How to Monitor Business Internet Usage

The Internet can be a valuable business productivity tool, but there are plenty of non-business uses as well. Making sure employees use the Internet in a productive way is difficult, however, there are ways to monitor workers. Communicating a clear Internet usage policy and installing monitoring software on worker's personal computers are two of the best ways to ensure that Internet use is for true business-related purposes.

  1. 1.

    Create a comprehensive computer usage policy that spells out exactly what is and is not allowed when using company resources, including office computers and the Internet. Make sure every worker in the company reads, understands, and signs the document. Keep a copy of this document with employee personnel records.

  2. 2.

    Install an Internet firewall that blocks access to pornographic or other adult content sites. This will reduce the temptation for workers to visit inappropriate sites. Each time a worker tries to access a blocked site, an informational warning message is displayed. This message should state that Internet usage is monitored and reviewed.

  3. 3.

    Install an Internet monitoring software package on every company computer. Business owners have a number of packages to choose from and should shop around for the best value. Some packages automatically send logs of an employee's Internet use to their supervisor, while others capture screen shots that can be reviewed by the management team as circumstances warrant.

  4. 4.

    Inform all workers that Internet usage is being monitored as a condition of employment. Simply letting workers know that Internet usage is reviewed is often enough to keep them from visiting non-work sites.

  5. 5.

    Review Internet usage logs and screen shots based on a worker's performance. An employee who is spending hours on personal Internet business will probably show a decline in work performance.

  6. 6.

    Use the logs generated by the Internet-monitoring software to create reports of the most frequently visited websites. If some of these sites are not for work use, such as social networking or auction sites, add them to the blocked list on the company firewall.