subject: Facebook, Employee Computer Use And Your Business [print this page] There has been a lot of buzz the past few months over changes in Facebooks privacy policy. The company received a lot of backlash over changes made last December to its default privacy settings. Facebook believes that a user should share certain information by default, and did not make it easy for a user to change or understand the nearly 150 separate settings to control their information. After uproar from areas as high as Congress, Facebook responded by introducing a new and simpler privacy control panel that condensed the options and made it simpler for a user to change and understand how their information is shared.
With more than 400 million users worldwide, there is a good chance that some, if not the majority, of your employees use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter many while at work. It is important for employees to understand how freely their information can be found if they do not pay attention to their privacy settings.
You may not realize it, but an employees Facebook page can also impact your business. Facebook allows individuals to add employer information to their profile. Anyone who searches for your businesses name on Facebook will see the individuals who list your business as their employer. No one wants someone searching for their business online to end up on an employees personal profile page that could potentially contain embarrassing or inappropriate material even possible insider information that should not be shared. This is also a great way for others to data mine for information on your businesses. Sales people have already realized this benefit and can use a simple search to track down specific individuals in a company. If your business does not have a formal policy for personal computer use, including a specific social-network policy, now is the time to put one in place. Small businesses can no longer ignore the increased threats social media can bring.
As great of a tool Facebook can be, its ever-growing user base long ago caught the eye of spammers, hackers and virus and malware authors. There have already been numerous vulnerabilities spread through social networks, potentially exposing your business to unnecessary threats. Establishing and enforcing an acceptable-use policy will help reduce these risks.
Your business should establish an acceptable-use policy and look into training your employees on Internet safety though education and training solutions. It is important for all businesses, regardless of size, ensure their computers and network have appropriate security measures in place, and that employees have the proper training. One of the weakest points of a businesses security can be the employees. We can help ensure that is not the case.
