When employees first began using social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook at work, many employers worried that there would be a significant drop-off in productivity. While this is still a concern for some businesses, it turns out there are far greater risks to social networking on the job than just a few lost minutes.
According to research from Sophos, a UK-based Internet security firm, nearly two-thirds of businesses think their employees share too much information about their company online. Furthermore, one in five businesses fear security risks, such as spam or malware attacks, caused by social networking.
The problem with managing social networking threats is that it is very difficult to cut out employee access to social networks. Sure, companies can institute policies designed to limit social networking use, or even block access to web sites altogether. However, since social networking has become such an important part of our daily lives, many employees will find a backdoor way to sneak onto their Facebook profile anyway, which only amplifies the threat of downloading viruses. Plus, many companies rely on social networking to improve their core business functions, such as business development, brand management, and more.
Because websites like Facebook aren’t going anywhere soon, businesses should recognize their various benefits and threats. To this end, it is imporant for businesses to have a robust social networking policy that is both fair and accessible for employees. Additionally, businesses should maintain a strong anti-virus software and firewall technology to protect important company assets.
If you have any additional tips on ways companies can effectively manage employee social networking, please feel free to leave your comments on this post.
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[...] are checking your child’s name when their applications are received. Furthermore, even more employers are surfing search engines prior employing applicants. It is critical we educate our children and [...]
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