This method is inefficient and can also hamper productivity, even more given the current work-from-home situation.

The problem with the website and application blocking approach

Blocking an application or website naturally restricts complete usage. However, employees may need to access them in certain situations. For example, a client may require you to share files over collaborative apps such as Google Docs or employees might require access to certain blocked websites for professional work. Changing permissions to allow access to these sites can also result in misuses. Once a website or application is allowed, there is no control over the data being sent and received by the employees.

The ‘allow but monitor’ solution with enhanced data security

The ‘allow, but monitor’ approach allows unrestricted access to the internet. However, every activity of the employees is monitored. With such an approach, data security is applied to the data itself. While applications and websites are allowed, there are restrictions on the data that can be shared over these platforms. Administrators are notified if any unauthorized data is accessed or shared outside the enterprise. For instance, the ‘allow but monitor’ approach allows employees to access email applications and websites without any restrictions. However, their data handling activity, such as the emails sent, received, data uploaded to a website, portal etc. are monitored continuously, including data transactional and other contextually aligned details. The system will allow the user to send and receive emails, share files using the file-sharing application and upload files on business portals etc. in adherence to the security permissions, but will block data transactions that contain restricted data that the user is not authorized to access. Thus, such an approach enables employees to carry out their daily tasks seamlessly and proves to be a better approach than blocking access altogether.

Blocking and banning websites and applications is no longer an efficient data security option. We need to take a data-centric approach for safeguarding our data, and also ensure that tasks are carried out seamlessly. GajShield’s Data Security Firewall adopts the ‘allow but monitor’ approach by applying security to the data ensuring the highest level of data protection on both stationed office employees and employees working from home by bringing such employees under the enterprise’s security infrastructure.