One of those, San Diego-based Akonix Systems last month secured a partnership with Microsoft that integrates the Redmond, Wash. software giant's proxy offering, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000.

As a result, through the add-on Akonix's Direct Firewall Connection module, ISA 2000 will work in tandem with Akonix L7 to add the product's security features, which regulate and manage employees' use of public IM networks within the enterprise. In addition to supporting user and group policy settings, virus scanning, archiving and reporting, Akonix relays internal messages -- keeping them from crossing the unsecured public networks.

Meanwhile, Seattle-based CypherGuard is teaming up with instant messaging auditing vendor IMlogic to provide an offering that combines the two firms' solutions.

The joint offering, dubbed the Business Suite for Instant Messaging, will see Boston-based IMlogic's IM Manager handling auditing, archiving and compliance duties, while CypherGuard provides for encryption for Microsoft's MSN Messenger and America Online's ICQ networks.

The combined product is expected to go to market during late first quarter, and is expected to be jointly marketed by both partners.

CypherGuard security, which provides for up to 168-bit encryption over the two networks, works only when the message recipient also has CypherGuard installed.

Akonix's and CypherGuard's efforts come as IM technology vendors seek to beef up their offerings for greater traction in the enterprise environment. As the thinking goes, IT purchasers are more likely to buy into solutions that come bundled with other technology that they require, or offerings that work in tandem with products that they've already deployed.

Such arrangements could prove especially productive as IT departments continue feeling budget pressure, which tends to favor bundled solutions and tools that allow companies to leverage earlier software investments.

"Corporations are realizing that public instant-messaging management is a critical element of their perimeter security," said Nevet Basker, director of business development at Microsoft.

Added CypherGuard Chief Executive Steven Anderson, "We were approached by a single large customer in terms of building an integrated solution. We had already been tracking IMlogic and FaceTime [Communications] for their auditing and logging capabilities, and were interested in approaching them about encryption with their offerings being one part of the spectrum, and our offerings being the other."

For Akonix, the agreement is the latest in a string of partnerships that have the firm working with firewall vendor CheckPoint Software Technologies, archiving player ZANTAZ, and IBM's Lotus Sametime -- which, as of last month, represents a rival to Microsoft in the enterprise IM market.

The recent spate of announcements also come as tensions heat in the market for IM management and auditing technology, pitting Akonix against IMlogic and FaceTime Communications -- two rivals which tout interoperability deals with the public IM networks. (Both firms also are expected to play a central role in supporting MSN Messenger Connect, while FaceTime is supplying the technology behind the Enterprise AIM Gateway.)

"We believe that we are way ahead of the competition from a technology standpoint, but we've been behind on these kinds of partnerships," said Dmitry Shapiro, the chief strategy officer at Akonix. "We've focused on technology and that's hurt us."

CypherGuard, meanwhile, is continuing to build up its offerings in the enterprise IM sector. The company said that it hopes to receive approval from America Online and Yahoo! about being able to deploy security wrappers that also work with AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! IM.

"At best guest, from a technology standpoint, it could be three to four months, but from a business development standpoint, it could take a little longer," Anderson said. "We are having some initial discussions."