Many companies and individuals filter their connection to the Internet. Many others allow wide-open, unfiltered access to whatever their ISP provides. While there may be some good reasons to have unfiltered access in some settings, it is wise to consider applying some filtering to the Internet connection.
Consideration should be given to these issues:
- Policing vs protecting – This is the most basic question that must be addressed as you think about filtering. What is your objective? Are you hoping to keep you employees from surfing to the Bad Sites, or is your intention to protect them and the company?
Unfortunately, many employees will take filtering as a statement of distrust. It is important that it be “sold” as being to their benefit that the company be protected and this be done. Employees must also realize that when at work they are about the business of advancing the company.
Additionally, filtering can help to protect the organization and individuals from falling prey to phishing attacks. (More information on phishing can be found at Wikipedia.)
- Productivity – Filtering the Internet has the potential to increase productivity of the staff. Let’s face it, unless there are strong policy statements against personal web surfing when at work, and the policies are backed by actions, people will naturally tend to kill time and surf non-work related sites.
I’ve not found consistent numbers, but there are several studies that seem to suggest personal Internet use consumes a great deal of time for the American worker. Filtering, combined with strong policy, can increase productivity.
- Liability – Minimizing exposure to liability is a must for the modern business. Any time a “hostile work environment” exists, the company is responsible. I am surprised how easy it is to have someone surf to a web site that makes someone else uncomfortable thus introducing the possibility of harassment charges.
Instituting filtering indicates that the company is actively taking steps to promote a positive environment. It helps to reduce the possibility of harassment charges. Of course, I am not a lawyer, nor am I giving legal advice. You should seek advice and counsel from your own attorney.
So, now that you have decided to implement some sort of Internet filtering, you need to reach a point of balance in that filtering. Many options will allow filtering anything from pornography to gambling to chat sites to classified ad sites to social networking sites, and so on. Reaching a balance of what will be acceptable vis a vis unacceptable is important. Management must carefully work through this.
Once you have given due attention to those issues, and have decided to implement filtering, you need to know your options. We’ll address that in a follow-up entry.
- Dan
Tags: Filtering
