Roll With The Punch-cards: Implementation Of Web Filtering Or Internet Access Control Software

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A staggering number of employees who have a social media account such as Facebook use it during work hours. Is this really acceptable? Thisis time for which you, the employer, are paying them to accomplish their various tasks. Meanwhile, some employees are working extra hours, for which, again, you are paying, or taking their work home from the office. The fact remains that in this digital age, when so much of our social interaction is online rather than in person, it’s natural for someone who has internet access to want to use that access for keeping in touch with their friends and family. However, doing so now with social media sites is no different from placing personal phone calls from work back before the internet days.



Most of us are familiar with the acronym “NSFW.” For those who aren’t, this means “Not Safe for Work.” The acronym is used as a warning that, unfortunately, some employees may not heed. This is where web filtering software or internet access control software comes in. There are some arguments against internet access control software that point out that using it, ...
... or web filtering software is tantamount to arming parental controls on your employees’ terminals. While that comparison is in some ways valid, it’s important to remember that those are the company’s terminals, and such software doesn’t summarily lock out all internet usage or web browsing without regard for content. This is not at all the case. A good web filtering software solution willbe quite malleable. Newer internet access control software is flexible in terms of the business environments in which they work and are elastic in allowing you to set access privileges for employees that are directly in line with your company’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy. For instance, suppose your company, in an effort to promote a more casual environment, would like to permit unmonitored, online social networking during lunch hours and after business hours. There are web filtering software packages that include time controls which will allow employees to use the internet recreationally on their own time, thereby not breaching the Acceptable Use Policy. There’s an old adage; “adapt to survive,” this is equally true for any business. You’ll need to take into account the business environment in which your employees work today and anticipate how your business will need to change to remain functional in the future. There is a direct correlation between employee happiness and productivity, and any astute business person knows this. Consider whether or not your organization provides flexibility in allowing users to work from home. If not, there’s a very good chance that it eventually will, simply based on the growing trend in virtual reception and telecommuting. In cases like these, you’ll want to find the right internet access control software package for your specific needs; one with a great degree of flexibility that has the capability and scale for broad implementation.

Kris Leeds is a freelance writer for Pearl Software, a leading provider of internet access control software, and web filter software. To learn more about IT security software and other services, please visit Pearlsw.com.