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. This policy from TechRepublic Premium is designed to ensure every employee, contractor, temporary worker and volunteer understands ...

Maintaining a regular schedule of operating system and application updates to company devices or employee-owned devices used to conduct company business — as well as applying critical out-of-band patches as vulnerabilities are discovered — is paramount to maintaining the integrity of corporate security and protecting the business. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides guidelines for ...

Employees who work from home often use company-supplied systems and devices, which helps ensure that they have consistent, state-of-the-art equipment to do their work. However, organizations should provide usage guidelines, such as this policy from TechRepublic Premium, covering the responsibilities of IT staff and employees. From the policy: For an organization to properly implement this ...

Service level agreements streamline operations and allow both parties to identify a proper framework for ensuring business efficiency and customer satisfaction. Businesses can identify where problems lie if SLAs are not adhered to, then make the necessary decisions to find additional budget funding, impose penalties or seek alternate providers and staff. This policy from TechRepublic ...

Shadow IT is a concept whereby an organization’s employees use technology, services or systems without the knowledge of or approval from the IT department. This policy from TechRepublic Premium provides guidelines for the appropriate use of shadow IT, explains the restrictions that will apply to it, and defines elements pertaining to employee and IT department ...

This policy will help your organization safeguard its hardware, software and data from exposure to persons (internal or external) who could intentionally or inadvertently harm your business and/or damage physical assets. From the policy: PHYSICAL SECURITY GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS The following guidelines should be followed in designing and enforcing access to IT assets. Server room/IT ...