Set Up Office Computers to Access Only a Handful of Websites

[anetworknewbie]

Hi, and thanks in advance for any assistance. My sister-in-law runs a small business with a half dozen employees. She has been having a problem with them accessing social media, Amazon etc. on company time. Her goal is to restrict internet access to only around ten sites directly related to their business. They have five desktops connected via wifi from a basic home router. She would like to keep her own computer(on the same wireless network) unrestricted. I'm hoping there is some way to do this through Win 8. Any suggestions are welcomed. Let me know if I can provide any further information, and thanks again.

 

[i7Baby]

Try http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows-vista/limit-the-content-that-children-can-view-on-the-web

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Problem is if you try to do that then the computer's Antivirus also can get blocked, or simply they use a 'alternative' address you didn't think to keep blocked to do the same job. Plainly put, there is NO total 'Computer' solution that will solve a 'management' issue. The problem is your Sister in law. She needs to first, with a lawyer review, write a standard 'Code of Conduct' for the business, laying out exactly what is expected, what is allowed, and what is disallowed, along with the specific exact penalties that will be instituted based on violations. These can be days without pay, formal in writing warning (which means the next job will be told about it too), and finally being fired. This is all part of Business 101, and every employee is required to sign to work at her company. This LEGALLY protects her personally and the business from any frivolous lawsuits and repercussions. That said, she may need a Office Manager, if she is too busy, to keep a eye on the employees, again a Management issue, especially if the amount of time exceeds the amount of work performed (Maybe she should downsize and 'consolidate' positions if there is so much 'free time'?).

Finally any 'Net' solution is COSTLY, involving a FireWall, rules on the FW, technical support to adjust it 'per phone call' etc. For example the employees can't be blocked from access their Medical Insurance website, or for example looking up Breast cancer, but just a 'filter' for BREAST would block it, and if you didn't 'block it' and someone decided to 'laugh joke' about BIG BREASTED WHORES, your Sister-In-Law can be sued for Sexual Harassment and Hostile Workplace Environment. So this is all a very specific balancing act, and one that STARTS with basic BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

http://small-business-content-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/243790-best-web-filtering-appliance-for-smb
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-content-filters-suitable-for-both-home-and-business/
http://www.webtitan.com/

Remember: IF SHE DOES NOT MANAGE it first, she leaves herself open LEGALLY (tell her to speak to a Business Lawyer, like from SBA.GOV) to liability for 'racism', sexual discrimination, etc. even if she isn't actually doing it, the COST for lawyers, days in court, pre-trial findings, etc. will crush her.