Policy

MODEL ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

for Corporate Internet Systems

The Policy

I. Ownership of Internet-Related systems: Internet-related systems (including but not limited to: computer equipment; software and operating systems; network accounts providing electronic mail, World Wide Web browsing, File Transfer Protocol, etc.; networking and intra-net systems and software) are the property of the corporation. They are to be used for business purposes in serving the interests of the company and of our clients and in the course of normal operations.

II. Privacy of communications: Employee communications on these systems are not private. While the network administration desires to provide a reasonable level of privacy, users should be aware that the data they create on the corporate system remains the property of the corporation, and usually can be recovered even though deleted by the user. Despite security precautions, there is no absolutely fail-safe way to prevent an unauthorized user from accessing stored files. The network management cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information stored on the network. Information that must remain confidential should therefore not be stored on the network.

III. Monitoring: The company reserves the right to monitor all employee usage to ensure proper working order, appropriate use by employees, the security of company data, and to retrieve the contents of any employee communication in these systems. Management may access user files, including archived material of present and former employees without the user's consent for any purpose related to maintaining the integrity of the network, or the rights of the corporation or other users or for any other reasonable purpose. All external correspondence must contain a notification that incoming and outgoing correspondence may be monitored for quality assurance and security purposes

IV. Personal use: Personal use of the systems is authorized within reasonable limits as long as it does not interfere with or conflict with business use. Employees are responsible for exercising good judgment regarding the reasonableness of personal use. Individual departments are responsible for creating guidelines concerning personal use of Internet systems; however, in the absence of such policies, employees should be guided by departmental policies on personal telephone use and, in case of doubt, should consult their supervisor or manager.

V. Archiving and backup of systems: Employees who have computers connected to the Internet-related systems and certain other designated employees are responsible for backing up data on a daily basis. This is an important function designed to maintain records of communications and activity which replaces (or supplements) maintaining files containing memoranda, correspondence, etc.

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