Computer Misuse
Although many people see the term computer misuse as most commonly associated with visiting inappropriate Internet sites or copying music, videos and software, it is in fact a much more serious issue. Misuse of company computers can lead to potentially commercially disastrous ends. Disklabs are fully equipped to investigate every form of computer misuse and our team of computer misuse analysts are trained in all current investigative techniques. By using Disklabs to investigate computer misuse of your corporate IT resources you are assured of a professional, impartial and highly skilled service. Larger companies who have access to in-house technical resources often find using a service such as that provided by Disklabs allows them to investigate computer misuse in a more discreet manner. Disklabs can help track down cases of computer misuse involving e-mail, Internet access, illegal reproduction of copyright goods and many other forms of computer misuse.
Arguably the most common form of computer misuse in the workplace comes in the form of using corporate e-mail systems for private use. Many companies implement a computer usage policy which often forbids the employee to send or receive personal e-mails using their company e-mail account. If disciplinary proceedings are deemed necessary it can prove useful to have an independent entity provide the proof that the e-mails in question were indeed sent or received by the employee.
Inappropriate use of the Internet is another common form of corporate computer misuse; once again many corporations operate a policy of zero personal Internet usage, or restricted usage. Once again, even though the company may have access to its own logs and usage data it may prove prudent to bring in an outside body to verify and confirm this information before an employee is officially reprimanded. In some cases involving an employee accessing certain types of illegal websites, a company may find its computer systems confiscated for inspection as part of a criminal investigation, using a reputable firm to help identify computer misuse regularly will help to minimise this risk to an organisation.
Other forms of computer misuse in the workplace can be harder to identify and prove, these may include reproduction of copyright or restricted material such as music and video, the illegal copying or pirating of company-owned software and excessive use of instant messenger style applications to communicate with friends and family during work hours. Each of these particular forms of computer misuse requires the application of specific computer misuse detection techniques, many of which require specific training and experience to generate accurate results.