Zimbra: Google Apps Not Quite Ready For Enterprise
We reported earlier today about Microsoft's 10-point list on why Google Apps isn't ready for the enterprise. Now Zimbra, an innovative Web Office startup focused on messaging and collaboration, has added to the anti-Google Apps chorus - specifically citing Sarbanes-Oxley compliance issues. Zimbra says that since all Google docs and files are stored on Google's servers, public companies would face big Sarbanes-Oxley compliance issues if they deployed Google Apps. [Update: Bob Warfield points out that "there is no requirement by SOX that data has to be on a company’s own servers, just that the data be carefully controlled and audited."] The solution? You guessed, it: deploy Zimbra instead.
Zimbra told R/WW that their messaging and collaboration platform "provides enterprise customers with freedoms that Google Apps just can't provide, including the ability to archive for compliance purposes." Enterprise customers can use Zimbra as a hosted service or deploy it on-site. It also has offline functionality, which Google doesn't offer with most of their apps (although with Google Gears, it can be developed).
Further, says the feisty startup, while Google can only produce "an unnamed telco" as its first enterprise customer, Zimbra boasts Comcast (the largest ISP in the US) and Embarq (formerly Sprint LLC) as customers. Other Zimbra customers include Raytheon, H&R Block, and Century 21 - who use Zimbra for messaging, document sharing, and enterprise collaboration.
So Google is taking it from all sides currently - from arch-rival Microsoft, and Web Office startups. It shows just how much of a threat Google is in office software.
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Well, i'm looking forward to seeing MS's 10-point list on not to use Zimbra. That would be an interesting read as well.
Posted by: zameer | September 11, 2007 2:04 AM
The entry costs of GA is much lower than MSFT and all of the neg points are easily overcome for a fraction of the cost of buying MSFT. Are you taking money from MS?
Posted by: G|oS|co | September 11, 2007 2:10 AM
G|oS|co, this post is about Zimbra. Not sure what you meant by that last comment.
Posted by: Richard MacManus | September 11, 2007 2:21 AM
I want to see Google Gears for Gmail! Then it could be used kind of like a desktop application that competes with Outlook (as emailing on the train is very useful for me!)
Posted by: Craig | September 11, 2007 3:03 AM
I like the online apps so far but I'm sure the MS list would be longer..
Posted by: Google Tutor | September 11, 2007 6:05 AM
"...since all Google docs and files are stored on Google's servers, public companies would face big Sarbanes-Oxley compliance issues if they deployed Google Apps."
Oh come on, Richard, I can't believe you let that one pass without further comment! Essentially Zimbra is saying that SaaS fails SOX.
How many companies are there today that keep sensitive sales pipeline information in a SaaS app such as Salesforce.com? How can there be SaaS ERP suites such as Workday?
Even Microsoft didn't try to pull that one off in their big 10 list. What a load of FUD these Zimbra guys are trying to pass off, and its too bad, because they have a great app.
See more in my blog post:
http://smoothspan.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/google-apps-can-win-in-the-enterprise-if-they-leverage-the-business-trust-fabric/
Posted by: Bob Warfield | September 11, 2007 8:44 AM
I think Zimbra hits the heart of Google Docs' vulnerabilities. If you are an enterprise working with any kind of discreet, confidential information, Google Docs are out for you. That's a big chunk when you consider the medical, financial, and public sectors. Not to mention, most enterprises are going to be weary of their business information being housed outside of their secured severs and networks whether it be sales information, product development, strategy, human resources, etc.
Google will have to make Docs a host-able solution that can be firewall'd and secured to become a truly enterprise-friendly application suite.
Posted by: webonics | September 11, 2007 1:17 PM
Bob, you raised a great point. I've updated the post with a link to yours.
Posted by: Richard MacManus | September 11, 2007 2:02 PM
Even if the argument of Zimbra, although sketchy to say the least, could generate some momentum in the enterprise sector, Google anticipated this attack and the FUD very early in their strategy. That's why they bought POSTINI.
Posted by: Ricardo Proença | September 11, 2007 5:26 PM
Zimbra Archiving and Discovery can be deployed on-premise by organizations, and also outsourced through Zimbra hosting providers.
Posted by: http://www.01.com | September 22, 2007 8:11 AM
Make Sure You Read the Fine Print before
making a Career (or Income) Limiting Move
- to see why see the article at http://www.pcprofile.com/Office_Collaboration.pdf that I wrote some months ago on the topic.
Great tool, great concept, BUT it has a big downside for the unwary. It's not as plain sailing as many would like to believe.
If you want to share your IP with the rest of the world and have it all over servers everywhere, go for it, but those of us that make a living out of IP matters, it's a real issue.
It's an even bigger issue if you want to have commercial secrets and decide to collaborate using Google Apps, the Ts and Cs will kill you, and not with laughter!
Are you aware that for anything you load up into Google Apps you immediately grant a license to Google to use in any way they so choose? Read their fine print.
Whilst you might own the IP, you are also assigning them rights to it as well!
Is that what you had in mind for confidential documents, spreadsheets, presentations etc?
I suspect not.
Use Google Apps with caution!
Posted by: Rob Harmer | September 25, 2007 12:46 AM