5 Things That Monitoring Software Will Track

Despite thorough vetting and meticulous screening before hiring, employees can lose their focus and productivity on the job. Whether due to boredom or to further their personal interests at the expense of the companies they work for, a significant number of workers engage in non-work-related activities while on the clock.

The majority of inappropriate employee conduct occurs through computer usage. Whether it involves unauthorized file access, internet activity, or other prohibited acts, computer-related worker misconduct is not only costly for employers in a financial sense but also poses potentially serious security risks.

Fortunately, advanced surveillance platforms such as Wolfeye Remote Screen provide robust features to safeguard valuable company data while observing and tracking employee work behavior. You should know what is at stake when your employees misuse workplace computers and what can be done to prevent these harmful activities. Here are 5 things that monitoring software will track.

Unauthorized File Access

One of the most important functions of monitoring software is safeguarding valuable information and data and alerting an employer when unauthorized file access has occurred. Knowing which of your employees is attempting to access files they are not authorized to view and how they are doing it, will enable your management team to properly address the situation before irreparable damage occurs.

These are the types of sensitive company files that monitoring software can keep under digital surveillance:

Personal data – sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, and social security numbers can be used by bad actors to commit identity theft and fraud, and should therefore be maintained with the utmost security
Financial data – highly confidential information relating to company finances, including bank accounts and cash holdings, can be sought-after information, particularly by competitors and industry insiders
Sensitive company information – internal memos and the like can be devastating to a company’s reputation and goodwill if they fall into the wrong hands or are released to the public
Confidential business information – trade secrets and intellectual property, such as product designs, blueprints, product formulations, sales & marketing strategies, and new initiatives, are vital pieces of information that must be carefully safeguarded
Customer and user data – for companies that collect and store customer and user data, including personal information, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and other highly sensitive information, there is an obligation to safeguard these materials and prevent data breaches
Personnel records – companies must also safeguard the personal information of their employees, including their health records, performance evaluations, disciplinary records, and personal information such as addresses, social security numbers, tax records, and payroll records

It is one thing to protect sensitive information from outside threats, but many companies overlook the dangers that lurk within their own ranks. Employees often know where valuable data is stored, the security measures that are currently in place, and quite possibly, the best ways to get around them.

With so much at stake, Wolfeye Remote Screen allows you to observe workers’ computer activities as if you are standing over their shoulders, viewing every file they access, click by click. With this advanced digital surveillance platform, you and your management team can determine whether security breaches are occurring, who is committing them, and what action needs to be taken.

Inappropriate Internet Use During Working Hours

One of the biggest problems employers face in the digital age is inappropriate internet usage during working hours. Computers are indispensable tools in today’s work environment, and they are relied upon to perform countless tasks on a day-to-day basis. As computers and networks get faster and more powerful, up-to-the-minute information is just a few keystrokes and mouse clicks away.

While the lightning-fast accessibility of news and information is indispensable to any business operation these days, it can also present significant challenges as far as keeping employees focused and on task. In moments of boredom or when the boss is not looking, it is very tempting and easy for a worker to hop online and use the internet for purposes other than work.

These are just a few examples of the types of internet activities that regularly occur on workplace computers:

Shopping – online shopping continues to grow in popularity and retailers are streamlining their e-commerce platforms to make the experience easier and faster than visiting a brick-and-mortar storefront, so it is very tempting for employees to get in a little shopping while sitting at their desks
Travel planning – travel sites are rapidly replacing travel agents and employers should be aware that an employee who appears to be busily working away at their computer may be making travel arrangements for their next vacation
Chatting and social media – social media is one of the most popular ways for people to connect, and unfortunately, many employees use company time and computers to check their timelines, get caught up on their social media feeds, and chat with friends and family
Checking emails – email is quickly becoming the preferred mode of communication for business and personal affairs and employees using workplace computers to check their emails is becoming a growing problem for many companies
Entertainment – with a seemingly infinite number of entertainment sites online, including those offering illicit content, a workplace computer can provide hours of amusement for unmotivated employees, all while still earning a paycheck (sketchy websites can also be problematic for the risk of spreading malicious software they pose)

While every employer expects that all of their employees are productive and responsible, it is unrealistic to think that every worker is 100% focused on the task at hand. A quick check to see if a package was safely delivered is one thing, but it is quite another to shop for an entirely new wardrobe or purchase cruise tickets while on company time.

Deploying Wolfeye Remote Screen on your workplace computer systems will allow you to monitor your employees’ internet activities and track the websites they visit (including how much time is spent there) so that you have a complete assessment of the unauthorized internet use that is occurring in your workplace.

Employee Productivity

Online shopping and surfing the web are not the only counter-productive activities taking place on company computers. Your employees may also be using their workstations to further personal interests and pursuits unrelated to company business.

