The software works on a client's operating system, monitoring outbound data requests and verifying inbound data by Internet address. All the information is logged and filed by the software, making it easy to get regular accounts of Internet use. Managers get a report on Internet use that looks much like a phone bill, detailed by user, by work group or for the entire company. Managers can get as much detail as they want. For example, the software will report what sites were accessed, by whom and when, for how long, and how much data was downloaded.
Managers can even get hourly traffic reports.
Those reports can be a huge money saver for wired firms, Rosove said. Just the knowledge they're being monitored will eliminate much employee misuse of the Net. And staff that aren't using the Net efficiently can be pinpointed and offered better training to boost their skills. Employers can also use the software to block outbound traffic to unauthorized Web sites, foiling staff attempts to while away the afternoon on chat lines.