Security Policies and Implementation Issues, 3rd Edition

An Organization’s Right to Monitor User Actions and Traffic

The prevailing legal view is that employers have the right to monitor workers’ activities on company computers. This right is not absolute. In other words, it’s important that an organization act in accordance with its policies and the law. The policies must be clear and concise. This does not mean you need a policy that creates a right to monitor employees. That right is already written in law. The Electronic Communication Privacy Act (ECPA) gives employers the right to monitor employees in the ordinary course of business. These broad rights include monitoring telephone calls and computer usage such as email. Having such a policy reduces an employee’s argument that he or she perceived ...