re: Web Traffic Monitoring

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Show me all the people out there using wireshark as a forward proxy, i'll wait...

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I could show you all the people that use it for more than packet analysis. Not knowing how to use a tool doesn't mean it won't do something.

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Im fully aware of what wireshark is capable of doing.

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Your comment suggested otherwise.

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Doesnt mean it's scalable

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So does this one.

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Dont think the OP wants wireshark

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Probably not. Changes nothing I've said.

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seems like they would just use their phones for web searches and personal activity

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This is exactly what happens.

My old boss did this kind of crap. He was more focused on preventing us from costing him money as opposed to finding ways for us to make more of it. Instead of nipping something in the bud, he would build a case against employees based on web history and what they were billing. The amount of time he wasted on that could have gone into finding solutions to help keep everyone motivated.

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Still not an unworkable suggestion

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This statement alone should tell you it was not the right suggestion for this situation.

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This statement alone should tell you it was not the right suggestion for this situation.

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Never said it was. I'm speaking more to the incorrent assertions made.

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an Untangle u50 with complete software package will run about $1000 for the appliance and $1000/yr for the software

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A Meraki MX80 runs about $1450 over at CDW. 3 year subscription runs $1350 there. The MX80 is one of the highest end devices out there.

Here's a cost calculator:

Maraki Cost Calculator

The biggest difference is, if you look at the MX side, is the Stateful Firewall Throughput (simplified terms - how fast you can get to the outside).

If your internet connection is 200-250 Mb range, then anything faster than the 250 is not going to have a lot of benefit unless you plan on upgrading. If you have a Gigabit connection and want full access to it, you're going to need to spend a good bit more.

Be sure to verify that for any device you look into getting. Don't think you're saving a ton of cash only to find out that your 1Gb connection is limited to 500Mbps because of your appliance.

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you can keep saying it is

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That isn't what I said. You limited your assertion to your knowledge on it. Sorry for pointing that out.

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Also if I can see real time activity I can tell if they are actually in the office or working remotely from home.

...we have store front that needs to have someone there during business hours

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So if this is your main issue, I don't think technology is the answer, I think a schedule of who's allowed to work from home when is.

This is from an article on managing remote call center agents and might be of use too.

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Mandatory Check Ins, Call Logs, and Daily Reports

While you may not be able to call agents into your office, or have them drop off a daily report before the head out for the night, managers can still put in place mandatory check ins and updates from their remote agents. Utilizing a team collaboration or Unified Communications platform, take Slack or HipChat as an example, managers can always be in contact with agents at a moment’s notice, as well as track the online presence. Requiring agents to check in when they start their shift, update their progress on a mid-day lunch break, and check in with their daily report before their shift ends will effectively replace those in person reports. Not to mention, the most popular contact center solutions even provide access to call logs and activity reports from your agents so at a glance, managers can quickly monitor their agent’s daily activity.

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LINK /

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That isn't what I said. You limited your assertion to your knowledge on it. Sorry for pointing that out.

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whatever mr wireshark