Crowne Plaza monitors staff Internet use with solution delivered by Globalnet Solutions

Secure Computings Webwasher allows hotel group to comply with Internet regulations 

Tifco Hotel group has invested in an Internet security solution, Secure Computings Webwasher, delivered by Globalnet Solutions a leading provider of IT solutions and services, to monitor Internet access of its employees at all the group hotels. 

The new solution will enable the hotel group to protect employees from illegal use of the Internet and comply with the law. Webwasher will also allow the hotel management to establish different levels of restriction, adapted to different user groups according to levels of authority, seniority and use.  

Downloading illegal material from the Internet is a hot topic for IT managers and it is becoming a very important issue, explains George ODowd, managing director of Globalnet Solutions, which has installed Secure Computings Webwasher and is contracted to manage the device for Crowne Plaza group Ireland for the next three years. 

Webwasher is quick to implement and easy to manage, as well as extremely effective at protecting our clients from targeted malware attack, continued ODowd.  It allows the group to protect themselves from employees using the net for illegal purposes, but also gives them the ability to restrict certain sites to avoid time wasting amongst the staff. It is a win-win situation. 

The Tifco Hotel group has four hotels in Ireland, including Crowne Plaza Northwood, Crowne Plaza Dundalk, Clontarf Castle Hotel  and Express by Holiday Inn Dublin Airport. The group also have a Crowne Plaza Hotel under construction at Blanchardstown in Dublin which is due to open during the summer of 2008. The solution has been implemented by Globalnet in a central location and will be available in all the five hotels the group has in Ireland. 

Secure Computings Webwasher allows a granular approach to how we allow individuals to use the Internet and make sure employees make use of the Internet constructively, explains Gerry Martin, Group IT Manager with Tifco Hotels. As an organization, we need to be careful with the content of the sites accessed and who we restrict access to. Webwasher allows us to do this very effectively and easily. 

For example, social networking sites can be accessed by employees from the canteens PCs but not from their desks, restricting access during working hours, added Martin.  We can also block sites related to alcohol and gambling, or put a blanket over websites with illegal content.  

Matthew Walker, general manager for Secure Computing in Ireland and the UK says, Customer demand for this type of web security appliance is high as multiple best of breed security services can be hosted and controlled from a single unit taking the administrative overhead away from the customer without compromising security or functionality. 

The solution is currently in place to meet regulations related to employers liability for staffs Internet usage at the workplace but, if required by law, could also be rolled out to monitor guests Internet access at the groups premises.  

Apart from content monitoring through Webwasher, Globalnet Solutions provides compliance advice, intelligent antispam solutions and an automated offsite data storage service for online backups. 

Secure Computings Webwasher is distributed in Ireland by Commtech.