Looking for advise on a software.

Eddon

Honorable
Jul 19, 2013
1
0
10,510
Hi,

I'm in need of a free software that helps to limit the user's access to the computer.
Our employees have a terrible habits of changing the background wallpaper, re-arranging the taskbar position, listening to music at work. I'm looking for a software that blocks them from doing these things.

I even have to unplug the internet connection from the server, I can't imagine if they have access to the internet and ultimately facebook.

Please help me, I'm not a computer savvy.
Thank you.
 
Solution
Just set them up as guest accounts as a simple way. There are some more advanced ways like setting group policies but you need to have some computer knowledge to use those. Policies on the computer and server are the normal way in the corporate way as well as using groups for the user accounts to manage things. You do need someone that is competent to set things up, many times you will do more harm than good just messing around with user rights.

You need to first set guidelines for what is OK to do, what is not OK to do as a official policy, as well as what the workers should be able to do on the computer, what sites are needed to visit, etc...

There are lots of programs that manage computers, even at the local computer level but...
Just set them up as guest accounts as a simple way. There are some more advanced ways like setting group policies but you need to have some computer knowledge to use those. Policies on the computer and server are the normal way in the corporate way as well as using groups for the user accounts to manage things. You do need someone that is competent to set things up, many times you will do more harm than good just messing around with user rights.

You need to first set guidelines for what is OK to do, what is not OK to do as a official policy, as well as what the workers should be able to do on the computer, what sites are needed to visit, etc...

There are lots of programs that manage computers, even at the local computer level but they are harder to manage. If all the accounts are local, creating user accounts as a Guest account for them to use will lock them down from making most changes and you can use rules on the router or your proxy server to block web sites.
 
Solution
@Eddon - it all depends on the size of your company. If it's just a handful of PCs, you have to walk around and do a lot of modifications by hand. If you have a central server, you can make your network managed from a single place, with policies applicable to all (or some) workstations.

On the other hand - if this "Don't change wallpaper / taskbar", "Don't listen to music" is part of of your company policies, and your employees are aware of these policies, you have the full right to enforce them anyway you find feasible. This enforcement does not have to be technical - in this economy, fear of losing a job because of a stupid wallpaper does miracles.