HOWEVER, streaming media is very unsecure. It is very easy for a coder to inject code into a webcast or streaming media. After that it’s pretty much over with. Now, be it spyware or malicious the code is still there.

Personally I use scare tactics and “what if” scenarios to get backing from management. Once this is done or if you don’t think you need them to back you there are a few “best picks” that you can do. The best thing you can do is get a Proxy. This will force all your users through one common AP allowing you to restrict them of everything short of picking their nose. If you don’t have the resources to install a proxy, then I suggest a group policy stance. You can easily pre-configure the web browser so it won’t accept streaming files. I believe there is a tech-net doc on how to do this, just google it and you will find it.

Now I am a secadmin so I don’t really care what my users think of me. However, I like to listen to music also. So, I allow them 20 gigs of personal space on their workstations for mp3, wma, wavs. I have also integreted i-tunes so it’s easy for them to transfer their music. This way the users are happy, it’s still a secure environment, and you aren’t utilizing your network’s banwidth. Everyone’s happy.

Lot of good and true info here. And the greater problem is weather or not you will have backing of management. Company usage polices have been mentioned. If the policies aren’t in place that does not mean can’t block the access. However expect some flak, especialy from those who have the power to throw their weight around.

Streaming audio is not a real big problem if their are only the occasional user. Unless your internet bandwidth is already being consumed by legitimate business. The one that I see that is a big problem is streamign video from lets say; MSNBC news.

If there is no company exceptable use policies in place and or you run into to trouble blocking usage. You may think about gathering information to backup your claim. Dont put out on the table to managment that you feel that the usage is consuming to much bandwidth. Show them.

Using tools such as PRTG(Paesler Router Traffic Grapher) I monitor network traffic on everything, servers, routers, firewalls, and I can even monitor end user’s pc’s. I started seeing the problem of high bandwidth usage on incoming traffic that was not in keeping with the norm. After investingating I was able to show to managment that users access streaming audio (although that was not bad) was consuming bandwidth (many users streaming audio was not good), but streaming video on the other hand only needed two to three users accessing streaming vidio and our bandwidth on our T1 was quickly ate up.

So first thing is to establish the data that shows that the user’s practices are consuming up bandwidth that is needed for other purposes (not that you feel that it is, show them that it is). What does the company use the internet access for, provide internet services(ftp, web) to customers? Is there complaints from employees/customers about slow internet access, access to webpages and the like, at times (if the usage is not hurting the company by slowing things down, you dont get the backing of managment). How many employee’s are there with access to the internet.

And expect the unexpected. Employees hogging up bandwidth were I am the network admin was not tolerated by the company because we provide many internet services to customers and the bandwidth must be there, and keep in mind, there was and still is not an acceptable use policy.
The powers to be here decided to take an unexpected turn here, instead of creating an acceptable use policy and inforcing it, and or blocking content. We just installed a new T1 and routers/firewalls for an internet connection that is strickly for inter-company only. The users pc’s have there gateways set to the firewall on the new T1 so that bandwidth is not taken away from the circuit that external customers are dependant on.

One suggestion that I can make on blocking usages is a proxy server. You can build a proxy server from a moderate pc using Linux. I discovered that I could block most streaming video content with a simple content blocking rule that blocked any content on the internet that contained “video” in the URL. Best part is, linux is free and I already had the box to implement it on. I never did however, only tested it, because the powers to be took a different approach.

Good luck

The HumbleNetAdmin

If your firewall has the capability, you can block .wav, .mp3 .ram and .rm files and block most sites.

If not, you have to put on your deerstalker cap and start doing some investigation.
My recommendation would be to first find out what your WAN bandwidth utilization really is. If you have a Cisco router connected to a T-1 or a fractional T-1, I’ve found this program to be useful, the freeware version will give you a graphic of bandwidth utilization for up to 3 Cisco routers.
http://www.paessler.com/prtg
If you have a DSL line and a DSL modem you can put up the modem brand here and someone may know of something similar.
Once you’ve figured out your bandwidth utilization, then you can compare it with your available bandwidth and determine if you have a problem, and you can decide if you need to spend the time involved in investigating it.

If you decide you need to investigate this you have to find out who is using the bandwidth. Some firewalls give you this information (Watchguard), some don’t. You may need to use a sniffer, Ethereal is excellent and free.

Once you find out who is using the bandwidth you can either talk to them directly, or set up a block list in the firewall to block the radio site. (Ethereal comes in handy here, it can give you the originating web site IP address for your block list.) My experience is that my block lists rapidly get very long as the offending person shifts over from site to site to site as they hunt for stations that work. You will almost certainly have to check often for at least 1 week to 2 weeks before people start giving up.
Be alert for the political issue of do you have the authority to cut off the users internet radio? You may have to get allies in management. Reminding them how much more bandwidth would cost always seems to work well.

The other side of this coin is, which is worth more; a little bandwidth or employee morale? As many, many studies have shown, the single most important factor affecting productivity is employee morale. And, don’t forget about the high cost of finding and training replacements for employees who probably would have stayed on if the work environment were more pleasant. The return on your investment, especially if you’re dealing with skilled workers, is HUGE!