Having worked at huge multi-national IT company almost a decade ago, I know how some office workplaces can be very restrictive or security-conscious but every time I hear more stories about office restrictions, I still can’t believe they enforce those.
Back in my days as a developer, we used to have proximity cards and the regular software audits as well as a firewall that blocks certain types of ports and messaging softwares like YM or ICQ.
When we’re due to have software audits in our work PC, we just copy out WarCraft 3 and copy it back again after the audit. That way, the Windows Registry would not show WC3 being installed and it will still work after copying the game back without re-installation.
Today, there are much stricter office regulations:
- No cellphones or laptops allowed inside the office. They will need to be stowed away in your personal lockers before going to your desk.
- Flash drive, SD card or any other type of USB storage are prohibited in the workplace. THe USB ports of the workstation are disabled.
- Filtering internet softwares such as WebSense tracks all sites that you visit and blocks out certain sites based on the IT Managers protocols — blogs, chats, videos, forums, social networking sites, etc. I used to get emails from reader telling me that my blog has been blocked from their office network just because it had the term “blog” in the URL.
- Some offices have specific PCs allocated for internet access since all other PC are not connected to the net, just the private network.
- Security cards that require you to use the same door that you entered in as you exit as well (they call it something like single entry-exit protocol).
- Some companies would not allow they employees to say where they work.
If you work in one of those offices where workplace security is tough, do share some of your experiences.
Twitter: rogsonline
says:
In our office the only rule we have to follow is speak strictly in English. We were all given keys and everything. That’s how great our company is! We’re even allowed to play Call of Duty, PS3 games, Wii Sports, Poker, Rock band etc. We’re more results oriented. More like Googleplex type. I now feel so lucky after reading all of the security constraints against other companies.
Twitter: avernusjc
says:
IT’s just installed new anti virus called “e-scan”, they like block the websites the personnel frequently visits.. especially facebook and twitter are the top most blocked. i think they just enter the keyword and boom, that is blocked.. all usb’s are gone, no cd’s cellphone.. it’s like working in a top secret organization where what you see does not go outside the walls..
sa pinagtrabahuhan ko dati, kailangang iwan mo muna yung mga prinsipyo mo sa labas ng office araw-araw.
haha napatawa naman ako dito. haha. Love it!
sa work ko ngayon halos lahat maliban dun sa pwede namin sabihin san kami nagwwork, buti na lang naturo na sa kin lahat ng workaround nung pinalitan ko na matagal na sa company kaya okay na ko alam ko lahat kahit bago pa lang ako hehe
Twitter: metalpig
says:
in our ofs we can browse the net, but fb and other social media sites are not allowed. :P
in the callcenter that im working right now, were strictly implementing restriction outside the server room even install NETSUPPORT for audits, hahaha eh sa server room ang workplace ko ALAM NA!
MASARAP maging IT
Facebook all you can dito sa amin, you can almost surf anything except install, play games and watch pron. :)
Dun sa huli kong employer (international bank na nakapwesto sa the fort) ganyan din sir Abe yung regulations- usb/cellphones dapat nasa locker, naka-filter ang internet, iilan lang pwede naming puntahan na websites- (answers.com, usatoday, amazon), walang games kahit solitaire man lang. Yung id serves as security from front of building up to department floor even sa canteen di ka makakapasok pag wala kang id. And hindi rin kami ina-allow ipagkalat kung san kami nagwowork, kaya yung id namin walang company name, galing no? id na walang company name.
Twitter: jankeifer
says:
guys malapit na ko mggraduate..
saan ang suggested nyo na mganda mgtrabaho? pm me nlng.. salamat..
hhe
d2 sa amin wala masyadong restrictions excpt watching porn. pero my bandwith limit. pag lampas ka sa monthly limit… my love letter ka for sure! :D
our office prohibits use of mobile phones inside the office. you have to leave it with the guard on duty who stores it in lockers. i bring an old phone which i deposit and hides my other phone in a secret compartment in my bag. lol.
Sa office namin walang restrictions, lalo na sa Internet. We have 2 Internet connections, yung mabagal, yun yung may restriction, yung mabilis, yun yung wala. Surf all you want, depende na sa iyo kung gusto mong mag-surf sa porn sites, pero syempre nakakahiya yun. We’ll matitino naman kami lahat sa office. As long as you do your assigned job, no problem.