Monitoring Staff PC usage
Discussion
Does anyone use any type of software to monitor what your staff are up to, etc are they spending half their day on poxy facebook etc…
Our staff are pretty good, and I don’t think they are taking the mick any more than anyone else would, but I am getting more paranoid and would like to nip it in the bud before it does happen!
Also does anyone write this into staff contracts or have a separate document for what staff are allowed to do with their PCs eg, don’t delete history from browser etc.
Thanks
Our staff are pretty good, and I don’t think they are taking the mick any more than anyone else would, but I am getting more paranoid and would like to nip it in the bud before it does happen!
Also does anyone write this into staff contracts or have a separate document for what staff are allowed to do with their PCs eg, don’t delete history from browser etc.
Thanks
I would agree with the above comments.
The only issue is that there have been recent 'flare ups' about the practice in the press which certain firebrand employees may use as ammo to kick up a stink about 'invasions of their privacy'.
As an employer myself, my own personal view is that I am paying them to work, not surf for personal use. Secondly, if they are categorising what they are doing as 'private' then they should be doing this on a 'private' PC not a work one.
Of course, the grey area is break and lunchtimes.
I think the clever way forward if you are worried is to implement terms of use as has been suggested. This would at least hopefully make the worst offenders think twice.
A second, and more sneaky approach I have thought of would be to confirm that personal internet use in 'work time' is prohibited and be monitored. If they want to use the internet for personal use during break and lunchtimes then some kind of log-in system which would be private could be used, but it would of course report how long the 'break' or lunchtime was...
The only issue is that there have been recent 'flare ups' about the practice in the press which certain firebrand employees may use as ammo to kick up a stink about 'invasions of their privacy'.
As an employer myself, my own personal view is that I am paying them to work, not surf for personal use. Secondly, if they are categorising what they are doing as 'private' then they should be doing this on a 'private' PC not a work one.
Of course, the grey area is break and lunchtimes.
I think the clever way forward if you are worried is to implement terms of use as has been suggested. This would at least hopefully make the worst offenders think twice.
A second, and more sneaky approach I have thought of would be to confirm that personal internet use in 'work time' is prohibited and be monitored. If they want to use the internet for personal use during break and lunchtimes then some kind of log-in system which would be private could be used, but it would of course report how long the 'break' or lunchtime was...
personal time is only a grey area if the IAU policy provides for personal use (which, they normally do - say around 10%)
If you want to do it, there are many products (websense included) which can limit content by catagory, type, domain etc etc but also at specific times of day - eg less restricted but logged at lunch/after work. or even having time credits.. which run's a counter for the time you are on a site classified as non-business related.
a good example for the OP would be if you set a limit of 60mins on facebook\myspace etc during working hours. The internet would be fine except for those sites\catagories once you'd exceeded your time limit. You can get VERY granular with it eg only ban P0rn or right wing political views and only hacking sites etc.
Generally simple is the best way forward.. look at the logs after a few weeks or a month & take out the big hitters - both site AND users until they are at an acceptable level.
Obviously there is a cost associated with it all & generally the bigger ones run white\black lists via a subscription service to catagorise the web for you - then you use these catagories to filter your content.
For the smaller guys, it's worth noting that there are some really simple ways of blocking specific sites (domains) from being accessed which generally require little or no investment - so not always a need to go the whole hog.
If you want to do it, there are many products (websense included) which can limit content by catagory, type, domain etc etc but also at specific times of day - eg less restricted but logged at lunch/after work. or even having time credits.. which run's a counter for the time you are on a site classified as non-business related.
a good example for the OP would be if you set a limit of 60mins on facebook\myspace etc during working hours. The internet would be fine except for those sites\catagories once you'd exceeded your time limit. You can get VERY granular with it eg only ban P0rn or right wing political views and only hacking sites etc.
Generally simple is the best way forward.. look at the logs after a few weeks or a month & take out the big hitters - both site AND users until they are at an acceptable level.
Obviously there is a cost associated with it all & generally the bigger ones run white\black lists via a subscription service to catagorise the web for you - then you use these catagories to filter your content.
For the smaller guys, it's worth noting that there are some really simple ways of blocking specific sites (domains) from being accessed which generally require little or no investment - so not always a need to go the whole hog.
we ahve an acceptable use policy and everyeon is aware that PS are for work use.
we have berred facebook, myspace and hotmail and people cannot download from the web.
However - we also have 2 PCs in our break out area which people can use at lunch etc to their hearts content.
practically solved the problem immediately.
we have berred facebook, myspace and hotmail and people cannot download from the web.
However - we also have 2 PCs in our break out area which people can use at lunch etc to their hearts content.
practically solved the problem immediately.
Golfman said:
Does anyone use any type of software to monitor what your staff are up to, etc are they spending half their day on poxy facebook etc…
Our staff are pretty good, and I don’t think they are taking the mick any more than anyone else would, but I am getting more paranoid and would like to nip it in the bud before it does happen!
Also does anyone write this into staff contracts or have a separate document for what staff are allowed to do with their PCs eg, don’t delete history from browser etc.
Thanks
Not sure what your industry is, but if you don't have any problems at the moment and don't think there is an issue, why bother spending the cost, effort and possible personnel issues tracking your staff?Our staff are pretty good, and I don’t think they are taking the mick any more than anyone else would, but I am getting more paranoid and would like to nip it in the bud before it does happen!
Also does anyone write this into staff contracts or have a separate document for what staff are allowed to do with their PCs eg, don’t delete history from browser etc.
Thanks
got a work's laptop and my own pc that typing reports onto, they go onto the laptop to be loaded into the company approved word processer 
listening to streaming music atm and visiting what sites I want to during short breaks
streaming anything does not work and only use the laptop for work stuff as I have no monitoring software on my own pc
easiest thing is to have work pc's for work stuff, let everyone know that nothing is private and all emails can be read...
was getting spammed by some muppets in a local renault dealership, admin manager was not aware that the radio times had a commerce section and the emails soon stopped...but had a couple at midnight to throe me off the trail.....
listening to streaming music atm and visiting what sites I want to during short breaks streaming anything does not work and only use the laptop for work stuff as I have no monitoring software on my own pc
easiest thing is to have work pc's for work stuff, let everyone know that nothing is private and all emails can be read...
was getting spammed by some muppets in a local renault dealership, admin manager was not aware that the radio times had a commerce section and the emails soon stopped...but had a couple at midnight to throe me off the trail.....
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