Internet usage has become an integral part of every organization's operations, enabling seamless communication, collaboration, and productivity. However, when left unmonitored, it can lead to security risks, reduced efficiency, and misuse of company resources. Employees often spend time on movie streaming applications, or social media platforms, thereby consume excess bandwidth, wasting productive hours, or unknowingly expose the organization to malware and phishing attacks such as when downloading pirated video games. Monitoring internet usage helps identify such issues early, encourages responsible behavior from the employees, and strengthens data security by preventing unauthorized access or data transfers. It also ensures compliance with privacy and regulatory standards while maintaining productivity and accountability. To strike the right balance, organizations must monitor ethically and transparently, fostering trust and efficiency.
Read on to discover how ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus helps you monitor internet usage effectively by providing detailed reports on the websites and cloud applications accessed by each device.
Steps to monitor internet activity on your office network
- Open the DataSecurity Plus web console.
- Select Cloud Protection from the apps drop-down at the top.
- Go to the Reports tab.
- You can now select any report to view details such as the websites accessed by the most active users, application usage counts, upload and download activities to obtain insights on the total number of cloud apps with high request count, files downloaded and uploaded, number of requests made to sanctioned and unapproved apps, and much more.
Note: The gateway servers must be configured before you can generate any reports. Click here to know how.
Frequently asked questions
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1. Is monitoring employee internet usage legal?
Yes, as long as it's done transparently and in accordance with data privacy laws. Employees must be informed that monitoring exists, what is being tracked, and why. In India, this aligns with the IT Act and company policy norms.
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2. What types of internet activity can be monitored in DataSecurity Plus?
DataSecurity Plus provides comprehensive visibility into user activity by monitoring the applications being accessed, browser usage patterns, and file uploads or downloads. It also identifies shadow applications running on the network and tracks the number of requests made to each application, offering deeper insight into overall internet behavior.
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3. What should an internet usage policy include?
An effective internet usage policy clearly outlines why monitoring is carried out, defines which online activities are allowed or restricted, and explains how user data will be stored and protected. It should also specify the consequences for policy violations and include transparent consent statements so users understand how their online behavior is governed.
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4. What are some warning signs of internet misuse?
Warning signs of internet misuse can appear in several ways, such as sudden spikes in data consumption, frequent visits to websites unrelated to work, or the installation of unapproved software. Unexplained transfers of files to external devices or cloud platforms may also indicate improper or risky online behavior within the organization.
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5. How can small organizations monitor internet usage effectively?
Even with limited resources, small-scaled organizations can track network activity, review browsing patterns, and implement web-filtering tools to ensure secure and responsible online behavior within the workplace.