It has been quite clear in recent years that the use of the internet is no longer an alternative to becoming essential within the corporate environment. Between businesses, regardless of the industry or size, it is virtually impossible to find a company that does not completely or partially depend on the internet connection to perform its tasks. For this reason, websites block is a strategy that has been gaining more and more popularity among companies that want to use this feature with more efficiency and intelligence.
Only from 2019 to 2021 (leveraged by Covid-19 world pandemic), the number of companies in Brazil that started offering their products and services through digital channels went from 57% to 73% . The need for implementation of the remote work modality also played a determining role in these results. These numbers demonstrate how, with each passing day, more and more business are dependent on the worldwide computer network.
We know that the digital revolution has been bringing numerous advantages to everyone, delivering tools that help most tasks we perform routinely. However, just as this revolution brought advantages, it has also been loaded with problems that should be fought .
One of these problems is loss of productivity. Improper access to the internet, especially when made in the workplace, result in major problems for the company , data and its devices. Linked to this issue, we can also mention the cyber risks that are favored by improper access during working hours.
Like other assets that are part of the company, stored data and information should be protected to avoid complications and penalties imposed by regulatory agencies. After the emergence of LGPD, the concern with these factors became even greater , and the company must adapt and maintain all aspects related to digital security. Understand what has changed with this legislation:
Due to all these problems, you need to have a feature for blocking websites within your business. But how is it possible to ensure the effectiveness of this tool and monitor the types of access that are performed?
First of all, we need to understand what the risks are and what are the main problems that should be fought when it comes to internet access. Keep reading to learn more!
How can the internet harm you?
As we have seen earlier, although indispensable, the internet is also one of the main entry doors for the biggest problems that affect companies . This is because for a business to succeed, there must be a constant investment in productivity, and the internet can be one of the main villains of a company's profitability.
Improper accesses during working hours can make employees do essential tasks for their daily lives and the interests of the company. The Getúlio Vargas Foundation conducts an annual research called productivity observatory . In its last report we can observe that Brazil presented a considerable drop in several indicators that measure the country's productivity.
Accompanying a descending trend, in 2022 Brazil presented a 4.5% reduction in productivity regarding the hours worked . Considering that Brazilian worker productivity is not among the best in the world, it is necessary to invest in resources and tools that help maintain focus on what is really important.
Considering all these factors, managers need to do everything in their power to help workers to remain focused and contribute to the delivery of expected demand. Blocking sites in your business is a strategy that will help combat improper access and ensure more security for stored networks, devices and information.
In addition to having an Internet access policy that consolidates all basic rules of behavior and conduct, it is also essential to block certain types of content, such as:
- Social Networks : Access to social networks during working hours is one of the main factors that undermine the productivity of a worker. Given that most people have at least one social network profile, this type of access is one of the first to control.
- E-mail : Not performing the access to email tool lock during working hours is one of the main errors made by managers. Although it sounds like a harmless tool, the email is one of the main channels used by cybercriminals to apply scam phishing blow .
- Pornographic and violent content: Most managers even imagine that their employees access this type of content. But it is important to remember that, according to a survey conducted in 2022, 22 million people assume consume this type of content in the country , making this block a need.
- Entertainment and e-commerce site : We know that the possibility of making purchases through digital channels has brought a lot of ease to our routine. But this type of content can be a risk not only for productivity, but also for corporate safety . This is because I cybercriminals create copies of famous websites to victim users, causing them to provide confidential data and bank information unsuspectively.
- Game platforms: Although it is an excellent leisure option, games during working hours can greatly disrupt a company's routine and results. It is very important that workers are very focused on activities that are performed to avoid errors and decrease the need for rework.
- Video and streaming platforms: YouTube is one of today's most accessed sites and can deliver varied content to users. However, during working hours, this tool can cause many problems. In addition to decreasing employee focus, it can also favor access to improper content . The same goes for streaming platforms and movie and series sites.
Blocking website is an efficient solution for companies that want to reduce the problems caused by improper access. For this control to be done properly, it is necessary to have a complete tool that helps managers to perform the efficient monitoring of everything that is accessed during working hours.
