Web Filters Help Increase Productivity

Web filters aren't just for protecting your network from malware or even screening Spam from company in boxes. In fact, you may be surprised to discover the extent to which the typical worker is dedicated to “cyberslacking,” a form of goofing off on company time dedicated to surfing the web and taking care of personal business online.

A few years ago, WebWorks conducted a survey of workers who had Internet access at the office. The results demonstrated clearly that web filters are crucial to keeping employees on task. The majority of workers admitted to using company computers to do everything from booking travel arrangements to online shopping while they were on the clock. In fact, over half of them said they would rather forgo coffee at work than give up Internet surfing during work hours.

Tens of billions of hours are lost every year to employees using the Internet for personal reasons. Various sources estimate that, without web filters, most companies lose from five to eight hours of every employee's time every week. That's a full work day every week dedicated to personal business!

Favorite sites for workers who are using company computers include YouTube, MySpace, FaceBook, eBay, CNN, Google, Amazon, Yahoo and MSN. Most personal use of business computers fell into five categories: news, personal email, online banking, travel and shopping. Instant Messaging was also very popular. Of course, the ever popular online porn sites were also heavily represented, with over 20% of men and 10% of women admitting to visiting online porn sites at work. Just one person catching a glimpse of this at a co-worker's desk can result in a lawsuit over your hostile work environment.

The right web filter, tailored to meet your business needs, can make accessing social networking sites and other websites impossible. Blocking shopping, travel and new sites may seem too broad a solution, but Untangle's web filter can be customized to allow relevant sites while blocking others.

Help your employee's kick the Internet habit easily with our web filter solutions. The return you get in increased productivity may surprise you.