Employee Monitoring and Maintaining Data Protection

Introduction

In this digital age, data is considered more valuable than oil. Gone are the days where finding oil led you to unimaginable riches. Now data is power. And those who are in possession of important data will likely want to secure it.

There have been lots of breaches in data security over the years and one of the leading causes behind them are insider threats. According to Insider Threat Report 2018, almost 90% of companies feel vulnerable to insider attacks.

So let’s look at some of the ways in which employee monitoring and data protection can be achieved.

Employee Monitoring

These days, employee monitoring is getting increasingly necessary. Why? It’s mostly due to our decreasing attention spans.

We’re getting easily distracted. Mobile phones and social media are one of our main distractions. We get the urge to check our mobile phones every minute or so. This is becoming a major headache for employers as productivity is decreasing.

Recent surveys by staffing firms have found out that employees spend at least 56 minutes per day using their phones for personal business at work. That’s approximately an hour wasted daily!

• To combat decreasing productivity, employers are opting to monitor their employees. Some of the ways through which employees can be kept in check include:
• Defining policies. Employers need to create a written explanation of their policies. Explain them in a clear and precise way. Include them in a handbook or guide and make sure that every employee reads it. If an employee fails to follow the set guidelines then immediately take disciplinary action. Also, make sure that these policies are being implemented equally to all employees.
• Installing an employee time tracking software. Make a list of features that you would like in your monitoring software and then search the market accordingly. Look into apps, like Stafftimer, that can improve business operations by providing time tracking and automatic time capture. This way, you can keep track of daily employee progression and send them feedback through audio clips.
• Blocking inappropriate websites. The internet is vast. It’s filled with sites, like Facebook, that distracts employees. Block these unproductive websites. If employees frequently visit pages that are unrelated to work, remind them that they are on company hours.
• Using video surveillance. Video cameras are usually installed to discourage and detect theft. But, businesses can also use them to keep an eye on their employees and observe how productive they are throughout the day.

Data Protection

No matter what size a company is, data protection is a must for it. Even big companies like Facebook and Quora have suffered from data breaches in recent years. This means that small and mid-sized companies are in grave danger as well. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small businesses fold within six months after a cyber attack.

Some of the most successful strategies regarding data protection include:

• Identifying data flow. Companies who know where their data is coming from and where it’s headed can accurately pinpoint the vulnerable points. This allows them to make informed decisions with regards to data protection measures and policies.
• Banning mobile phones at work. This may seem like an extreme measure but it is definitely applicable if required. Since mobile phones are small and inconspicuous, malicious insiders can use them to steal or attack sensitive data.
• Only allowing usage of company laptops. Just like mobile phones, malicious insiders can also use personal laptops to steal or attack sensitive data. To counter this threat, companies can choose to ban personal laptops on office premises.
• Spreading awareness among employees. Most data breaches come from employee negligence or ignorance. Companies need to educate their employees regarding security measures and cyberattack policies. Employees that regularly come into contact with sensitive data should be under clear guidelines and, if possible, receive formal training.
• Using encryption wherever possible. Companies should apply encryption all across the board. From USBs and hard drives to data encryption before the transfer, it’s a must for all companies that are serious about data protection.

Conclusion

If companies want to keep their customers, they need to take security threats seriously. Big companies have already come up with various policies and measures to protect their data.

Small companies need to follow suit and adopt these policies as well. It may seem like a waste of money in the beginning but, in the long run, they’ll start seeing the benefits.