Internet Usage Tips - The Internet And You!

The Internet is a powerful medium for obtaining and communicating information as well as promoting increased productivity. But what is the Internet... and are there any special security requirements we need to follow when using it?

The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks used for sending, storing, and retrieving information. It's comprised of thousands of computer networks connecting homes, businesses, universities, libraries, and government agencies via phone, fiber optic, and other high-capacity lines. Most organizations are connected to the Internet already, or are considering Internet access capability for a variety of reasons, such as direct marketing to the public, conducting research, exchanging e-mail, etc.

Connection to the Internet can offer tremendous advantages, but security needs to be a major consideration when planning / utilizing a business Internet connection. Users should access the Internet via the "firewalls" that have hopefully been installed. Firewalls help protect business networks from unauthorized access by outsiders.

Users should also be aware of the risk when downloading information. One should always perform virus scans on all executable files downloaded from the public Internet. And there's always the risk of the Internet becoming a recreational tool, rather than a productivity tool. Employees need to have the discipline and ethics not to participate in non-business related activity and should make use of the Internet in a professional and responsible manner.

Following is a list of Internet Usage "tips" to keep you and your team on track:

   - Company provided Internet connections are usually intended to be used primarily for business purposes. Any personal use should not interfere with normal business activities, involve solicitation, be associated with any for-profit outside business activity, or potentially embarrass the company.

   - Use of the Internet, as with other company assets, should be limited to situations related to work assignments.

   - Use of company equipment to create, forward, or access material that is illegal, obscene, lewd, pornographic, or otherwise inappropriate would never be acceptable.

   - Respect the business purpose for which computers and access to communication networks has been authorized.

   - Use the computer resource capabilities in a manner that minimizes cost to the company while maximizing value for company business purposes.

   - Do not download any "shareware" or "freeware" without explicit company authorization due to the potential negative consequences to company computing resources, i.e., viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, that could cause extended system unavailability.

   - Abide by all applicable laws and regulations, e.g., copyright and software licensing.

   - Protect all company information according to the provisions of the company Information Security Policy.

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