Acceptable Use Policy
1. Purpose
Define acceptable and unacceptable use of [ORGANIZATION]'s information systems, networks, and data assets to protect the organization from legal liability and security risks while enabling productivity.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, consultants, temporary workers, and other personnel at [ORGANIZATION], including all personnel affiliated with third parties who access [ORGANIZATION]'s information systems or data.
3. Policy
3.1 General Use and Ownership
[ORGANIZATION]'s information systems are provided primarily for business use. Limited personal use is permitted provided it does not interfere with job responsibilities, consume excessive resources, or violate any provisions of this policy.
All data created, stored, transmitted, or received on [ORGANIZATION]'s information systems is the property of [ORGANIZATION] and may be monitored, accessed, or reviewed at any time without prior notice.
Users shall have no expectation of privacy when using [ORGANIZATION]'s information systems, except as required by applicable law.
Users are responsible for the security of their assigned credentials and must not share passwords, tokens, or other authentication mechanisms with any other person.
3.2 Prohibited Activities
Users shall not attempt to access systems, data, or networks for which they do not have authorized access.
Users shall not install unauthorized software on [ORGANIZATION]-managed devices without approval from [CUSTOMIZE: IT Department/Security Team].
Users shall not disable, circumvent, or interfere with security controls including but not limited to: antivirus software, endpoint detection and response agents, firewalls, or data loss prevention tools.
Users shall not connect unauthorized devices to [ORGANIZATION]'s network without approval from [CUSTOMIZE: IT Department/Security Team].
Users shall not transmit [ORGANIZATION]'s confidential or restricted data through unauthorized channels including personal email, unauthorized cloud storage, or unencrypted communications.
Users shall not engage in activities that violate applicable laws, regulations, or [ORGANIZATION]'s other policies, including but not limited to: harassment, discrimination, copyright infringement, or unauthorized data collection.
3.3 Internet and Email Use
Internet access is provided for business purposes. Users shall exercise good judgment regarding reasonable personal use.
Users shall not access, download, or distribute material that is illegal, offensive, or inappropriate in a professional workplace.
Users shall treat email communications with the same professionalism as official business correspondence.
Users shall exercise caution with email attachments and links from unknown or suspicious sources and shall report suspected phishing attempts to [CUSTOMIZE: Security Team/IT Help Desk] immediately.
3.4 Remote Access
Remote access to [ORGANIZATION]'s network shall only be performed through approved remote access solutions with multi-factor authentication enabled.
Users connecting remotely shall ensure their connecting device meets [ORGANIZATION]'s minimum security requirements, including current operating system patches and active endpoint protection.
Users shall not access [ORGANIZATION]'s systems from public or shared computers without explicit approval and additional security precautions.
3.5 Enforcement
Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or contract, and may also result in civil or criminal penalties.
Users who become aware of violations of this policy shall report them to [CUSTOMIZE: Security Team/HR/Management] promptly.
[ORGANIZATION] reserves the right to revoke system access at any time for policy violations or security concerns.
4. Compliance
Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all personnel within its scope. Compliance will be monitored through periodic audits, automated controls, and management review.
Exceptions to this policy must be documented with a business justification, approved by [CUSTOMIZE: CISO/Security Team], and reviewed at least annually.
5. Enforcement
Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or contract, and may result in civil or criminal penalties where applicable law has been violated.
[ORGANIZATION] reserves the right to audit compliance with this policy at any time, with or without notice.
6. Review and Revision
This policy shall be reviewed at least annually by [CUSTOMIZE: CISO/Policy Owner] and updated as necessary to reflect changes in the threat landscape, regulatory requirements, or organizational structure.
All revisions shall be documented with version number, date, author, and description of changes.
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