On the Penetration of Business Networks by P2P File Sharing

P2P file-sharing poses a number of problems for system administrators including unpredictable network usage, increased vulnerability to security threats and the danger of legal action. Due to these problems, many businesses take measures to restrict the use of P2P software, but how successful have these measures been? This paper analyzes the degree to which business networks have been penetrated by P2P applications and shows that despite the risks, business networks participate significantly in P2P file-sharing systems. Furthermore, we find that participation is greatest amongst small businesses and that viral media has a significant effect on the participation of large businesses.