Acceptable Use Policy

Who’s sucking up all the bandwidth?

Acceptable Use Policies are developed for the Employee Handbook in an effort to establish and communicate rules and guidelines for usage of computers, internet access, and email accounts. AUPs may also regulate phone, voice mail, and/or any other communication media. These media should be thought of as “company property” by everyone involved in your apostolate. As Catholics, it should be relatively easy to understand and relate how these good usage policies conform to our understanding of the seventh commandment and principles of good stewardship. Misuse of these resources can have negative consequences for the organization, including:

1. Introduction of viruses to the computer’s systems.
2. Breaches in security.
3. Reduced efficiency both of the employee and the systems.

Policy Elements

An effective Acceptable Usage policy statement should contain the following:

1. A clear statement that all technology is to be treated as company property.
2. A notice to employees that they shall have no expectations of privacy while using said company property.
3. A determination of what sort of monitoring, if any, will take place and how.
4. Employees should be made aware of procedures and consequences relating to incidents of misuse.