StaffCop Standard
GOOD:
Easy to use, very good URLs logging, available in 5 languages
BAD:
No parental control functions
SUMMARY:
Easy-to-use monitoring software with reach functionality. It was designed for corporate monitoring and is very good in doing its job. Its smart interface and availability in 5 languages allows us to recommend it to all the types of users.
INSTALLATION & INTERFACE
Here are the steps you will need to pass through in order to install StaffCop Standard:
Choose installation language (English, Spanish, Polish, Russian, or Ukrainian) → Welcome → Select destination folder → Additional Options (Install an Agent on this computer, Install Scheduler, Create an icon at the Desktop) → Ready to install → Finish
The only one that requires an explanation is ‘Additional Options’ screen. User can choose if it wants to install the agent on this PC, to install a scheduler and to create a desktop screenshot.
At the end of the installation the software will ask you if you would like to launch it or reboot. However the developers warn that restart is required; otherwise network applications may not work.
The interface of the program is easy to understand and use. Its window is separated into two sections – the left one contains the list of PC with monitoring agents installed, the right one – information logged at these PCs. The logged information is grouped into sections and the user can switch between them using tabs situated on the bottom of the right window. Very comfortable.
OS SUPPORT
According to the website of StaffCop Standard it supports all the operation systems listed in our testing. During our tests of the software on Windows 7 and Windows XP no glitches or problems in the work of StaffCop Standard were found. 80 out of 80 points.
SECURITY
The agent of StaffCop Standard is greatly hidden. User can also password protect the main program and set the warning messages to appear on monitored PCs. The rest of this section’s features are not implemented, but from our thoughts they are not actually needed as StaffCop Standard is basically designed for remote employee monitoring though is capable to monitor the PC it is installed at. 40 out of 80 points.
MONITORING
StaffCop Standard can monitor keys pressed, clipboard content, system log on/off time, started applications and printed documents. As for the file activities StaffCop Standard records files creating and deleting, but leaves no records about their opening, copying and renaming. User can also configure it not only to make desktop screenshots of monitored PC, but also can configure their quality and making interval. Unfortunately it cannot set the software to photo active windows instead of entire desktops only, so as to make screenshots each time the mouse button is clicked. 187 out of 300 points.
ONLINE MONITORING
StaffCop Standard is really good at URLs logging – links visited in all the 5 browsers of our testing can be found in its log-files. The situation is the same with emails – the content of both incoming and outgoing ones is detected by StaffCop Standard. As for the chat conversations the results are 3 of 5 – conversations made in Windows Live, Yahoo IM and ICQ are intercepted, while the chats in Skype and AOL are not. 148 of 193 points.
REPORTS
In this section StaffCop Standard again shows a very good result. Unfortunately the log files can be either copied to a flash drive or sent via the LAN, but not via email or FTP. In our opinion it is enough for corporate monitoring, but ability of the monitoring software to send the log-files via email or FTP still leaves more options for the user, then using LAN or flash drive. What is also worth mentioning is that StaffCop Standard not only logs the events duration, but also can make very nice diagrams, based on the time spent in applications and websites. 95 of 150 points
OTHER
Unfortunately StaffCop Standard doesn’t have any of parental control functions, though they could be very useful in corporate monitoring. Neither it can restrict launching of pre-specified applications nor websites list, nor react to pre-specified keywords. StaffCop Standard still receives points in this section as it can work by schedule and is translated to 5 languages: English, Spanish, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian. 15 of 66 points.
THE BOTTOM LINE
StaffCop Standard by AtomPark Software Inc. is easy-to-use monitoring software with reach functionality. It was designed for corporate monitoring and is very good in doing its job. Its smart interface and availability in 5 languages allows us to recommend it to all the types of users.
POINTS TOTAL: 565 out of 869
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