Internet acceptable usage policy for organizations

Abstract

Explains how, with the Internet increasingly being used for the conduct of electronic commerce, organizations are now cognizant of the need to control their employees’ usage of the Internet. Little research has been conducted to date into this important concern. Suggests that an Internet acceptable usage policy is one vehicle for providing this control, containing guidelines for employees indicating both acceptable and unacceptable Internet usages. The policy aims to control those employee behaviours and actions which contribute to the incidence and severity of internal and external Internet risks, while enabling employees and the organization to gain maximum business value from the Internet connection. Explores the issues to be considered in the development of an organization’s Internet acceptable usage policy. Uses a case study of a large Australian organization to illustrate the issues. Proposes a set of criteria for an effective Internet acceptable usage policy as a result of this research.