The importance of an Acceptable Use Policy

Overview

In an ideal world, employees would use the computers and Internet access provided their employer solely for business use.

It is however, sadly, not an ideal world. Throughout the work day, companies, schools, libraries and other organisations are exposed by their users to the misuse of the system. The dilemma faced by every company is what to do about it and how to start.

In this white paper we examine both the extent of the problem of misuse, and the role the creation and dissemination of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) can offer in helping an enterprise avoid unwanted consequences and enabling it to deal with transgressions in a fair and systematic way that will survive legal challenges without reducing employee morale and productivity.