My day job is with a fairly large company (~4,000 people), and we have a decent-sized “IT” department.
Chew on this atrocity, received this morning (note: the business name is removed, lest I be dooced).
To ALL XXXXXX PC End-Users:
As you know, in an attempt to prevent viruses from entering the XXXXXX network, we have installed on both your local desktops and on the Email Server an anti-virus system. The majority of viruses that could affect our network are also blocked before they ever reach your computer system by our Firewall and Intrusion Detection System. However, when users use external email accounts via POP3, Webmail, or one of the many free email providers on the internet, those controls are circumvented and can lead to infection on the corporate network.
In order to protect XXXXXX computers and data, it is necessary to turn off the ability to access outside email services. Therefore, effective Friday, September 2, 2005, all external email services (as described above) will be blocked. Your XXXXXX email account will continue to function as it always has. There will be no interruption in service and you will still be able to send and receive emails from both inside and outside sources.
I’m not a network administrator, but it seems to me that most companies aren’t crippling access to Webmail in the name of viruses…
Actually, many companies are doing just that. In most instances, webmail is not necessary and is only
accessed for personal reasons. Additionally, webmail is a primary contributor to most viruses. It
makes sense to limit access to ensure a company can remain productive.
Unless you work for a security systems giant– they’re sort of big on, you know, security. (Damn.)
Yeah, I’m not saying they shouldn’t be…I just didn’t realize that this was how you effect security.
At the rate we’re going here, I expect them to remove all computers from the company, in order to ensure the security of our network.
This is a very common measure.
Ultimately, one is at work for, well… earn money? slack? oh, and work. So, it’s quite normal (thtough cruel!) for an employer you do the latter. As you probably figured out, you earning money is not on their list.
Your comment is funny, though
My company did this as well. The oddest thing is that sometimes it still works, but sometimes it blocks it.