Freedom is something many take for granted, especially when it comes to the Internet. We tend to think that countries that block certain sites on the Internet, like China and their 'great firewall' are infringing on basic rights. While blocking sites and access might seem pernicious, there is some benefit that comes from it, especially for companies; a decreased security risk and better control. Does your company allow employees unrestricted Internet access? If so there might be some issues that could arise from this.

Here's four potentially negative outcomes that can result from unrestricted Internet access.

Loss of productivity We live in a world where we are reliant on the Internet and the once clear line between work and life has blurred into more or less the same thing. When we're at work, it's often hard to resist the temptation of checking our email, personal Facebook accounts, or even the news. When we do this, we aren't focusing on work which could mean we are less productive as a result.

Legal liability The potential legal liabilities from improper use of the Internet while at work could lead to some serious legal implications. For example, over 27% of Fortune 500 companies have been accused of sexual harassment stemming from inappropriate emails sent by employees. To go one step further, in the US, the Supreme Court has ruled that companies can be held liable for their employees forwarding offensive or illegal material.

Reputation damage There are numerous cases where an employee has received an email and forwarded it to several other employees, who then in turn forward it on until it reaches someone who is unintentionally offended. It's made worse when this email is plastered with company branding and from a work email address. In serious cases word can leak to the media and the company’s reputation takes a serious hit.

Increased bandwidth consumption Websites like YouTube, or those with some sort of streaming media, can be bandwidth intensive. With services like these, you'll notice that anything that relies on an Internet connection runs slower. This alone will increase costs, especially if you rely on the Internet and need to purchase more than one connection to keep speeds where they should be.

With these four outcomes, it seems like the answer might be obvious: you should limit or block non-essential websites. Be warned however, younger generations entering the workforce have come to rely on and expect openness, and freedom of the Internet. Watch your typical Gen Y work, and they will use the Internet both for work and relaxation. Draconian blocking of sites could in fact bring about an even larger decrease in productivity in these Internet-hungry employees, as they either focus on finding ways to circumvent the block instead of working, or simply leave the company.

So, what is the best solution? The answer is one many companies have struggled with. The truth is, it's different for every company, but the one thing productive companies have in common is a policy on Internet use, combined with taking adequate steps in terms of security. Many tech companies allow free and open access to sites like Facebook in the belief that even if used for personal measures, the employee is spreading the word about the company. If you're not an expert in this, or would like some guidance, we are happy to help, so please get in touch.

Security issues seem to follow cycles. An exploit or security weakness is found in an operating system and all of a sudden, there's tons of hackers taking advantage of it. Then, the OS developers and security companies develop and implement a fix and things die down for a few weeks, only to have another exploit submerge. Microsoft knows this all too well, and has implemented some new security features into Windows 8 that will hopefully curb the cycle.

Below are three common security issues faced by all networks and how Windows 8 combats them.

Spear phishing Spear phishing is a form of social engineering conducted over email. If a hacker wants to access a system, they will often pose as a customer and either send an email with an attachment, or send this over IM. The attachment contains a virus or trojan horse which then gives the hacker access to any system that the 'attachment' is downloaded onto.

The main way Windows 8 prevents this is through Windows Defender. This is a full antivirus and malware solution that is based on the Microsoft Security Essentials platform. If you aren't currently working with a Managed Service Provider, or have decided to take on the migration in-house, Windows Defender can be a good device to protect you while you upgrade and before you implement other antivirus solutions, and is available on all versions of Windows 8.

Drive-by malware One way to infect a network is to post a link to a website or file that contains malware. When a person clicks on the link, the malware is installed, often without the user knowing. To combat this, Windows 8 has two features: SmartScreen and Secure Boot.

SmartScreen has two functions. It scans URL links typed into a browser. When a URL is entered that's known to contain malware, it blocks the user from accessing the website. While this isn't a new feature, reports have noted that this is the best URL scanner among any modern browser. The other function of SmartScreen is to scan files that have been downloaded for malicious software.

Many users know there is a similar feature on Windows 7, that notifies you that a file has been downloaded from the Internet when you open it, and gives you choices on what to do with it. SmartScreen improves on this, and takes an active role in notifying you about the security of downloaded items. SmartScreen is available on all versions of Windows 8.

Secure Boot on the other hand works on a far more basic level. Developed for use on motherboards using UEFI - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, a new form of firmware which will replace the aging BIOS. It works by validating the digital signature of all boot components - software and hardware that starts during the bootup of a computer - to look for any tampering. If a disparity is found, Windows Recovery will start and attempt to fix the problem. This will help cut down on the number of Rootkits - malware that modifies an OS before it starts up. Secure Boot is available on Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise

Out-of-date devices connecting to network One of the more common trends in the past couple of years is employees wanting to bring their own devices to work (BYOD). While there are many benefits to this, a device that an employee brings in which isn't up to date, or already infected, could pose a huge security risk. One way IT can manage this is through an approved list of programs that can be centrally managed.

Windows 8 allows this through a feature called Applocker. Applocker is an application control program that allows an administrator to create either a white (allowed) or black (not allowed) list of apps users are allowed to download on a company controlled system. If you create a BYOD policy where an employee can bring in their own device, but have to connect through a virtualized desktop, managed by the company, this is a great way to ensure malicious apps and unapproved programs aren't downloaded and that company security is maintained. Applocker is available on Windows 8 Enterprise.

These are just a few of the common security issues faced by companies, and how Windows 8 can protect a network or system from them. If you're thinking of upgrading to Windows 8, please contact us.

With mobile devices becoming more accessible, many are finding it more comfortable and more productive to use these devices not only for personal purposes, but also for work. This may seem to be a good thing initially, but it also means that you have less control over the way these devices access your IT system. The best thing to do is to have a good IT security policy in place to make sure that important company data is not compromised.

As technology continues to become more affordable and accessible to consumers, it's an inevitable fact that employers will see more and more of their employees using their own personal devices such as laptops and mobile phones to access the company's IT system.

This can be a dangerous thing. Since these devices aren't company owned and regulated, you have limited access and control over how they are used. Employees could download all sorts of malware and viruses on their devices and pass the infection along to your IT system when they access it.

The solution: a comprehensive IT security policy. It's important that you find a compromise between the freedom of the employee to use the device as desired and your need to keep your IT system safe from viruses and other threats to your data's security. Steps such as having employees run mobile device management (MDM) software on their devices is one of many actions you can take to lessen the risk of security breaches. You may also want to implement applications and software that check and screen for malware, both for laptops and mobile devices. And don't forget that while Android seems to have a bigger problem with malicious software, Apple isn't exactly virus-free, either.

Employees have a right to use their personal devices as they see fit, but not at the expense of important company information stored in your IT system. Running a tight ship in terms of security is an effective way to protect your business interests and your sensitive company data. If you are interested in knowing more about developing a concrete and effective IT security policy for personal device use as well as general system access, please don't hesitate to give us a call so we can sit down with you and discuss a custom security blueprint that's just right for you.