Employee Internet Abuse Leading to Management Insanity - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Feb 21, 2000

Firing employees for abusing the company's Internet and email resources is not the answer to the business world's latest technological problem, according to executives at Denver-based eSniff.com, inc.

The company produces a computer network monitoring device that provides managers with a tool to identify and stop inappropriate Internet and email use through customized electronic boundaries.

Shopping online, viewing pornography, sending inappropriate email correspondence and checking personal stock performances are just a few of the problems facing today's business managers and executives.

Productivity losses, liability risks and gaping security holes are causing many businesses to wonder if unmonitored Internet access is a viable business model. In addition, companies are wasting substantial hardware and software resources to accommodate large volumes of non-business activity.

Recently, many large organizations, including Xerox and the New York Times, have announced mass terminations because of inappropriate employee Internet and email activity.

"It's management insanity," says eSniff.com COO John Conlin. "Replacing an employee costs roughly one and a half times the person's annual salary. No company can afford to fire good employees. So why are we firing good employees that have developed bad Internet and email habits?"

According to a 1999 survey by the American Management Association, more than 50 percent of all Internet activity within companies is non-business related.

Previous solutions such as filtering and blocking software have quickly proven ineffective in today's world of changing URLs and sophisticated computer users, according to Conlin.

"Content monitoring is the only true solution," says Conlin. "It allows employees full Internet access, it places trust in employees to do the right thing, it preserves a wide area for employee privacy, and it protects both the organization and its employees from Internet abuse."

Developed by a team of senior management consultants, linguists and networking experts, eSniff.com has created a network monitoring device that gives employees complete freedom to use the Internet -- as long as they stay within the company's boundaries.

"This is a management problem that was brought on by computer technology," said Conlin. "The solution requires face-to-face communication from manager to employee. We simply don't believe in computer software managing people."

The patent pending eSniff 1000 monitors all network activity, including Internet and intranet use, print jobs and emails and only reports potential problems. Normal business activity and innocuous personal activity go unnoticed.

The company currently produces the English version of the eSniff 1000 with plans to premier a Spanish version in March 2000 and Japanese version in June 2000. French and German versions will be available by the end of 2000.