Spam Causing Small Businesses To Reconsider Using E-Mail

Productivity is being hampered and resources strained as a result of spam, leading some small businesses to consider eliminating the use of e-mail altogether, said the InsightExpress survey of 500 small businesses.

More than half of the small businesses surveyed said that the amount of spam in their inboxes has increased over the past six months, with 33 percent citing this increase as dramatic. Of those surveyed, 40 percent also said that spam accounted for more than half of the e-mail their businesses receive.

These businesses said they would consider replacing e-mail with regular business mail. Those not considering abandoning e-mail are considering such measures as changing their e-mail address, or putting a clamp on their e-mail server to only allow preset approved messages.

Inappropriate or offensive content is the chief complaint the respondents had about spam, according to InsightExpress, Stamford, Conn., while many also feel spam leads to a loss of productivity and distractions.

Small businesses aren't the only companies considering eliminating or blocking e-mail use. Several banks have already blocked employees from accessing e-mail remotely to protect against security breaches, said security solution providers in past interviews with CRN.