Sample Internet Access Policy

DynaComm i:filter helps you enforce your organization's Internet Access Policy (IAP) with its effective application of rules and comprehensive reporting. The example policy below is provided as a resource that may assist in the creation of your own IAP. Please note that this is only a sample. Your organization's IAP may differ and should reflect the specific needs of your own organization.

1. The company has software and systems in place that can monitor and record all Internet usage. We want you to be aware that our security systems are capable of recording (for each and every user) each World Wide Web site visit, each chat, newsgroup or e-mail message, and each file transfer into and out of our internal networks, and we reserve the right to do so at any time. No employee should have any expectation of privacy as to his or her Internet usage. Our managers will review Internet activity and analyze usage patterns, and they may choose to publicize this data to assure that company Internet resources are devoted to maintaining the highest levels of productivity.
2. We reserve the right to inspect any and all files stored in private areas of our network in order to assure compliance with policy.
3. The display of any kind of sexually explicit image or document on any company system is a violation of our policy on sexual harassment. In addition, sexually explicit material may not be archived, stored, distributed, edited or recorded using our network or computing resources.
4. The company uses independently-supplied software and data to identify inappropriate or sexually-explicit Internet sites. We may block access from within our networks to all such sites that we know of. If you find yourself connected incidentally to a site that contains sexually explicit or offensive material, you must disconnect from that site immediately, regardless of whether that site had been previously deemed acceptable by any screening or rating program.
5. This company’s Internet facilities and computing resources must not be used knowingly to violate the laws and regulations of the United States or any other nation, or the laws and regulations of any state, city, province or other local jurisdiction in any material way. Use of any company resources for illegal activity is grounds for immediate dismissal, and we will cooperate with any legitimate law enforcement activity.
6. Any software or files downloaded via the Internet into the company network become the property of the company. Any such files or software may be used only in ways that are consistent with their licenses or copyrights.
7. No employee may use company facilities knowingly to download or distribute pirated software or data.
8. No employee may use the company’s Internet facilities to deliberately propagate any virus, worm, Trojan horse, or trap-door program code.
9. No employee may use the company’s Internet facilities knowingly to disable or overload any computer system or network, or to circumvent any system intended to protect the privacy or security of another user.
10. Each employee using the Internet facilities of the company shall identify himself or herself honestly, accurately and completely (including one’s company affiliation and function where requested) when participating in chats or newsgroups, or when setting up accounts on outside computer systems.
11. Only those employees or officials who are duly authorized to speak to the media, to analysts or in public gatherings on behalf of the company may speak/write in the name of the company to any newsgroup or chat room. Other employees may participate in newsgroups or chats in the course of business when relevant to their duties, but they do so as individuals speaking only for themselves. Where an individual participant is identified as an employee or agent of this company, the employee must refrain from any unauthorized political advocacy and must refrain from the unauthorized endorsement or appearance of endorsement by the company of any commercial product or service not sold or serviced by this company, its subsidiaries or its affiliates. Only those managers and company officials who are authorized to speak to the media, to analysts or in public gatherings on behalf of the company may grant such authority to newsgroup or chat room participants.
12. The company retains the copyright to any material posted to any forum, newsgroup, chat or World Wide Web page by any employee in the course of his or her duties.
13. Employees are reminded that chats and newsgroups are public forums where it is inappropriate to reveal confidential company information, customer data, trade secrets, and any other material covered by existing company secrecy policies and procedures. Employees releasing protected information via a newsgroup or chat – whether or not the release is inadvertent – will be subject to all penalties under in existing data security policies and procedures.
14. Use of company Internet access facilities to commit infractions such as misuse of company assets or resources, sexual harassment, unauthorized public speaking and misappropriation or theft of intellectual property are also prohibited by general company policy, and will be sanctioned under the relevant provisions of the personnel handbook.