Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for employee surveillance software has risen by up to 54% according to recent research. Even so, there still exists a lot of myths around computer monitoring software. In particular, opponents of this technology think it snoops and collects private information, which could be illegal.
In this quick guide, we take a look at six of the most common employee computer monitoring misconceptions you should know in 2022.
It’s expensive
The cost of computer monitoring technology might seem high, but it doesn’t always have to be this way. As with anything, there are lots of options in the market with prices varying significantly depending on the features, reputation, and reliability. Besides, most tools come with an option to subscribe from as little as one month depending on your budget.
Investing in quality monitoring technology is worth it in the long term as it reduces your running cost. The right software will support automated processes that can be scheduled to run independently. This increases efficiency and ultimately saves you time and money.
Monitoring software is spyware
This is another myth a lot of people have come to believe. The truth is monitoring tools and spy software are two separate programs. The two operate differently and complete different tasks.
Monitoring software collects data while tracking and observing network operations of users, applications, and services. The idea is to enhance computer security and to keep information protected.
On the other hand, spyware tracks data like credit card numbers, personal data, and passwords transmitting them to hackers, competitors, and government organizations.
You can unsuspectingly install spyware by accessing infected websites or triggering an online action. Proper computer security prevents malware and viruses which ensures that programs run smoothly and securely.
Privately collects secret information
There is a valid argument that monitoring invades privacy, which to some extent has some truth in it, especially with some software tools. But with the increasing advancements in technology, developers are implementing new features that largely protect private information. For example, some of the best computer monitors now bar screenshots and automatically block dubious websites.
What these new software tools are focused on is capturing applications and not screenshots or anything that might amount to privacy invasion. With precision, they record the number of times buttons are pressed to protect passwords and keep records in case of leakage of sensitive data.
Cloud storage is insecure
Computer monitoring software programmers build serious security mechanisms aimed at protecting your personal and business information. Sure, there is no one system that provides 100% data security. But you can be sure that data collected by your software provider (as long as they have a reputation to keep) is backed up multiple times on physical servers and can be recovered when lost.
You can further protect your personal and sensitive information by activating two-factor authentication, protecting your encryption keys, and logging out of your cloud account. Other precautionary steps worth taking include adding passwords and expiration dates on your links.
In the event, you and your staff don’t understand how to use a computer monitoring tool effectively, be sure to get training on how to deal with data leakages and related risks. Most importantly, invest in processes that enhance constant cloud surveillance, data redundancy, and encryption to keep your data safe.
Users can trick monitoring software
Some users believe that leaving an app running will trick the software to detect productivity. While this is true in some cases, the best monitoring software accurately tracks which computers users are on, how long they’ve been using it, when, and what they are doing.
Companies can then fully rely on these tools to gather data and know activities their employees are engaging in while having a working app open and running.
Computer monitoring is illegal
Businesses and governments have laws that cover data collection, processing, and protection in varying degrees. If you are using a company-owned device, your employer has the legal authority to monitor your digital activities to protect their core mandate.
Nevertheless, it is moral for you to be notified of a computer monitoring software. You should note that “stealth” monitoring can be legal under certain circumstances, but can also lead to serious legal consequences in others.
The line is drawn when monitoring software has an optical device used to monitor and record private conversations and activities without prior notification. We recommend educating yourself on software laws in your country and understanding the steps you must take to avoid litigation.
Conclusion
We hope that with these myths debunked, you can now understand and appreciate the importance of computer monitoring software, whether as a business owner or employee. If the appropriate mechanisms are put in place to keep collected data safe, there’s no reason you should be hesitant to have this tool on your company tech stack.
