Safeguard your business, employees & customers with
effective IT policies
It is critical to have comprehensive IT policies in place to help ensure the safety and security of your company’s data, employee details and customer information. Whilst it’s quite common for small businesses to make the mistake of skipping policies, implementing specific IT policies and procedures can help protect your business, employees and company reputation, as well as keep your customer’s data protected.
Many business owners feel that things don’t need to be so formal. They will regularly advise staff on what’s expected when it comes up and think that’s good enough. However, this way of thinking can cause numerous issues for small and mid-sized business owners.
At the end of the day, employees aren’t mind readers. Things that you think are obvious, might not be to them. Not having any policies in place can also leave you in poor legal standing should an issue arise, such as a lawsuit, due to misuse of a company device or email account.
Did you know that 77% of employees access their social media accounts while at work? Furthermore, 19% of users average 1 full working hour a day spent on social media. In some cases, employees are ignoring company policy. But in others, there is no specific policy for them to follow. Hence, impacts on employee wellbeing & workflows can occur and productivity can be greatly hindered.
Developing and implementing employee IT policies are an essential part of your IT security, system and technology management. So, no matter what size your business is, you should have them. Let’s start with some of the most important workplace procedures & IT policies your company should have in place!
What Employee IT Policies Your Business Needs To Implement
Do you have these IT policies in place at your company? If not, they definitely should be! No matter the type or size, all businesses should have variouspolicies and procedures in place that cover specific IT functions and activities. This ensures that you as a business owner, along with your employees and customers, remain protected against cyberattacks and data leaks.
Password Security Policy
About 77% of all cloud data breaches originate from compromised passwords. Unsafe or weak credentials are also now the top cause of data breaches globally.
Having a password security policy in place will demonstrate to your staff how to handle their login & device passwords. It should cover things such as;
• How long passwords should be
• Best practices on how to construct ideal passwords
• Where and how to store passwords
• The use of multi-factor authentication (if required)
• How often to change passwords
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is an overarching policy, which includes how to use technology and data in your organisation properly. This policy governs things like device security. For example, you may need employees to keep devices updated. If this is the case, you should include that in this policy.
Another thing to include in your AUP would be where it is acceptable to use company devices. You may also restrict remote employees from sharing work devices. Data is another area of the AUP. It should dictate how to store and securely handle business data. This IT policy might require an encrypted environment for security reasons as well.
App & Cloud Usage Policy
Employees are increasingly using unauthorised cloud applications. According to estimates, shadow IT accounts for 30% to 60% of a company’s overall cloud usage!
However, employees often use cloud apps without knowing any better. They don’t realise that using unapproved cloud tools for company data is a major cybersecurity risk.
As such, it’s vital to have a policy that tells employees what apps are acceptable for business use in the cloud and on mobile devices. It should restrict unapproved applications from being used, as well as providing suggestions and application recommendations for enhancing productivity.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy
A BYOD approach to employee mobile devices is used by approximately 83% of companies. Companies can save money by allowing employees to use their own smartphones for work. Furthermore, employees don’t have to carry around a second device, making it more convenient for them.
However, if you don’t have a policy that dictates the use of BYOD, numerous security-related issues can exist. Employee devices may be a ot more vulnerable to breaches, malware & other cyberattacks if their operating system isn’t regularly updated. There can also be confusion about compensation for the use of personal devices at work.
A company-wide BYOD policy clarifies the use of employee devices for business purposes and should also cover compensation. This can include the required security of those devices. It may also suggest the required installation of an endpoint management app.
Social Media Use Policy
With social media usage being commonplace at work, it’s important to address it. Otherwise, endless scrolling and posting could steal hours of your employee productivity every week! Include details in your social media use IT policy, such as:
• Restricting when employees can access personal social media
• Restricting what employees can post about the company
• Noting “safe selfie zones” or facility areas that are not approved for public images to be taken
Improve Your Company IT Policies and Business Network Security with IT Leaders!
Whether you are located on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane or beyond, IT Leaders can help your organisation address any deficiencies regarding your IT policies. Our IT experts can assist in identifying and rectifying any potential cybersecurity issues that exist on your networks & in your workplace.
The team at IT Leaders are here to provide you with a variety of helpful services, including IT Consulting, Cloud Computing and Backup Solutions, Managed IT Services and comprehensive Business IT support options to suit any sized business. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation and begin developing effective employee IT policies that will protect your business, staff and customers now and into the future!
