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The biggest threat to businesses through the Internet is still inappropriate content because of the range and easy access. Obvious problems arise from pornographic or violent sites, but other sites can also be inappropriate for the workplace, like social networking and shopping. Many hidden dangers, from viruses to identity scams, come through browsing. And in modern, fluid work environments, employee monitoring outside the workplace is as important as employee monitoring in the office, since VPNs and other tools allow Internet access through company networks from remote locations, and provide another point of vulnerability to your network.
The first step for successful employee monitoring is to create an acceptable use policy (AUP) for Internet use and instant messaging. AUPs describe the ways that employees are allowed to use the Internet at work, both for work and for personal use. A defined employee monitoring use policy helps clarify what sites will be blocked by an employee monitoring solution and why those sites are blocked. An AUP should cover what you deem is appropriate Internet use at work:
- Specify how much personal use is allowed.
- Emphasize etiquette, especially polite and professional communication.
- Describe banned activity, such as viewing offensive material, submitting personal information like Social Security numbers, or engaging in outside business.
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Use policies are only effective if they are enforced, which is why an employee monitoring like iPrism is essential. iPrism employee monitoring systems help companies enforce acceptable use policies, so that web usage and IM sessions within the workplace are within those defined constraints. iPrism has flexible configurations which allow different types of employee monitoring to fit the different employees within your company:
- Category-based employee monitoring & web filtering. Web pages are grouped in over sixty categories, like Spyware/Virus, Travel, Finance, or Email Host. Filtering is based on blocking or allowing categories.
- User profiles for different levels of access. User profiles can be granted access to different categories of sites. iPrism can even work with Active Directory or other LDAP directories to configure filtering based on existing groups within your company.
- Configurable content blocking for messaging. IM sessions can be filtered for objectionable words or phrases.
iPrism also offers unique protection for employee monitoring outside the workplace, as well as in the office. Travel, laptops, and VPNs remove employees from local oversight, while still keeping them connected to the company network. Since iPrism operates on the company network rather than a workstation, it can enforce employee monitoring outside the workplace because it is in effect over VPN or remote desktop connections. |
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