5 Bigger Risks of the Digital Environment
As we said, the internet is essential but it is also an environment full of traps and threats. Among the main problems that can be caused by access in this environment, we can mention:
Data leakage
The leakage of information within the company is a much larger problem than it appears to be. In addition to exposing confidential data from customers, partners and suppliers, this type of leakage can also cause business penalties and damage the company's image in the market.
The general data protection law has brought in its content various penalties that can be applied to companies that do not establish the correct security protocol for stored actions. It is very important to adapt to what is established in the legislation and rely on resources that help increase data security.
Malware
We can understand as malware any virus or harmful application whose purpose is to cause some kind of problem or inconvenience to your victim. Malware can be developed to steal information , cause operating problems for devices, enable the monitoring of typed activities, turn the device into a zombie computer that is used larger scale blows, among other problems.
This type of application can reach users in different ways, such as:
- Emails;
- Download corrupted or malicious attachments;
- Pop-ups on suspicious websites;
- Misleading advertising;
- And much more.
Phishing
Phishing is one of the oldest problems on the internet, but it continues to make victims every day and in different ways. In this cyber scam, the cybercriminal sends forms and corrupted attachments through false emails. By clicking on these attachments or links, the user ends up favoring the installation of malicious applications or providing valuable data to these criminals.
Antivirus and conventional threat lock tools have not been developed to recognize such an email, and other measures need to be used to avoid this type of problem. For this reason, it is necessary to block access to email services to reduce the user's chances to suffer this type of scam.
Ransomware
The kidnapping is one of the most performed practices among cybercriminals. With the help of encryption, hackers can unable networks and kidnap information, requiring payment of a ransom amount to the victim.
In addition to representing a huge financial loss to the business, ransomware attack also causes many losses to the company's image, driving customers away and damaging their positioning in the market.
Ddo attack
Distributed Denial Denial Attacks, or DDOS attack, can victimize companies of any size or sector. Attacks of this type were carried out against government agencies and institutions causing major problems .
Simply put, during a Cybercriminous DDOS attack send a huge amount of requests to their victim's page. Because of this excess requests and attempts to access, the service may be unavailable for legitimate users. This type of attack can cause major financial losses to the business, which can spend hours until days without access to your pages and services.
What is the best tool on the market?
There are several tools and resources in the market developed to block websites. These tools have been created to facilitate internet access control and help companies and users protect themselves in the best way. See below the main ones:
pfSense
PFSense a security tool that acts as a firewall. Its main objective is to bring more security and increase the efficiency of the connections made. Due to its functionality, it can also be used to control hits and block websites in your business , helping to increase the safety of your devices and information.
However, although it has numerous features that help your business, PF Sense is a complex tool that needs a suitable technical level to be used .
Open DNS
Open DNS is an exclusive tool that was developed by Cisco. He has two free versions: Family Shield and the Home. In the Family Shield version, it can deliver practicality to blockage of improper content , being more used for parental control.
Its home version is focused on protecting the devices and improving connection performance. However, even its paid version, it is not a robust solution enough to meet the needs of companies.
Lumiun Box
Lumion has tools designed to protect company devices and internet access control. Lumiun Lumiun Box is one of the best solutions available on the market, highly functional, intuitive and easy to use.
With the help of Lumiun Box , the company can block websites and perform intelligent monitoring of activities performed in the online environment, contributing to a more assertive and specific internet blockade within the company . Allowing payment in national currency, it can provide greater cost-effectiveness for companies, and ensure:
- Unified access control, without the need to perform individual installation in each of the devices;
- Blocking websites and resources according to standard of use, users, access times of access;
- Complete reports on everything that is done in the digital environment;
- Remote access control tool for remote work users or who are working outside the company.
Lumiun DNS
Lumiun Lumiun DNS is developed for companies seeking a simpler solution, but with all the resources needed for efficient block. It allows you to block websites and resources for companies that have many connected devices, ensuring more protection and security on the Internet through unified control of their resources.
Because it is a more simplified but equally efficient solution , Lumiun DNS has a cost-effective business for business that want to increase its protection but do not want to afford the expensive and complex tools on the market.
