysts said Monday.

As Microsoft tries to take on search company Google for more advertising revenue by offering to acquire Yahoo Inc., a big question remains: Can Microsoft and Yahoo together best Google?

Remember the old philosophical puzzler: If a tree falls down in a forest and nobody is there to hear it, are we sure it made a sound? With Tuesday's launch of Office Communications Server 2007, Microsoft is trying to render centuries of existential debate moot. Because as years of hype around OCS show, when Microsoft launches a new product, everyone wants to hear about it.

The volume of digital data created and storage by organisations continues to grow exponentially, typically anywhere from 30% -- 60% per annum. For most organisations this level of digital data growth is not new, however what is different is that growth is now being driven by unstructured data.

It isn't just the massive growth of digital data, which is escalating at a rate of 30 to 60 percent per annum, that is keeping IT managers awake at night. It is the exponential growth of unstructured data that is emerging as the real source of enterprise mayhem.

How do you know if your computer, or any of the computers in the network you manage, has become infected with zombie code? After all, the programs that turn a computer into an undead slave for spammers and phishers don't install a desktop icon or an entry on the Windows Start menu. A survey of experts reveals some agreement on basic steps you can take to reduce the risk of having your machines join the army of the evil botnet undead.

The latest IT security threat plaguing the office is actually clipped to the belts and purses of a company's mobile workforce.