Hints and Tips for E-mail Policy

What is Inappropriate Use?

Inappropriate use can cover a wide range of activities. At one end of the scale:

• Employees shopping online during work hours

At the other end of the scale:

• Criminal activity, such as selling secret corporate information

One of the most obvious forms of inappropriate use is the viewing, downloading or distribution of pornographic material. A number of high profile incidents have proved severely embarrassing for household name companies, but it is a risk for any company, irrespective of size.

Inappropriate use is not just about embarrassment. Other effects include:

• Loss of productivity
• Reduction (or loss) of network bandwidth
• Increased risk of virus infection and other malicious code
• Increased risk of liability and legal action

To minimise the risk of inappropriate use, it is essential to provide clarification of what is and is not acceptable use within your organisation.

What is and is not deemed inappropriate use will vary from one organisation to another, particularly for activities at the lower end of the scale. The key is to ensure that a clear policy is defined for your company, and that everybody is aware of it.

The following points discuss behaviours that could be considered inappropriate.