With billions of dollars being lost every year due to this, work productivity in the office and work place is not a minor issue. Instead of undertaking word processing, research, and business tasks with their work computer, employees are using the computer for other, more personal uses. These “tasks” can range from internet instant messaging, sending personal emails, playing 
internet games, browsing inappropriate material, and many other non-work related tasks. So how does an employer get their employees off their computer and back on work?
Offering incentives for achieving work goals ahead of schedule is a simple way to provide a means of getting your employees on track. This can range to a small paycheck bonus, an office party, or if it will provide the company with millions of dollars, you can even arrange a small getaway vacation for your employees. However, all of this means money out of your businesses pocket, and that can add up over many incentive giveaways.
Setting up surveillance cameras is a good way to let your employees know you will always have your eye on them. However, with hardware based security and surveillance systems, you run into many problems. They are not cheap by any means, and can take days or weeks to install depending on their complexity. They can only see what is happening on the other side of the lens, and their resolution and capture speed isn’t high enough to actually view what is happening on an employee’s computer. You may also run into problems with the law.
Continue reading ‘Increasing Staff Productivity’
Filtering the internet can be done two different ways. You can physically block access to specific websites and internet applications using special internet content filter software. This is extremely efficient while doing what it is supposed to do: blocking inappropriate websites to users that shouldn’t be viewing that content. Furthermore it can always be configure
d to different levels of access. However, is it too much? Does it constrain an individual’s intellectual freedom? Should we instead rely on individual responsibility and what parents teach their children to what is appropriate to view on the web?
Some researchers say installing internet content filters are dimming our intellectual freedom, blocking important data that should be free and accessible to all. However, many reasons this type of software is installed is to increase productivity in areas like offices and businesses. Libraries and schools use internet filtering software to keep kids safe from viewing inappropriate materials such as pornography, illegal substances, and other content that could be considered harmful to children.
Continue reading ‘Individual Responsibility vs. Internet Filter’
When examining the options you have to observe the activities of your employees of your organization in the workplace, you are left with two reasonable options. You could settle by installi
ng a hardware based system, setting up cameras to watch your employees. An alternate route would be to install software on your server and employees work computers to view exactly what they are using their workstation for. There are benefits and disadvantages to both types of surveillance choices.
Using hardware, like cameras, set up around your employees’ workspaces, is a sign to all employees that they are being watch. It is an effective way to remind them that any physical actions they take can be monitored, as well as increase productivity.
However, this can create a stressful atmosphere (nobody likes to be fully monitored). Also, only so much can be picked up by video recording systems. Things out of range, or outside the cameras viewing angle will be left unknown to those needing to view them. Anything on a computer screen will not be legible, and you will not be able to identify just exactly what they are using their computer workstation for. On top of this, hardware systems can be pricey. On top of the cameras, you will need to set a budget aside for a recording system, wires and extra electricity consumption, and installation. 
A software system is beneficial as it allows you to see directly what your employees are doing on your server and computers. Software surveillance allows you to know what programs where opened, who emailed who, and what files were sent where. It is an excellent way to catch trade secrets of your business getting into others hands.
Another benefit is that software systems aren’t fully regulated by the government. Recording your employees with video can get you into deep legal fixes if something is installed improperly, but software systems can be installed without letting your employees know. A software-based security system can’t see the other tasks being performed outside of the computer, so that is where a video-recording system can come in handy.
Continue reading ‘Digital Surveillance – Hardware or Software’
Since the Children’s Internet Protection Act, otherwise known by the acronym CIPA, of December 2002, government has been setting regulations on the type of access to different types of internet websites and programs libraries and schools have. This meant any library receiving government money and subsidies and using it for their technology costs had to install software that would block websites deemed obscene, containing pornography, and other such websites that contained not suitable for children to view.
There are certain requirements public libraries need to pass in order to get funding from a program called ‘E-rate’ - a program ran in order to make technology more available and affordable for libraries and public schools. After the CIPA rule was put in place by the Federal government, any library or place using government spending must follow the strict blocking rules put in run by CIPA to continue to get funding from ‘E-rate.’ If these rules are not followed, they will lose their funding.
Libraries facing CIPA must implement policies that limit access to minors and inappropriate content, ensure safety of minors using email, chat rooms, chat software and other means of direct internet communication, hacking of systems and databases, and disclosure of minors personal identities.
Libraries have the option to install internet filtering software, which can give a library’s technical administrator complete control of what happens on a libraries internet connection. Many internet filtering programs are available and approved by CIPA standards after installation, however, these programs allow for much more control than what is just given.
Specific websites or websites containing special content or keywords can be blocked Music files and entertainment applications can also be stopped from being downloaded whilst incoming and outgoing cookies are filtered. Much of these programs allow you to install keyloggers, a program that will track every key pressed. Chat logs can be saved and stored, then analyzed at another time. Using such software enables a library to keep a safe environment for children, as well as continue to receive federal financing to buy more computers and upgrade older systems and software.
Sometimes you may just need to start monitoring your employees’ computer and Internet activity in your office. While there are certainly privacy issues you will need to work out amongst yourself and those working for you it can be a very smart choice that can save you money in the long run if used for the right reasons.
What are some of the top reasons you may want to implement computer monitoring software?
Productivity
A company can be made up of hundreds, even thousands of employees, all connecting with your computers and Internet connections. A company’s value, through many people’s eyes
, is a reflection of how productive they are. While a computer and the Internet can help speed up productivity, it also can affect it negatively. There are many distractions on the internet – social networking, instant messaging, media and news, amongst others – that can slow your employee’s work to a standstill. If you feel this might be affecting your employees, you may want to install computer monitoring software and let your employees know that you are doing so. This may have enough of an impact to get them off the internet and back to work on its own. Continue reading ‘Top reasons to monitor your employees’ computer activity’
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