Editor's Corner

Since the technology became available, my take on Web monitoring programs in the corporate environment has morphed. I've gone from viewing it as being too invasive and "Big Brotherish" to understanding the need to check in on employee use of email and the Internet. Simply, there's just too much risk and too many potential vulnerabilities to allow unfettered Internet and messaging use. I don't believe there are tons of workers scheming to send confidential information or accessing networks they have no authorization to touch, but there is human error to consider, and it's a huge security issue. As an article at BPM Today relates, virtually all of us use the Internet and messaging during the workday. About 93 percent of workers surveyed said they spend at least some time accessing the Internet at work, up from 86 percent in 2004. And while more enterprises are responding by pulling in monitoring systems, that may or may not be the right response. I'm interested in hearing your viewpoint on using such tools. Are they necessary? Do they work or do they generate other issues, such as disgruntled employees? Email me and let me know, and I'll share the insight in a future issue. - Judy