Acceptable Technology Use Policy

A good acceptable technology use policy should outline expectations for users when utilizing any form of technology. The policy should also reflect the ideals and morals necessary to be a good digital citizen. Acceptable use policies may be used in a variety of settings. While an "one size fits all" policy may be written, I believe it is best to tailor policies for the different groups within your organization, school system, or family. For example, a school may have an acceptable technology use policy for faculty, one for students, and even one for parents. Other organizations may have a policy for staff members who have access to company devices outside of the office and a different policy for employees who only have access inside the office building. Acceptable use policies are great within the family, especially with young teens. A good policy gives clear expectations and guideline to family members. Each member knows what is appropriate behavior and what the consequences are for violating the agreement. Especially in the family setting, the policy should be more of an agreement. Input should be given by all members of the family; however, the parents should have final say in the policies written in the agreement

Ultimately, acceptable technology use policies should be tailors to the organization's individual needs and culture. Here are a few items to consider including into an acceptable technology use policy when writing one for your family, classroom, or organization.

• Give an overview or goal of the document
• Divide the policy into sections or topics for easier reading and reference later
• Discuss the types of acceptable activities (i.e. gaming, social media, downloading files)
• List any privacy concerns or laws (i.e. HIPAA, FERPA)
• Clearly define prohibited activities (Shinder, 2006)
• Discuss measures taken to ensure compliance
• Policy must have approval and support from the person who will enforce the policy (Shinder, 2006)

The following document is the Responsible Use Policy used by UMS-Wright Preparatory School for its employees. I, Brent Daugherty, authored this document my first year as the Dean of Technology at UMS-Wright.

Tripwire, 7 Things to Consider When Creating An Acceptable Use Policy (https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/risk-based-security-for-executives/risk-management/7-things-consider-creating-acceptable-use-policy/)

Infosec Institute, The Essentials of an Acceptable Use Policy (https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/essentials-acceptable-use-policy/#gref)

Central National Bank, How to Write the Acceptable Use Policy your Business Needs (https://www.cnbwaco.com/blog/how-to-write-the-acceptable-use-policy-your-business-needs/)