Smaller businesses need anti-spam protection from
ISPs, not in-house software installations.
With companies such as Sophos now entering the
small business arena by offering 'simplified' server-level
anti-spam solutions based on their larger enterprise products,
Isode is outlining to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) the
threats and opportunities raised by this move.
In a recent company newsletter, CEO Steve Kille
commented "A small business needs the same level of spam
protection as their larger counterparts, not a cut-down package
designed with cost as the main driver."
"Presenting small businesses with simplified
versions of enterprise packages implies that spam received by
small businesses is somehow different to that received by larger
enterprises. The reality is that the requirements of SMEs are
every bit as complex as those of large organisations and the low
level of in-house IT expertise makes dealing with failure a far
greater resource drain."
Isode's own server level-anti spam product,
M-Switch Anti Spam, has found a ready market amongst ISPs
looking to provide anti-spam services to their SME customers,
customers who do not have and have no wish to acquire the
technical and support skills necessary to implement an in-house
solution.
"This apparent threat to the ISPs traditional
role of protecting the interests of their customers serves
merely to muddy the waters for small businesses looking for a
one-stop outsourced solution to their spam problem that does not
involve them becoming involved in technology management."
"ISPs need to clearly set out the case for
anti-spam as a delivered service rather than an installed
product or risk losing customers to the fear, uncertainty and
doubt being generated by Sophos."
