Only a few years ago, if a friend told you their company used employee monitoring software, you may have frowned with disapproval. At the time, monitoring tools seemed like the first clue that you were dealing with an organization that values micromanagement and disregards burnout.

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Now we know better. As remote work blossomed, companies quickly moved on to some form of tracking to maintain the productivity of their remote teams.

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The majority of employees also realized that these tools can help them achieve better results and work-life balance even in the office setting.

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So, what is the best software for monitoring employees? How do you best implement a monitoring tool? Read on to find out.

Benefits of Using Employee Monitoring Software

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For an employer, monitoring software is a meaningful ally. It allows them to enhance workforce management, productivity, and security measures.

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Enhancing Employee Engagement & Attendance

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Employee monitoring software tracks website and application usage and reveals how employees spend their work hours. This tells you whether or not employees are focused on their tasks, and helps you better address engagement issues.

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Boosting Productivity

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Monitoring tools like keyboard and mouse activity tracking help assess how actively employees are using their devices. This allows you to understand who is working diligently and who may be idling too often.

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Strengthening Company Security

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Employee monitoring is also vital for security and legal compliance. Archived employee activity can be vital in defending the company in legal disputes. On top of this, tracking website access and data transfers can prevent data breaches.

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Best Practices for Employee Monitoring Implementation

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Whether your employees accept the monitoring efforts or feel reluctant to do so depends on how you represent its goals. Here is how to give the news and maintain morale:

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1. Engage with Your Employees

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Have a meeting to transparently discuss all aspects of the monitoring software to mitigate your team’s negative reactions.

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2. Clarify Legal Boundaries

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Educate your staff about the legal aspects of monitoring. Make it clear that the intention isn't to invade their privacy but to enhance operational efficiency.

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3. Establish a Formal Policy

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Draft a formal policy that outlines the specifics of monitoring as well as data collection and usage. This policy should be developed with input from employees to ensure it's fair and transparent, and signed by all of them.

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4. Limit Monitoring to Work Hours

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Monitoring should ideally be restricted to work hours to avoid overreach into personal time. If your policy allows for personal use of devices during breaks or after hours, ensure the monitoring software accommodates this.

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5. Choose Ethical Monitoring Tools

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Opt for software that prioritizes ethical monitoring over stealth surveillance. Clear communication about what is monitored, such as keystroke logging or screen recording, is vital to maintain trust.

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6. Use Company-Owned Devices Only

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Ensure that monitoring software is installed only on company-owned devices. If monitoring is necessary on personal devices, provide company-owned hardware with pre-installed monitoring tools.

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What is the Best Software for Monitoring Employees? Top Tools According to Popularity

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Selecting the right software depends on your specific needs. Here are the top picks:

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Teramind 

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Teramind is a good choice for enhancing security threat protection. It includes a robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) package that helps safeguard your company's network and data. Beyond standard monitoring features, Teramind offers audit and forensics tools to thoroughly investigate security breaches.

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     ✅Easy detection of security threats

     ❌Doesn’t work on Linux OS

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Veriato

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Veriato is recommended for large organizations. Thanks to its scalability, it can handle thousands of endpoints. The software uses AI technology to monitor employee behavior and enhance company security. Key features include risk scoring, anomaly detection, and insider threat detection. These capabilities make Veriato a solid choice for employee monitoring in larger enterprises.

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     ✅Great for larger organizations

     ❌High learning curve

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Insightful

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Insightful is ideal employee monitoring software for companies that need comprehensive oversight and productivity improvement. This tool offers robust features including real-time activity tracking and screenshots, advanced analytics of productivity, and customizable reports. With capabilities like insider threat detection and seamless integrations with existing systems, Insightful ensures optimal security and efficiency. This is what makes it a top choice for any organization looking to enhance its operations.

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     ✅Customizable to fit any tech infrastructure

     ✅User-friendly and easy to navigate

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Conclusion

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The best employee monitoring software for your company needs to integrate effortlessly with your current processes and technology infrastructure. This ensures a smooth implementation and improved efficiency.

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Your ideal monitoring software should also offer detailed reporting and analytics to deliver essential insights into employee performance and productivity.

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All these features will help you optimize workforce management and enhance your business operations for maximum gain.