With the world quickly embracing remote work due to the pandemic, the need to monitor employee activities is now more apparent than ever before. Not only does it help identify places of laxity, but it also helps identify potential threats. However, timesheets and CCTVs are no longer that effective, especially when it comes to tracking online employee activities.
Luckily, there are now plenty of software tools available to replace the adage. These tool help you track what your employees are doing on their company computers and tablets.
In this article, we take a closer look at user activity monitoring (UAM), how it works and the benefits of using these tools.
Let’s just straight in!
What is user Activity Monitoring?
This is the process of tracking and gathering real-time user actions and behavior data from employees on company networks, monitored computers, and linked devices.
Improved internet accessibility and a more relaxed organizational culture increase the likelihood of employees misusing the company’s resources. This is why it makes a lot of sense to keep an eye on their activities.
How does a UAM Software Tool Work?
Monitoring software can be remotely installed and deployed on any company-owned device. This eliminates the need to have the device in your possession to set it up.
It will track and record various digital behaviors on each of your employees’ devices once installed. Some of the activities you can track include;
- Emails
- IMs (Instant Messages)
- Searches
- Social media usage
- Web history
- Downloaded and uploaded files
- App use
- Devices connected via USB
It doesn’t stop there! Some of the best UAM software tools can also snap screenshots of employees’ screens. This gives you a clear view of what they’re looking at.
With the software, you have complete access to all data collected. You won’t have to go through the raw data to find the information you need. By generating custom reports or dashboards, you can quickly access the information you need.
Benefits of Using User Activity Monitors
UAM tools offer multiple benefits as follows:
Identify Insider Threats
Insider threats are employees or members whose intent and actions pose or actually cause harm to the company. Insiders are responsible for 60% of all data breaches, which is why it’s critical to utilize tools to detect these dangers before they cause significant damage.
A UAM tool is intended to detect and alert you of any unusual behavior in the company network system. Based on the data collected, you may assess the possible hazards and take precautions.
Boost Efficiency
For various reasons, monitoring software can help your staff be more productive. For starters, it helps you identify your team’s top performers. This allows you to recognize, reward and motivate them, resulting in increased productivity.
Also, it aids with work delegation. Delegating a task to a more efficient employee will mean more work is done in a shorter time.
Secure Useful Evidence
Any data that a UAM tool collects from emails, messages and screenshots can be used as evidence in cases of fraud and harassment, among others.
This irrefutable evidence eliminates the cat and mouse chase of trying to identify who’s culpable. When the need arises, the evidence collected can also be used for external investigations outside the company’s jurisdiction.
How to Effectively Monitor user Activity
Follow the following recommended practices to get the most out of your employees when using a tracking software tool to monitor their internet activities.
Be Transparent
While this software may run secretly, it would be contrary to some state laws that require employees to be informed they’re being monitored. Even in states where such laws don’t abide, it is advisable, when applicable, to notify your employees. This builds trust and helps reduce unnecessary woes within the company.
Choose What to Monitor
In positions where the point mentioned above isn’t applicable, you can use the ‘choose what to monitor’ feature instead. It helps to focus only on matters related to the company and reduce intrusion into employees’ private affairs.
Take Precaution
While it may be easy to pass unusual activity as nothing, this can have dire consequences. It is best to act on such issues when they arise, regardless of how trivial they may appear.
Review your Data
Don’t just track and gather data, then leave it at that; review it. Set aside time to look through the data collected, analyze it, and take actions where needed.
Conclusion
It’s often said that it is not about what you know but about what you do with what you know. With the right UAM software tool, you can gather credible data and use it to identify and mitigate potential threats and improve employee productivity.
Are you using these tools to track your employees and their productivity? Let us know your experience in the comments below.