For instance, with the widespread availability of online courses and digital learning materials, employees may be using their work computers to take classes offered by the local community college or learn a new skill to develop a side hustle. While there is nothing wrong with these pursuits in and of themselves, to engage in these activities on company time while using workplace computers, amounts to misconduct.

To identify workers who use workplace computers for personal activities unrelated to their duties, Wolfeye Remote Screen offers powerful tools including:

Live-streaming of employee computer screens to any device, including a smartphone, to observe real-time activities and assess whether they are work-related
Keystroke logging and mouse click recording to track logging in to non-work-related sites, such as student portals
Activity logs breaking down key performance indicators (KPIs) such as keystrokes, internet usage, email viewing, and time spent using productivity apps
Archiving of recordings and event histories for later viewing

As an employer, you owe it to your organization to ensure that all employees are treated respectfully, compensated fairly, and held to the same standards. If you suspect that members of your workforce are pursuing personal interests using workplace computers while on company time, you need concrete proof before taking disciplinary action.

Wolfeye Remote Screen provides comprehensive monitoring of employee activities to maintain the integrity of your workplace and promote a productive environment.

Remote Computer Logins

A recent trend that is showing no signs of letting up is hybrid work arrangements where employees work partially or entirely from their homes. With the availability of connectivity programs like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and a host of other remote work applications, workers can access workplace computers, servers, and networks, as if they were sitting in front of their workstations in the office.

For employers, keeping fewer workers in their offices can reduce overhead costs, like rent and utilities. For employees, the flexibility of working from home can be highly desirable because less time is spent commuting to and from the office, freeing up more time for personal matters.

While both sides have clear benefits for remote work, allowing employees to work from home also poses significant security risks. For example:

If an employee logs in to workplace computers using an unsecured connection (e.g., connecting through public Wi-Fi at a neighborhood café), the company’s network could be exposed to hackers and cybercriminals
By the same token, employees accessing workplace computers without proper levels of network security from the access point could introduce malicious software such as ransomware, malware, and viruses, to the company’s entire network, potentially jeopardizing the entire system and all the data stored within it
An unfortunate reality facing today’s employers is the threat of cybercrimes, including theft of sensitive data and confidential information, and an employee logging in from outside the workplace may be able to circumvent security measures to access restricted documents and files
Another threat to consider is corporate espionage, and a remote worker with access to workplace computers and servers is perfectly situated to work in conjunction with a competitor or foreign agent to steal valuable information
A disgruntled employee looking for vengeance can wreak havoc on a company’s computer network and sabotage vital internal systems by logging in remotely and accessing sensitive files and hacking into core operating platforms

For these reasons and more, monitoring employee computer activities, including those accessing company workstations remotely, is vital to maintaining data and network security. With Wolfeye Remote Screen, you can track which remote workers are logging in to office computers and what they are doing once they have gained access.

Employee Loyalty

A growing problem that employers face these days is employees who are on their payroll but also work for another company or themselves. Hybrid work arrangements have made it possible for workers to perform their job functions from home or just about anywhere as long as an internet connection is available – such as another workplace.

With the growing popularity of e-commerce sites, people are finding it easier to start a side hustle selling crafts, homemade goods, or even reselling popular items. All that is needed is initial registration, an internet connection, and any device (such as a work computer) from which to manage the app.

If you suspect that someone in your workforce is working for someone else during company time, then it is imperative that you monitor their computer activities to determine conclusively where their loyalties lie. These are the types of activities that monitoring software can track:

What types of files and documents your employees are working on while on the job (e.g., work-related tasks or outside materials)
Sent and viewed emails and other correspondence
Websites visited and the duration of viewing sessions
Logging in activities to non-work-related sites (e.g., employee-only portals for other companies)
Chatting and messaging with individuals outside of the company

When workers show up to one workplace but use their employer’s computers to perform tasks related to their other job, not only are they breaching their professional obligations and draining precious company resources, but they also pose a potential security risk if their side hustle involves a direct competitor or a business in the same industry.

With Wolfeye Remote Screen, you can detect telltale signs that an employee is working for someone else or themselves while still on your company payroll. While unfortunate, this is not uncommon, so the best way to protect your business from two-timing employees is to elevate your monitoring capabilities by installing Wolfeye Remote Screen.

Conclusion

One would hope that employee monitoring software would never be necessary in a workplace, but the reality is that problematic workers are common in the working world. There may be instances where you suspect that an employee is accessing files they are not authorized to view or using office computers to perform tasks unrelated to their job.

Or maybe an employee is using the internet inappropriately, for personal gain or illicit purposes.

Whatever the circumstances, Wolfeye Remote Screen offers advanced monitoring capabilities that allow you to observe firsthand any employee misconduct being committed on your computer systems. Only by knowing the full scope of inappropriate activities that are being committed on computers in your workplace, can you take decisive action to maintain the integrity of your work environment.

Sources

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