Acceptable Use Policy: An Essential for Any Business

Share

It is surprising how many small businesses have no guidelines for managing staff in their electronic environment. This resource should be an essential tool for any business, regardless of the size.  See it as part of your ‘tools of the trade’.

Staff working on a computer supplied by a business can potentially cause havoc, and when an unexpected event DOES take place, it’s often unintentional.

If employees are not made aware of what is expected and what is unacceptable in a business computer environment, they are left up to their own judgement to determine what is right and what is wrong.

Some areas of concern are:

• ·         Mass storage devices infecting the network with a virus

• ·         Mass storage devices being used to remove sensitive company data

• ·         Potential infection of machine or network through an internet site

• ·         Blurred lines of ownership when personal devices are being used within the business

• ·         Integrity of data when versions of documents are shared between networks and devices

An Acceptable Use Policy, when implemented properly is a resource that will clearly define the boundaries and make staff accountable.

A comprehensive policy should cover topics such as:

• ·         General use guidelines

• ·         Acceptable use / unacceptable use

• ·         Network and desktop guidelines

• ·         Information guidelines

• ·         Social media guidelines

• ·         Enforcement

• ·         Breach and consequences

All Staff sign a copy at time of implementation, and new staff will sign a copy at time of employment into the business.

Generally, businesses that implement a robust Acceptable Use Policy find that it plays a positive part in behaviour within the business, and incidents are kept to a minimum as a result.

 

WebSafety NZ Limited helps businesses manage the internet simply. Find out more here: www.websafety.co.nz/business.php

What Is 'Digital Citizenship'?

Share

Nowadays we hear a lot about ‘digital citizenship’.  But WHAT does it refer to?  Digital citizenship is a term used to describe the behaviour skills required for acceptable engagement relating to internet activity.

It is taking a holistic approach to everything the internet encompasses, and applying appropriate behaviour to those technologies. 

There will always be something new when it comes to communication and the internet. We need to apply the same behaviour to whatever comes along, instead of treating each new change as a separate issue.  Once we can accomplish that, we are heading in the right direction.

A digital citizen:

• ·         is a confident and capable user of ICT

• ·         uses technologies to participate in educational, cultural, and economic activities

• ·         uses and develops critical thinking skills in cyberspace

• ·         is literate in the language, symbols, and texts of digital technologies

• ·         is aware of ICT challenges and can manage them effectively

• ·         uses ICT to relate to others in positive, meaningful ways

• ·         demonstrates honesty and integrity and ethical behaviour in their use of ICT

• ·         respects the concepts of privacy and freedom of speech in a digital world

• ·         contributes and actively promotes the values of digital citizenship

One of the local schools has come up with an excellent mindmap on the subject of digital citizenship.  It includes what they call the ‘9 strands’ of digital literacy.

We are always guaranteed to see CHANGE in technology.  Helping children to understand how they can better be empowered to be confident and safer digital citizens is the best any parent can do.