Business users, however, need to be aware of the security issues, as well as other risks

WorkLight: Novell's new vision confirms business benefits of using social networking sites, but urges caution on security

(07.04.08) - WorkLight, the Enterprise 2.0 security specialist, say that Novell's vision for the future of collaborative business working via social networking sites - unveiled at the company's Brainshare event in Utah on Monday - highlights the power that services like Facebook offer technically aware modern businesses.

"The fact that Novell is actively embracing social networking services as part of their new colla-borative business model confirms a view we've held for some time," he said.

"Business users, however, need to be aware of the security issues, as well as other risks, associated with direct - and therefore insecure - access to these services," said David Lavenda, WorkLight's vice president of marketing and strategy.

According to Lavenda, Novell's brave new world is interesting, especially since the company is now moving into the world of open source software.

"I have my doubts about the gameplan for third party vendors to alter the applications and sell related products and services, since it opens up a potential can of worms on the security front," he said.

"It is far safer for companies to give staff secure access to publicly-available social networking services and allow their business to reap the business collaborative benefits that result. This is why we developed our Enterprise 2.0 technology and associated products, to offer organisations access to a powerful, but secure, set of facilities," he added.

For more on Novell's brave new world plans: http://tinyurl.com/39ygzw

(WorkLight: ra)