SAN DIEGO -- Akonix Systems, Inc., provider of the most deployed instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products in the world, today introduced the Akonix A1000 IM Essentials Appliance, a simple-to-install and administer, all-in-one IM management solution designed specifically to address the risk management, archiving and compliance needs for IM use in small and medium-sized business (SMBs). The A1000 IM Essentials Appliance, priced at $6,995, includes 100 seats and provides smaller firms an all-inclusive, complete risk management solution for instant messaging.

The SMB market faces significant demands as it has IT requirements similar to those of larger enterprises, primarily due to federal and industry regulations, but significantly fewer resources. In order to meet the financial, security and compliance obligations of smaller organizations, Akonix now offers the A1000 IM Essentials Appliance. The unit is factory-configured with Akonix's L7 Enterprise(tm), a risk management platform designed to archive, secure and control access to IM communications, and L7 Enforcer(tm), a policy enforcement platform. It is powered by AkOS(tm), Akonix's customized hardened operating system developed for secure, real-time messaging environments.

Nearly one in six organizations does not have either an email or instant messaging retention policy, according to Osterman Research(1). Akonix's new appliance archives IM conversations based on company-determined policies to ensure compliance with industry and government regulations, including newly amended federal rules on legal discovery of electronic records - a key challenge for most SMBs. The appliance also enables businesses to protect themselves from viruses, worms and other malicious IM threats, as well as manage and enforce policies for all public and private IM networks.

"Vendors have been slow to offer products that allow SMBs to meet federal and industry archiving regulations, especially when it comes to instant messaging," said Matt Anderson, senior analyst with The Radicati Group. "They need to offer the full features of an enterprise product, yet be easy to implement and manage, as well as affordable."

Akonix Systems Inc.