The following case studies examine the common challenges experienced by business and educational organizations looking to effectively monitor Internet and PC activity.
Each has implemented Spector CNE as their solution of choice.
In Renato Inacio's experience, at one time it was possible to keep track of what was going on in a small law office by making the rounds and paying attention.
But when faced with the consequences of rapid growth, Inacio knew he needed more than sneakerware.
If you have more than 10 employees or so, you need Spector CNE, said Inacio, Information Technology Director for the law offices of Fann, Petruccelli
& Genovese, P.A.. Everyone should consider monitoring software because you can't be at your employees' back, and Windows policies are just not enough.
For General Manager Carmen DeLeo of CDM Electronics, using Spector CNE to monitor the PC and Internet activity of his employees is secondary to the software's
powerful information management capabilities.
And DeLeo would know. He moved from New Jersey to California to help his company continue its success and growth, and uses the remote insight
afforded him by Spector CNE to remain intimately in touch with the daily activities of his company, despite being more than 2,500 miles away.
The lead attorney and owner of this San Diego law firm wanted to minimize the risk of malicious code and bring some order - conformity, he called it - to
his workplace. Spector CNE provided all that was asked for, and more.
I pulled the owner aside and hit the playback button for him to see what I had seen, and I watched his face go limp, said IT Manager John Sibley.
He thought it was the most incredible piece of software he had ever seen."
Bob Lebeaux said he SHOUTS Spector CNE's virtues whenever he has an opportunity.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT YOUR PEOPLE ARE DOING? says Lebeaux, President of The Plastics Group of America. That's how I start when I bring
up Spector CNE to others it's like shock value it really gets their attention. Then I talk to them about the particulars.
According to Lebeaux, Spector CNE's particulars - unparalleled, in-depth PC and Internet activity monitoring features -- are responsible for
restoring acceptable use and productivity at his company, headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I.
Despite paying close attention to what attracts and keeps good employees, Ajax Boiler, Inc. encounters some of the negativity common
to businesses everywhere. But while much of the behavior found by using Spector CNE belongs in the more benign yet costly -- category of frivolous and inappropriate, President and CEO Jane
Terry was startled to find something she knew existed elsewhere but never expected to deal with in her own business: industrial espionage. Now Terry wouldnt consider operating without Spector CNE as a
technology ally.
Spector CNE ideally suits my purpose, said Terry. From spreadsheets to email, I see whats moving across the
desks. I absolutely cannot see being in a senior management position without it.
Mike Hewitt believes every company will have a need to investigate inappropriate behavior from time to time. He also believes
Spector CNE is just what you need to conduct the investigation.
Finding and weeding out a problem employee early, thats one of Spector CNEs great values, said Hewitt, CISSP
and Information Security Officer at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Spector CNE is the complete tool to obtain the needed information.
After just one week of running Spector CNE, the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority discovered detailed and extensive abuse of
computer and Internet activity by an employee about whom they had concern. This employee was surfing porn, playing games and spending almost no time doing work. The abuse was so extensive that there was no
question that the appropriate action was to terminate the employee.
The savings to the company from this one discovery is more than $60,000 in the first year alone, or 25 times the cost of the software.
And this is only the tip of the iceberg on the savings and advantages provided by Spector CNE.
Compliance with HIPAA the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was the main reason Mobridge Regional
Hospital looked into activity monitoring software that, and a small problem with people abusing IT services.
On closer inspection, however, IT Director Eric Skillingstad recognized that if added up over a year, the small problem
would be significant on the order of $3,640 per employee per year, or more than $180,000 annually for the South Dakota community hospital.
At one point in the not too distant past, some employees at Illinois Wholesale Cash Register Corporation were so brazen that they
engaged in inappropriate PC activity right in front of management. Since the installation of Spector CNE, however, theres been a significant turnaround in employee behavior. In addition, considerable
cost savings have been projected.
At first I thought it was expensive for a company of our size, said Network Administrator Keith Becker. But IT PAID
FOR ITSELF IN A WEEK. Spector CNE is priceless at DOUBLE THE COST. I had no idea what it was going to reveal. After the first week I did a spreadsheet report showing a minimum of 40 to 50 hours a week wasted,
just on Internet surfing. The report easily projected savings of $50,000 a year or more.
