According to a new report by global research firm Gartner, the number of large firms that block access to social networking sties ate workplace is falling.

In the new report released on Monday, the research firm said that about half of large organizations said they have blocked access to social networking sites in workplace in 2010 and the company expects the percentage to fall to about 30 per cent.

Andrew Walls, a Gartner analyst, in a statement that, "Even in those organizations that block all access to social media, blocks tend not to be complete. Certain departments and processes, such as marketing, require access to external social media, and employees can circumvent blocks by using personal devices such as smartphones."

Walls warned that the firms should pay attention to their employees' and their own social identities on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest. The repot said that the management should keep a check on content posted by employees because it might violate corporate policy or damage its image.

Walls added that the organizations should not ignore social media and social identity. Gartner has also advised the companies to verify the identity of employees, job candidates and customers on social networking sites.