How do I monitor employee computer activity?

When you are trying to monitor employee computer activity, It's important to ensure that any monitoring is done transparently and complies with legal standards. Employees should be informed about what is being monitored and why, respecting their privacy and adhering to relevant laws and regulations.

Choosing the best software to monitor employee computer activity depends on your specific needs and what you want to monitor, such as productivity, web browsing habits, software usage, or more comprehensive surveillance. Please avoid the software mentioned below as they are not working well on Windows 11 based on my test.

Teramind: This software offers a robust solution for employee monitoring that includes features like user behavior analytics, insider threat detection, and productivity analysis. It's well-suited for companies concerned with security and data protection.

ActivTrak: This is a user activity monitoring tool that provides insights into how employees spend their time, with analytics to improve productivity and efficiency. It's particularly good for understanding employee engagement without being overly intrusive.

Time Doctor: Great for time tracking and productivity analysis, Time Doctor also helps monitor what applications and websites employees are using during work hours. It’s useful for remote teams to ensure productive use of work time.

Hubstaff: Offering time tracking along with activity monitoring, Hubstaff allows you to see apps and URLs accessed by employees during work hours. It also includes features like GPS tracking for mobile or fieldwork teams.

They are really bard choices if you are looking for the right solution to monitor employees' computer activities on Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 7.

I have been doing this for a while and could like to share my experience in this field. For my own case, InterGuard is quite good option to monitor employees computer activity. It is designed to help businesses ensure compliance, enhance security, and improve productivity. It is commonly used by organizations to monitor and control the activities of their employees on company-owned devices. 

How InterGuard Works:

1. InterGuard is installed on employee devices, either remotely or directly. It can be deployed across computers, laptops, and mobile devices running various operating systems.

2. Once installed, the software operates in the background, collecting data on user activities. This includes capturing screenshots, logging keystrokes, tracking applications used, and monitoring internet usage.

3. The data collected is then analyzed to provide insights into employee behavior. This can include detecting patterns of data theft, identifying inefficient workflows, and monitoring for compliance with company policies.

4. InterGuard allows for setting up custom alerts that notify administrators of specific activities, such as accessing restricted websites or transferring sensitive files. It generates detailed reports that can be used for audits, performance reviews, and security assessments.

Beyond monitoring employee computer activity, InterGuard offers tools for data loss prevention. It can block the transfer of sensitive information and restrict access to non-work-related applications and websites.

For example, Microsoft Intune is a great solution for monitoring employee computer activity. It lets you set up policies for app usage, network access, and more. And with Azure Active Directory, you can monitor employee login activity, detect anomalies, and even set up multi-factor authentication to keep those cat videos at bay.

And if you're using Microsoft 365, you can use the Security & Compliance Center to monitor employee email activity, detect spam, and even set up data loss prevention policies to prevent employees from sending sensitive information to the wrong person.

So, there you have it. If you're going to monitor employee computer activity, just remember: be respectful, have a clear policy in place, and use the right tools. And for the love of all things digital, don't watch cat videos on company time. That's just common sense. 

Monitoring methods that don't require installing software:

-Time tracking software: How to monitor employees' computer activities? Implement a time tracking tool that records how much time employees spend on specific tasks or projects. Examples include Harvest, Toggl, or RescueTime. This way, you can see how much time is spent on work-related activities without invading their privacy.
-Productivity analytics tools: Utilize tools like RescueTime, which provides detailed insights into how employees spend their time on their computers, including time spent on specific applications, browsing the internet, or working on tasks.
-Keyboard and mouse tracking: Consider using keyboard and mouse tracking tools like ActivTrak or Teramind. These tools record employee activity, providing insights into their productivity and time spent on specific tasks.
-Screen capture and video recording: If you need to monitor employees' computer activities and specific situations, consider using screen capture and video recording tools like OBS Studio or Camtaasia. However, be sure to inform employees about this and ensure they're comfortable with it.

Best practices for implementing monitoring employees' computer activities:

-Communicate with employees: Inform employees about the monitoring process and the reasons behind it. This will help them understand the purpose and reduce potential resistance.
-Set clear expectations: Establish clear expectations and guidelines for employee behavior, including work hours, productivity standards, and acceptable usage of company resources.
-Focus on productivity: Monitor productivity and performance rather than individual employee activities.This will help you identify areas for improvement and provide targeted support.
-Anonymize data: Consider anonymizing data to protect employee privacy and prevent individual identification.