Internet Policies at work.

[BDNiner]

At my job we are going to implement a policy where only one computer per remote location has unrestricted internet access. The rest of the computers will use a white list with approved websites. we have about 30 remote locations. What are other IT pros experiences with blocking the internet?

One of my responsibilities at work is repairing computers, I pushed for this change because i am tired of cleaning up spyware and viruses on computers. in fact i am cleaning up a computer as i type this. We also have had issues with users accessing explicit content at work which again opens the door to viruses and spyware. I welcome this change in policy, hopefully it will free up my time at work to learn more interesting stuff.

[Ocxic]

so long as the blocking doesn't interfere with the actual work, then great ppl are at work they don't need myspace etc..

[rickyjones]

so long as the blocking doesn't interfere with the actual work, then great ppl are at work they don't need myspace etc..

I would agree with that. I would also say that it greatly depends on the work environment - is it more relaxed?, etc...

-Richard

[Engnome]

At my job we are going to implement a policy where only one computer per remote location has unrestricted internet access <snip> I pushed for this change <snip> in fact i am cleaning up a computer as i type this.

Well I guess if people at your work browse non-work related sites maybe you have a reason for this white list system

[LaRoza]

The work places own the internet connection, the computers, and the employee's time (so to speak). They have every right to restrict it to work related use.

They have every right to dictate the software used (usually Windows, MS Office and IE) because they own the licenses and the comptuers.

[Iehova]

If it is affecting their work (including the viruses and spyware), then it shouldn't be going on and you're right to block it, IMHO. I think that if employees were only surfing facebook (or whatever) on their breaks, and even then not surfing bad stuff (explicit content, sites brimming with malware...) that's fine, but otherwise it should be work work work...

[billgoldberg]

At work you need to work, it's that simple.

You don't need to access non-work related websites, porn, messenger, programs, ...

[BDNiner]

our old policy was to limit unrestricted access to only 1/2 and hour a day, so if people wanted to go on non work related website then they could. but it was a black list system and keeping up with the long list of blocked sites was time consuming. and juniper networks how provides our networking equipment wanted more money to increase the number of sites we could black list. currently it is about 200 per device.

[Dimitriid]

Why provide internet in the first place? Emails and a few needed sites are perfectly doable with an intranet only.Providing internet however is asking for trouble. It becomes tiresome to try and keep up with ways around it like proxy servers and such.

Bottom line is that every single job I had with internet access had many people getting around the restrictions to IM and play games or view porn.

[LaRoza]

Bottom line is that every single job I had with internet access had many people getting around the restrictions to IM and play games or view porn.

That violated the policy, and they could be reprimanded for it.

There are many instances of rule breaking in all areas of life, but in none of them does a lack of punishment mean it is permitted.

Why should a company which hires adults have to watch their employees every steps? That is quite juvenile.

Why have internet at work? Good question, anyone caught breaking the policy will go on time out. Or more realistically, for the adult world, anyone breaking the policy will be fired.