10 key metrics to monitor employee internet usage effectively

We all know that the Internet is a super useful way to get information on almost anything and even connect with people, but when the intention is not right, the usage may end up in the wrong hands and produce wrong results. Unrestricted use of the Internet at work can make employees less productive, create possible security issues, and even cause unnecessary expenses.

Hence, to keep things balanced, monitoring employee internet usage ensures certain aspects at work that pose no potential harm to the company but align with the organisational goals and objectives. This is not just a matter of policy, but a strategic move to protect the company's interests. To make things easier for your organisation, here are the most notable 10 metrics you can try to monitor employee internet usage effectively.

1. Bandwidth usage

Bandwidth utilisation or usage indicates the amount of internet bandwidth used by employees. A high utilisation may signify unnecessary or non-work-related activities such as downloads or streaming.

Why it matters: Excessive non-work-related bandwidth utilisation can disturb other important applications and work, affecting employees' overall productivity. However, monitoring bandwidth usage is helpful in identifying usage patterns, preventing network slowdowns, and effectively allocating resources.

2. Website categories visited

This metric simply means consistently tracking the variety of websites employees visit in a specific timeframe. While this may seem vain, the organisation needs to know whether the employees are checking out work-related stuff like research sites, professional forums, and industry news or wasting working time on non-work activities like entertainment, online shopping, and social media.

Why it matters: Analysing website categories visited by employees helps determine whether they are using the company network for work purposes or personal matters. Knowing this enables employers to make smart decisions regarding accessible websites through company platforms with adequate guidance and supervision.

3. Top visited websites

Similar to the website category visited metric, this particular metric helps determine the websites visited by the employees most. It shows where employees spend most of their online time at work. It is a good way to identify which websites are necessary for work and which are just distractions that get in the way of employees' productivity.

Why it matters: Knowing the top websites visited by employees daily helps the organisation set appropriate internet and computer usage rules, block distracting websites, and limit accessibility only for important work activities.

4. Time spent online

When an organisation sets metrics for monitoring employee internet usage, the primary is to track and analyse the time employees spend online. This is necessary to determine whether they are effectively utilising their online time. If they are not work-focused, it is easy to get sidetracked and lose work efficiency.

Why it matters: Understanding how much time employees spend online and where helps spot unproductive patterns, which can be used to improve focus and productivity.

5. Peak usage times

This peak internet usage times metric shows when employees were most active online during work hours. This offers a calculated insight into their work habits and points out possible issues like excessive internet usage outside of working hours.

Why it matters: Analysing peak internet usage times can assist the organisation in adequately optimising network resources and disclosing probable productivity concerns.

6. Download activity

It is essential to monitor the type and number of files downloaded by employees using the company network and devices. Excess downloads of non-work materials could be a direct sign of internet misuse. Additionally, monitoring the type of materials or files downloaded can help with security reasons such as unauthorised software installations or malware.

Why it matters: Not every downloadable material or file can be safe for organisational security and other related concerns. On the other hand, keeping track of download activities by employees is also a matter of saving on internet bandwidth usage and system security, as well as ensuring that everyone follows company rules.

7. Upload activity

Like monitoring download activity, what is being uploaded via the company network is also sensitive so that unrelated and confidential material doesn’t leave the organisation unauthorised. It is important to prevent data leaks and safeguard company information.

Why it matters: Tracking any type of upload by employees helps protect sensitive organisational data and guarantees that it remains intact and safe within the company walls, whether online or not.

8. Application data consumption

This metric implies tracking the data used by particular applications during a specific timeframe. This can assist organisations in finding out which applications or services are using the most bandwidth. While important business applications might undoubtedly require a lot of data, it is viable to restrict the less-important or lesser-used applications.

Why it matters: Analysing this metric ensures that essential business applications get their required share of data without compromise. It also makes data management less burdensome, as the whole network is adequately distributed to run best.

9. Security incidents

Security incidents are another notable metric for monitoring employee internet usage. They indicate the relationship between security issues and internet usage. The organisation should track any unwarranted attempts to get into the system, visits to harmful websites, or fake emails to trick employees.

Why it matters: Security problems may happen at any organisation at any time. However, finding security incidents related to internet usage can help apply proactive measures and secure organisational digital information.

10. Internet usage policies and compliance

Ensuring employees abide by the rules about how the company's internet should be used is crucial. This guarantees that everyone in the organisation does their job well by the laws that safeguard the company and that things work smoothly.

Why it matters: Compliance with the internet usage policies is also the duty of the employees as much as it is of the organisation. Timely checks ensure that people follow the internet rules that minimise problems and use the internet responsibly.  

Anyhow, effectively monitoring employee internet usage significantly impacts productivity by addressing inefficiencies like reduced distractions, optimised network resources, and compliance. However, this approach should only be focused on improvement, not a punitive measure.

By considering and emphasising these key metrics, businesses can better get around and manage their digital landscape and connect internet usage with the organisation’s strategic visions.

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