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Internet Abuse Can Kill a Company – What Can You Do About It?



Rick Endres, President of The Washington Network, Inc., Provides Useful Policies



Alexandria, VA — December 21, 2010 — The Internet has become a powerful tool that has transformed the way in which business is conducted. It has completely transformed how people interact, learn, and do business with each other. With such a powerful tool available to virtually all business, people have become so entranced with technology that they no longer question whether or not new technology is actually making them more productive. Just because people can access anything they want, at any time, from any place, doesn’t always mean that it increases productivity. A powerful tool at times can translate into a powerful tool of distraction.


Allowing open Internet access to any and all technology can reduce productivity, expose the network to security threats, jam up bandwidth, deteriorate the quality of service in IP based applications, and slow down critical programs that are important to running the business. However, many organizations are finding success through establishing what are called Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs). These are simply a set of rules and procedures by which all employees must adhere to when interacting with technology and the Internet. Large companies have been utilizing AUPs for some time now, and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are beginning to see the value in establishing a set of such policies.


AUPs cover what software employees should be able to access during work. The idea is that employees should only be able to access the software they need in order to complete their work or become more productive. This is one of the safest policies to have in place, but it is also one of the most time-consuming to enforce. One way to get around this obstacle is to utilize a Technology Advisor who can recommend specific programs and applications to use, and applications to avoid. Unless you’re working with an abundance of IT resources, many companies are looking to outsource these sorts of mundane procedures to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) at a much lower cost. Business owners and their employees can now spend less time performing Microsoft Office installations, and more time working on their primary objectives.


The Internet is an important tool, but one that needs to be regulated to make sure that businesses, through their employees, are not exposing themselves to security breaches. According to Businessweek.com, “70% of Internet porn traffic occurs between the hours of 9am and 5pm.” Aside from its vulgar nature, this sort of content is plagued with dangerous viruses, spyware and malware. This might be something that business owners ignore or believe that their company is the exception, but it is a reality that owners should deal with. 


SMBs can examine a few different steps to get back on track. First, certain sites need to be blocked; this means anything that contains obscene, hateful, pornographic, unlawful, violent or illegal materials. Second, sites that require large amounts of streaming data, i.e., sites that stream television, videos or music, need to be monitored all the way down to the computer or device. The system needs to automatically limit users of these sites if network performance is threatened. Access to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter should also be monitored or blocked as they can prove detrimental to productivity. 


The key in establishing a successful policy is creating one that is complete, efficient and moves with the development of new technology. At the end of the day, its purpose is to safeguard the company from risks and propel the company forward to a brighter, more profitable future.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON NETWORK, INC.

Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.

Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.

The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.