It's no surprise to anyone that cybersecurity threats to businesses continue to grow. The complexity of the attacks and the damage caused have also increased.
Even the specific law for the processing of personal data, the LGPD, is used persuasively when extorting money from companies that have had data leaked.
Furthermore, the productivity factor of the work team, whether in person or remotely, is still widely discussed among managers and IT professionals responsible for implementing tools to control and focus the team.
Recognizing this latency, we developed this material so that professionals and companies can definitively learn how and why blocking websites in a business environment is important and beneficial in different scenarios.
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Index
- Why is blocking websites important for businesses?
- When is it recommended to block websites in a company?
- Advantages of internet access management for businesses
- Blocking employee websites: synonymous with security and productivity
- Using cell phones at work: is it important to block access?
- Why block websites when working from home?
- What tool should be used to block websites in the company?
- How to block company websites on the internet using Lumiun Box?
- Free materials
Note: Each topic has a button that automatically takes you back to the Index. We hope this feature helps you read the text.
Why is blocking websites important for businesses?
Without a doubt, it's easy and simple to answer that question!
Managers and technology professionals are looking for website blocking tools , primarily because they need to increase team productivity and data security in their companies.
Ultimately, without any kind of control or policy regarding internet access , it's natural for employees to lose focus.
The advantages of blocking websites and implementing a complete internet access management system are easily noticeable within the first few days:
- Greater productivity and quality in tasks
- Focus on company tasks
- Protection against websites considered harmful.
- Fewer occurrences of problems with viruses and malware
- Faster internet through proper network usage
- Monitoring and information about internet usage
- Lower equipment maintenance costs
Good management practices optimize productivity, ensure data security, reduce costs, minimize distractions, and generate positive results for everyone.
When is it recommended to block websites in a company?
When business owners and/or managers face this type of question, it's most likely because the recommended time to block websites in the company has arrived .
This question is quite common and always arises when data security and productivity are the focus of business owners and IT managers .
Regardless of the company's size (small, medium, or large), when the question arises, " When is it recommended to block websites in the company? ", it's a warning sign for at least two situations :
- When there is a perception that employees are wasting their time on social networking or entertainment websites.
- When there is concern about the company's data security .
Without a doubt, these are the two main reasons why blocking websites in a company is recommended.
Especially with the enactment of the LGPD (General Law for the Protection of Personal Data) . Because complying with the LGPD does not mean absolute protection .
Advantages of internet access management for businesses
Learning how to block websites and understanding why this measure is necessary is an important management process that cannot be relegated to the background or disregarded.
Ultimately, there are many factors and aspects involved when it comes to how to block websites . And, certainly, paying attention to this diversity and variety of motivations is important.
Although all issues should be considered, companies and good management practices should be pragmatic.
That is, when learning how to block websites, the focus of business owners and IT managers should be on the two main advantages of this process :
- To avoid wasting time and employee and company productivity
- To preserve the integrity and security of sensitive data and information.
Without a doubt, better results are obtained when good and effective internet access management and control practices are developed and implemented , such as blocking websites within the company.
Also, because negligence in data protection and security within companies can cause harm , especially due to the LGPD ( General Law for the Protection of Personal Data ).
Undoubtedly, controls and technologies that provide a framework for blocking websites are important management tools , as they have the potential to protect against losses and positively impact results and the business .
Blocking employee websites: synonymous with security and productivity
Blocking employee websites is undoubtedly one of the best practices in internet security for companies .
Above all, because the lack of control over employees' internet access is the source of most data security incidents or breaches.
Ultimately, users are the biggest gateway for malicious attacks and the infection of devices, networks, and systems by viruses. In fact, the vast majority of employees fail to identify risks and end up accessing fake messages or malicious links .
Furthermore, without blocking employees' websites, teams very easily lose focus and productivity when accessing social media , for example.
This is especially true in remote settings, such as for employees working from home without any kind of internet access control in their residence. You will learn more about this topic in the next section of this material.
That's why a DNS filtering tool is a great solution for blocking employee websites, combating digital threats, and eliminating many internet security problems.
Using cell phones at work: is it important to block access?
Cell phones have become an extension of many people's bodies . This exaggeration is only meant to make it clear how fundamental cell phone use has become to the work of many professionals.
The evolution of technology and device connectivity has, in fact, made the cell phone an extremely useful tool and an integral part of everyday life .
However, not everything this small device brings to businesses is beneficial. When used improperly, it hinders productivity and puts company data and information at risk .
