Ten Tips for Preparing an Effective Acceptable Use Policy

Corporate computers and information and communications systems (collectively, “electronic resources”) remain the workhorse for most businesses, even as alternatives, such as third-party text messaging services, external social media, and cloud computing, flourish. Employees rely on corporate electronic resources for e-mail, calendaring, business contacts, Internet access, document creation and storage, and a multitude of other business applications. Consequently, for employers, it is critical to establish and maintain their right to inspect all information stored on, and to monitor all communications transmitted by, corporate electronic resources. The corporate acceptable use policy is the linchpin of that effort.

The ten tips below are intended to aid employers who either want to implement an acceptable use policy for the first time, or who need to update their policy.