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Managing a corporate IT infrastructure is much more than just making sure that everything works correctly.  It involves effectively managing the  most unpredictable component in the environment.   The User

Users will do all manor of crazy things on corporate networks.  We have seen full blown video games installed on users workstations, ebay sniping applications on CEOs machines and a host of “free and useful” web applications that do nothing more than gum up the operation of the workstations.

Here is a fact-most  users will follow any network use regulation that is in place.  IF they know about it.  That requires IT management to have a comprehensive enforceable policy that is written AND presented to the user.  Telling your users not to go to a website is not going to stop them from going there but having them sign a policy page that outlines specific sanctions for going to “restricted” sites will stop them dead in their tracks.

From a HR perspective a user generally can not be sanctioned with out a policy in place.  So it is imperative to have one.

How do you stop the silly little web applications?

Build effective computer policy using group policy management that restricts the ability of adding applications.  That does bring a little more work on the IT staff by requiring them to install applications for the users  but in the long run it is well worth the additional time to install an application or two for a user ranther than having to un-gunk a workstation full of crapapps.

no discussion of policy would be complete with out touching on the topic of web filtering.  Our official position is to step very lightly when considering web filtering applications.  The technical solution may work very well (most do).  But there is a very good chance of insurrection in the ranks.  Users will not appreciate web filtering as it will amount to management snooping in their eyes.

It is far better to control behavior with effective policy than with heavy handed (and expensive) filtering applications .  If you must use filtering applications,  publish a strong acceptable use policy and use the reporting functionality of the filtering application to go after the violators  of the policy.  Using that technique all of the users do not seem under constant scrutiny (even though they are).

Putting your policy together is a task that requires IT management to really take a hard look at the way that your organization works not just the IT infrastructure.  A well thought out network acceptable use policy should not hamper the way that users work but protects the company if a user chooses to go rouge.

Alegria Tech can help craft an effective acceptable use policy an install effective web monitoring and filtering.  Contact us for more information on how we can help !