The Ostrich Test

As a marketer of anti-pornography software, I have developed what I am calling the Ostrich Test. If the statements that comprise the Ostrich Test sound familiar, it is likely that your organisation - just like the great African bird – is burying its head in the sand when it comes to pornography in the workplace.

1) Our staff would never do such a thing!

Oh dear – get real! Unfortunately they are already doing it - to a greater or lesser extent, depending on your corporate culture. In this category, the Ostrich award goes to the security officer of a larger organisation, dominated by young males, who “trusts their staff members to be mature adults” and does not monitor Internet or email activity.

2) We have an appropriate use policy that our staff abide by!

Do they? When was the last time your employees and contractors were asked to review the appropriate use policy? Was it when they joined 10 years ago? Case law demonstrates that unless your staff are asked to acknowledge the existence of such a policy frequently (e.g. annually), then disciplinary action based on such a policy may not be enforceable.

3) Our policy is linked to legislation.

Appropriate use policies are often linked to technology – i.e. “Internet and Email appropriate use” – which automatically exempts staff using other technology, e.g. when viewing X-rated DVDs or still images on USB devices. Also, legislation may allow legal but “undesirable” images into the organisation – such as calendar boys and girls. It also pays to remember that pornography at the workplace is a serious issue even when the material in question is not illegal itself.

4) It’s the IT department’s job to enforce appropriate use policies!

“No, it’s not, its HR’s job.” - “No no, it’s part of Security.” – Pass the parcel …
Responsibility for managing undesirable content in an organisation is often unclear – resulting in a lot of finger pointing when things go wrong.

5) We have internet controls – we are covered!

Yeah right! Border management controls may work where there is a clear border, but most networks are now rather permeable. There are many roads leading to Rome, and the ways via which pornography finds its way into your organisation’s network are manifold: the Internet, CD/DVD’s, USB, Cameras or other devices, or maybe the firm laptop occasionally uses other networks which don’t have border controls at all – like the one at home. The only effective control is one that covers the desktops themselves, regardless of source.

6) Auditing for pornography is too difficult!

Forget that excuse – provide yourself with the right software! PixAlert Auditor allows you to audit your entire organisation using a user friendly “point and click” user interface for selecting targets, reviewing results and producing reports.

7) The audit has no value if it does not turn up anything really big!

To the contrary: The real payoff for your organisation is that regular audits provide positive assurance to management and senior executives about the safety of your network and the integrity of your staff. Regular and well-known audits act as a deterrent to staff. However, in the event of a decidedly serious pornography find, audit documentation supports the process of disciplinary action being taken against a staff member.

Have you passed the Ostrich Test? If so congratulations on protecting your business from threats such as loss of reputation, possible sexual harassment or sexual discrimination claims, and even prosecution for enabling the trafficking of illegal images. If not, get your head out of the sand and review your management of undesirable images in the workplace, before it is too late