Slashdot Mirror
Computer Competency Test For Non-IT Hires?
wto605 writes "As computers are used for more and more vital business functions, small businesses must have office employees who understand the dangers of, and how to recognize and avoid, malware, spam, and phishing. After having been stung by monthly virus cleanups (at $75 an hour) due to an otherwise competent office manager, my parents have realized they need to be aware of their employees' computer skills beyond the ability to type a letter in Microsoft Word (currently the closest thing they have to a test of computer competence). The problem is, as a small business, they have no IT expert who would be able to judge a potential employee's competency. I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good way to test these security/safety awareness skills, such as an online test, a set of questions, etc. I have already pointed them to Sonicwall's Spam and Phishing test, but it definitely does not cover all of the issues facing computer users."
If the user does not have admin rights to his workstation, 95% of the problems go away. Don't throw out otherwise valuable workers because of lack of competence on the part of the sysadmin.
See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
all this licensing would do is create a caste society. it sounds great on the surface, but people would use it to exclude others for other reasons than competence.
(Score:0, Offtopic)
Oh go fuck yourself! You obviously don't speak English.
I was replying to this aspect of the post, Right, but computers can be dangerous tools. You are expected to prove some basic competency before you are licensed to drive. Same thing with operating heavy machinery.
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
I'm not IT.
I'm not IT.
TAG! Now you are.
The
If we were all paid just for time, then everybody would be in at 8:30 and out the door promptly at 5 with exactly 30 minutes for a lunch break and no more. Nobody would have a blackberry and they could lock down the internet to their heart's content And that's one way to do it. Of course, locking down the internet also means employees don't necessarily have access to nice things that make their job easier, like the ability to quickly look up commands etc., but since we're just paying for time, efficiency doesn't matter one way or the other.
On the other hand, it's also possible to create a workplace where it's OK to check slashdot if you're running tests or compiling code or something, and sending an email to a friend isn't a fireable offense. Those sort of workplaces also tend to be the types of workplaces where people don't mind staying a little late to get extra work done or help out a client. They're also the type of workplaces where people don't wake up every morning loathing their existance and hating their jobs. Call me crazy, but I think that counts for something too.
...no two people are not on fire.