Unified Fund Services has its compliance issues covered with Spector CNE, whether its working with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. But the activity monitoring softwares impact is felt even beyond those demanding
concerns.
Spector CNE not only solves regulatory issues, said Joseph Milton, VP and Chief Security Officer, but Human Resources
issues as well.
While rugged individualism remains a hallmark of many things Alaskan, Anchorage-based Carlile Transportation Systems prefers adherence
to standard business practice when it comes to employees and their use of company PCs, especially email and Internet access.
Your company policy determines the rules, said IS Manager Eugene ONeal. And Spector CNE enforces them.
Spector CNEs seven integrated PC activity monitoring tools provide this company specializing in wireless communications products
with the insight necessary to eliminate employee game-playing and other inappropriate behavior.
We could have terminated several people, said Robert Elliott, Information Systems Manager at RCS Communications. But
the problem was so widespread, and because some of the employees were considered quite valuable, we distributed the pictures anonymously to demonstrate Spector CNEs technology. The game-playing stopped
cold.
Woodlands Securities and four associated financial services companies use Spector CNE to conform to regulations established by the
National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the State Securities Board.
Spector CNE has made a big difference all around, said Network Administrator Dennis McCullough. The price of most
of the other industry compliance solutions was way out of our range. At one point I said what are we going to do now? But I called SpectorSoft and started talking to the sales department and found
that their products were full-featured and well within our budget.
A watchful eye and Spector CNEs comprehensive PC activity monitoring help this mortgage lending services company
keep employees legitimate and on task.
One employee was getting ready to leave and was transferring files via email, said Chuck Benedon, senior executive at
the company. This was important data, like the customer list. We caught her dead. Its against the law. Its company property, not the employees.
Spector CNE is so effective at decreasing PC abuse that this medical company has been able to REDUCE employee costs almost 20 percent
while INCREASING overall productivity.
As soon as word got out about monitoring software, things changed right away, said Chief Information Officer Daniel Anderson.
A few individuals doubted and actually challenged us, saying I dont believe you can track what you say you can. But it only takes one event to change their mind and the word gets
around quickly the grapevine is alive and well.
Prior to implementing Spector CNE, Diversified Management Group employees intermittently but REPEATEDLY were caught
surfing the Internet or using email, chats, and Instant Messages for personal use during work hours. Now such infractions are rare and productivity has increased markedly.
"Operations are smoother and we can now ensure that employees are not using work time for personal PC activity, said CEO
Roberta Etcheverry. Spector CNE is exactly what we were looking for. It is easy to use, and gives a clear picture of the computer usage of those on our network. The bottom line is that we know we are
getting more work time, and therefore productivity, from the staff.
This IT Solutions provider finds Spector CNE is saving multiple clients substantial sums of money while eliminating PC and Internet
abuse.
BoldFonts IT Manager, Alex Hansen, believes Spector CNE provides a quick return on investment and helps business save money
by overcoming what used to be seemingly insurmountable obstacles such as employees goofing off for hours surfing the Internet, propagating sexual or racially charged emails, engaging in personal chats, leaking
company confidential information, or violating copyright law by downloading audio and video files.
Despite a sophisticated, up-to-date computer network, Indianas New Castle Community Schools system had only a clue as to what
was going on within its own walls. Monitoring Software from SpectorSoft, however, provided significant insight into student activities as well as a strong link in the school systems effort to comply with
the tenets of the Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
Spector CNE is such an eye-opener, said Director of Information Services Larry Koby. Any school that thinks it doesnt
have a problem is fooling itself.
Spector CNE has locked down the computer environment, increased classroom productivity many-fold, and helped this school
district maintain CIPA compliance.
Teachers praise our ability to monitor, said Jeff Hunt, Director of Information and Technology for the school district.
Classroom productivity has absolutely increased using Spector CNE. Teachers now feel like they can talk TO the students, as opposed to having to stand BEHIND them. Spector CNE is one of the best software
buys weve made since Ive been here. Probably the best.