How To Monitor and Secure Your Employees’ Internet Activity

Featured article by Holly Zink, Independent Technology Author

Whether your employees work from home or in an office, overseeing your staff’s internet usage is crucial. How do they spend their time online during work hours? All businesses want to make sure their employees are conducting themselves online in a professional manner and are completing their work tasks. Plus, there are many threats on the internet such as hackers that could compromise the entire business. These are just some of the key reasons why companies should monitor and secure their employees’ internet activity.

Methods To Monitor and Secure Your Workplace Internet Activities

●      Employee Monitoring Software

The best way to keep any eye on all online work activities is by using employee monitoring software on any company-owned devices. These software programs allow businesses to view websites visited, emails sent and received, private messaging apps, the Wi-Fi network they’re using, social media, and much more. Employers can remotely monitor all the data collected from an online portal. In some cases, this software can generate reports based on your business goals such as increasing employee productivity.

●      Business Email Monitoring

Most businesses have a legitimate business email service they use for all employees, like G Suite. These services usually include the ability for business administrators to oversee and monitor all email communications and their contents. Companies usually disclose to their employees if they will be monitoring any aspect of their work.

●      Antivirus Software

To protect company devices from internet viruses and malware, antivirus software should be installed. This software will automatically intercept and quarantine any viruses that invade a device. Often, viruses are used to obtain a device’s data, track activities, and/or corrupt and take over the device.

●      Device Firewall

Similar to antivirus software, firewalls provide a barrier between a business’s network and any traffic from external sources, such as the internet. So, any online threats such as viruses and hackers will not be allowed access to the business network.

●      VPN:

Also known as a Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all internet traffic data and hides IP addresses. The data is encrypted by sending it through a specific remote server. If someone were to try to read an employee’s data, it would look like a foreign, unknown language.

●      Private Wi-Fi Network

All business tasks done on devices should be completed while connected to a secure, private Wi-Fi network. These networks require a strong password or other security sign-in options to use it. So, a random person cannot just connect to the network like they would do with public Wi-Fi.

●      Guest Wi-Fi Network

To prevent clients and visitors from connecting to your private Wi-Fi network, create a private guest network they can use. It’s crucial that you don’t make your guest network public. If your public guest network were to be hacked, it could leave your business’ private network vulnerable.

●      Password Manager

Often, employees (without realizing) leave their passwords vulnerable to being accessed by hackers and online criminals. Keeping an online password spreadsheet and emailing login information goes against password best practices. All business passwords should be stored in secure password manager websites and apps. Also, account passwords should only be accessible by employees who need them, not by every employee.

●      Backup Business Data

It’s common practice for a business to regularly backup their business data to protect their information if a data breach were to occur. Most businesses deal with clients, and they don’t want that personal information being leaked. It not only negatively affects the business’s credibility and reputation, but exposes the clients to identity theft as well.

●      Require Device Updates

Any time there are company-device updates, all employees should update their company-owned devices. Some updates are meant to repair security flaws or bugs found on a previous software update. If an employee doesn’t update their device, it could lead to hackers exploiting the software vulnerability and gaining access to the device.

●      Cybersecurity Training

It’s common today for businesses of all types to provide their employees with cybersecurity training. There are plenty of official courses or online resources employees can learn from regarding online security and safety. One of the most common causes of businesses being invaded by an online threat is because of an employee not knowing proper online etiquette.

Why Is It Important To Make Secure Your Employees’ Online Activity?

●      Avoid Data Breaches

By using the necessary workplace data security measures, a business can avoid having their network and data leaked during a breach. Those who commit data breaches look to obtain private business and client information. They then use this information in a number of ways, such as selling it to third-parties online, committing identity theft and fraud, and hacking into other online accounts.

●      Protect The Business Network and Devices From Viruses

With the simple click of an infected link, a virus could spread through the company’s entire network and any connected devices. Usually, viruses infiltrate company devices because an employee doesn’t know the proper online safety precautions. Don’t click on any links sent by unknown sources, don’t visit spammy sites, and don’t connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

●      Helps The Business Work Efficiently

Having the proper online security measures in place allows a business to work more efficiently. No viruses, hackers, or other online threats allows a business to function as normal. The only obstacles they may face will be those that emerge in the market and from competitors.

The internet monitoring and security methods mentioned above will bring your business into the 21st century. No longer will your company be in danger of being attacked by the many online threats that exist. If your business is your livelihood, you will make the necessary changes to secure your employees’ internet activity.

About The Author:

Holly Zink is an employee monitoring and online security expert for Auto Forward. She frequently writes about the latest device security and online safety methods and settings.