A network administrator utilizes specialized software to observe and analyze employee computer activities. This observation often includes tracking application usage, website visits, email correspondence, and file transfers. The primary purpose is to maintain network security, ensure regulatory compliance, and assess employee productivity. For example, the software can detect attempts to access unauthorized websites or transfer sensitive data outside the corporate network.
The practice offers several benefits, including mitigating the risk of data breaches and intellectual property theft. It can also improve operational efficiency by identifying time-wasting activities and optimizing workflows. Historically, concerns about employee privacy have driven the development of policies and regulations to govern the use of such software, requiring transparency and justification for monitoring practices. It allows to monitor the bandwidth of employees computer, see who is watching youtube all day, and determine if the employees are working or playing.