Planning and successfully implementing changes to company software, services, processes and hardware can be quite onerous. Critical operations can be adversely affected by changes which are not properly planned out, reviewed or approved. This can result in lost revenue or damage to the organization’s reputation if external clients are affected, and careers might be at ...

Today, many businesses rely on outside companies, known as third-party organizations, to handle their data or services. Some examples might include vendors, marketing firms, recruiting organizations and other external entities. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to provide guidelines for establishing qualified third-party vendors with which to do business and what requirements ...

Patching of operating systems, applications and devices is not usually ranked as a favorite endeavor of IT professionals, but it’s a critical process to ensure secure company operations as well as to reduce downtime and technical support headaches. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to provide guidelines for the appropriate application of ...

Portable storage media allow employees to access or back up business data both inside and outside the office. However, the ease of use presented by portable storage devices can also place companies at significant risk of lost or stolen data. Moreover, malware can infect portable storage media, which can then be inadvertently or purposely introduced ...

New hires, internal promotions and role changes represent a significant organizational expense both in the procurement and setup/delivery of company resources. Resources include desktop computers, monitors, laptops, mobile devices, security tokens, printers, software and other items needed for employees to perform their work. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides a framework for the IT department ...

Installation of unauthorized computer programs and software, including files downloaded and accessed on the internet, can easily and quickly introduce unnecessary clutter, system instability or unreliability, and serious security vulnerabilities, all of which might require lengthy support remediation and lead to wasted productivity. This policy from TechRepublic Premium can be used to establish guidelines for ...

Every hardware device used by an organization has a finite lifespan or viable period of use, and the retirement of old gadgets and the acquisition of new ones is a part of life with technology. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides guidelines for the appropriate removal and disposal of all technological hardware used by the ...

A security policy is only as valuable as the knowledge and efforts of those who adhere to it, whether IT staff or regular users. Understanding the importance of computer and network security, and building accountability for these concepts, is critical to achieving organizational goals. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to describe ...

The Internet of Things continues making inroads in the business world, so organizations should have a defined IoT structure in place to ensure that data and operations are properly secured. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides guidelines for the procurement, usage and administration of IoT devices, whether company provided or employee-owned. From the policy: Since ...

Help protect your employees and customers from identity theft. This policy from TechRepublic Premium outlines precautions for reducing risk, signs to watch out for and steps to take if you suspect identity theft has occurred. While such misfortune may not be 100% preventable for everyone who follows these guidelines (since identity theft can still occur ...

As worldwide energy needs and concerns about climate change continue to increase, environmentally responsible business practices are critical for the successful future of a company and the markets in which it operates. This IT Data Center Green Energy Policy, from TechRepublic Premium, is intended to meet green standards for IT data center operations, which includes ...

Maintaining electronic communications in business involves walking a fine line. Employees want relevant information to be kept available for future reference so that they can do their jobs, but keeping these items long-term can pose security and resource risks. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to establish requirements for the retention and ...

This policy from TechRepublic Premium sets forth guidelines for the use of the internet, as well as internet-powered communication services, including email, proprietary group messaging services (e.g., Slack) and social networking services in business contexts. It also covers Internet of Things use and bring-your-own-device practices. From the policy: SAFE BROWSING • Use a modern, supported ...

Mobile devices are a way of life in both the consumer and business realms — and business interests must be protected where the two converge. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides guidelines for the safe and productive use of mobile devices (laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.) by employees. It includes stipulations for company and employee-owned ...

SSL certificates are essential for encrypting traffic between systems such as clients, which access servers via web browsers or applications that communicate with remote systems. Certificates protect client and server data, commonly involving confidential information such as credit card details or social security numbers. The purpose of this SSL Certificate Best Practices Policy from TechRepublic ...