Desktop Surveillance - Frequently asked questions
What is Desktop Surveillance?
CensorNet Desktop Surveillance is a network based monitoring system for desktop, virtual, remote and terminal services clients. Desktop Surveillance consists of an agent, which records activity on the computer (multiple monitors supported), a server which stores the video for later review and a viewer for analyzing investigated data. The server also manages installation of the agents and policies for video recording. The viewer allows you to search your video archive based on event, application, window title, time stamp, user and computer.
How is the initial cost of my requirements calculated and are there any ongoing costs?
The price is based on the number of agents that are allowed to connect to the server at any one time. For example, if you have 100 computers, you can install the agent on all 100 computers. If you then buy a license for 50 agents, then you can select up to 50 of the 100 agents to be actively recording at any one time. You can move a license from one agent to another with a few clicks of the mouse. The more licenses you buy the lower the price-per-license becomes.
Is Desktop Surveillance suitable for schools?
Yes, it is suitable for any organisation that wishes to monitor computer activity on their network.
Do you provide discounts for education or non-profit organisations?
Yes, we provide a site license for schools to allow them to install an unlimited number of agents. We also provide discounts for education and non-profit use.
Is it legal to use Desktop Surveillance software on my network?
The answer to this question varies between countries and the laws that govern surveillance, workplace monitoring and privacy. In the UK, companies seeking to use surveillance software are required by the Information Commissioner to consult staff and make their policy clear to everyone. Employers should also include statements in their employment contracts regarding acceptable usage of the Internet and their computer systems. The company privacy policy should clearly state that that the company intends to use network surveillance software to monitor computer use, for the purposes of recording evidence of transactions, regulatory compliance, detecting crime or misuse, safe guarding the integrity of infrastructure and all users of the computer network should be made aware of this. You should consult your legal counsel, HR department and the Information Commissioner for further information. The following links may be useful:
• UK Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)
• UK Telecommunications Regulations 2000
• US "Spy Act" 2004
Is there a "try before you buy" version?
Yes, you can access an evaluation version via the My Account menu option.
Will Desktop Surveillance continue to record if the device is off the network or the network is unavailable?
Yes, if configured to do so, it will record the video locally on the device (in a hidden location) and when a connection with the server is established again it will synchronise the video. The agent can be configured to stop recording or overlap old recordings if a specific disk space threshold is reached.