But it's also wrong to claim that blocking internet access for corporate cell phones is indispensable .
In fact, the most accurate and appropriate statement is: blocking internet access should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, based on an internet access management policy .
Ultimately, there are functions and tasks that are only possible and productive when there is internet access , and others that are harmful or undesirable.
Therefore, a thorough analysis should take place before any action is taken .
Regardless, it's a behavior that hinders good employee performance and reduces productivity .
Therefore, an internet access management policy is necessary to effectively monitor and control security of company information .
Why block websites when working from home?
As extreme or unpleasant as it may seem, blocking websites at the company and while working from home is, in fact, an important management process .
Here are the main reasons to implement an internet access management system in remote environments:
- To improve productivity and quality in tasks;
- Reduce costs and increase profitability;
- Reduce wasted time and maintain focus on work;
- Enhance data and information security;
- Protect your network, devices, and systems against internet threats , reducing the occurrence of problems with viruses and malware.
- Optimize shared broadband speed: faster internet ;
- To effectively monitor and control
- To improve the performance of systems and computers.
The pandemic, which will be two years old soon, has indeed accelerated the digital transformation of economic and social sectors worldwide. An undeniable legacy of COVID-19.
Therefore, with some or all employees working from home, blocking websites both at the company and while working from home remains necessary and urgent .
What tool should be used to block websites in the company?
Misuse of the internet by employees can compromise company productivity , as well as put sensitive and confidential company data at risk, as you saw on the previous pages.
In order to block websites within the company , manage access, add an extra layer of internet protection, and optimize online productivity, there are several options available.
Among the most common are Cisco Umbrella (OpenDNS), Lumiun Box , DNS Filter , Fortigate , pfSense , and the use of a proxy on a Linux server. However, the solutions differ considerably from each other and do not always adapt to all the diversities found in the business environment.
Interface, technical support, reports, and functionalities are decisive factors when choosing a tool for managing internet access in companies.
Below you will see a comparison table with the main features and differences between the best solutions on the market.
How to block company websites on the internet using Lumiun Box?
Since 2015, Lumiun has been helping companies stay secure and productive online , becoming a benchmark for ease of use and satisfactory results in its solution for the vast majority of its clients.
With its cloud-based service, Lumiun prevents attacks on the company network , allows the implementation of an internet access policy, increases network security, protects and enforces access rules for all devices connected to the local network, and reduces wasted time and improves employee focus on the internet.
Lumiun includes features such as:
- Internet Access Control
- Firewall
- Business VPN
- Internet Traffic Management
- Comprehensive, real-time management reports
Furthermore, the process of installing Lumiun on the company network takes an average of 20 minutes . It only requires connecting 2 network cables to the Lumiun Box and quickly configuring the equipment that will be part of the Lumiun protection system, and that's it, you gain more control over the company network , in addition to having an extra layer of internet protection.
The panel is intuitive, and in just a few clicks you can define specific access rules and blocks, for example. See more details in the article " 6 reasons to use Lumiun Box for internet access control ".
Free materials
To help you improve your company's internet security and control, we've selected our best resources on the subject.
We periodically strive to produce materials that can help business owners, managers, and IT professionals in their quest to improve the control and security of their companies' internet infrastructure.
Below, you will find tools, ebooks, documents, infographics, guides, and kits with free educational content that can be applied to human resources and internet management in companies.
Feel free to share with your colleagues and friends, they're all free !
The internet is a means of communication, a source of information, and a work tool in companies. However, a lack of control over internet access in the business environment can have negative results, especially on employee productivity.
We've prepared important information about one of the most suitable internet protection tools for businesses: DNS Firewall . Throughout this material, you'll see what a DNS Firewall is and also 7 of the main reasons to use this internet protection tool in your company.
Download our infographic that compiles statistical data on employee productivity on the internet.
Every day, companies produce information , regardless of their size. This information adds value and increases productivity and competitiveness in the market . When used online, this data needs to be protected, and for this reason, so many internet security systems and tools exist.
In this material, we cover the main ways the internet is used and how to protect yourself in each case. We also show the different types of connections that exist and how to identify threats on the network. In addition, on the last page, we provide a bonus to help your company with information security.
In this document you will see several items that can leave your company's data and information vulnerable and unprotected .
Download the eBook for this content.
No time to read now? Download the eBook with all the content on this page and learn definitively how to control internet access in your company .
