Posted by secExtra on February 19th, 2008

Facebook has become the pre-eminent consumer social networking application on the Internet, with a total user base of over 64 million users globally and a growth rate of more than 250,000 new registrants per day. This consumer tool is making its way to the enterprise, where employee-driven, unsanctioned use of Web 2.0 technologies is a concern for IT organizations. With the proliferation of social networking applications in the workplace, enterprises are faced with a choice: either ban popular utilities such as Facebook, Instant Messaging, etc., or embrace the change by leveraging the inherent collaboration and networking functionality offered by these tools.

The WorkBook application, previously only available in the U.S., combines all the capabilities of Facebook with all the controls of a corporate environment. This includes integration with existing enterprise security services and information sources, which allows companies to harness the capabilities provided by the social networking service while providing their employees with a safe and secure solution for increased collaboration and communication. WorkBook eliminates the security issues that loom over organizations seeking to leverage and embrace the social networking revolution.

“The United Kingdom is host to over 8 million Facebook users, and user adoption is growing at a rapid pace,” said Shahar Kaminitz, CEO and founder of WorkLight. “As we have seen with the introduction of WorkBook in the U.S., there is a significant advantage to using this consumer tool at work, as long as it is safeguarded. Companies are particularly interested in leveraging employee expertise and mindshare to increase productivity with consumer tools, without hampering employee-driven initiatives. Facebook is a perfect example of how we are seeing this trend is impacting the corporate world.”

WorkBook is part of the WorkLight platform, which securely supports various consumer web 2.0 technologies, such as iGoogle, Netvibes, RSS, desktop gadgets and widgets, among others. The WorkLight server is licensed to enterprises by yearly subscription. Pricing starts at €10 per user per month, with volume discount pricing available. To learn more about the service, visit: http://www.myworklight.com/workbook.