Merlin's Computer Usage and Policy Guidelines	Acceptable Internet Use Policy for Business
			Feel free to print this page for future reference.
	The Internet is a huge and vast resource; but it includes some traps for unwary people, and can be a dramatic but subtle waste of time in the workplace.

The Internet can be considered to be an extremely large information resource, or library. It can be a very useful source of information for businesses (as well as for personal use), providing access to a large variety of information including: government information and resources, industry information and competitors' information. Perhaps unfortunately, the Internet does contain a lot of material that many people would consider offensive, rude or vulgar.

Effective use of the Internet is a normal part of business for some people, and it provides competitive advantage for others. If used inefficiently in the workplace, or not strictly for business purposes including the accessing of inappropriate material, it can be a cost burden for business.

With a little care and preparation, the Internet can be a reasonably safe environment to venture into, and can be used effectively in the workplace. This document aims to help businesses minimise the costs. The following guidelines can be finetuned by companies to suit particular preferences or business objectives.

The Internet's Dangers

• If you connect to the Internet via a cable modem (especially home or small business), then you probably have a permanent IP address, and it is possible for hackers to locate your computer system on the network and hack into it. You can minimise this risk with a software firewall.
• There is undesirable, objectionable and obscene material (rude words and pornographic pictures) on the Internet, and some Web sites are active in trying to attract your attention. Obscene words can be shown to you by some search engines. Some links can take you to undesirable Web sites.
• The Internet has facilities such as Chat Rooms, whereby people can exchange text messages (and Voice Chat Rooms where spoken conversations can be conducted, utilising a headset or microphone and speakers on the PC). There are some people who have evil intentions, and try to engage in on-line discussions about undesirable or unseemly topics, or who try to arrange for a face-to-face meeting. Some paedophiles operate this way.

Suggested Guidelines/Rules

1. If you use a cable modem for Internet access, then make sure that a software firewall is installed and properly configured.
2. Access to the Internet is provided to staff as a business tool to assist in the day-to-day performance of workplace duties.
3. Staff may be permitted to use Internet access for personal use provided that it is kept to a bare minimum.
4. A feature of Internet access methods is that a record, or history, of Internet usage may be stored on the local computer, and the local proxy server or firewall, and the ISP's web server, and the Web server of the hosted Web pages that are viewed. These records may also be copied to backup media for archival and/or recovery purposes.
5. Internet traffic (ie. the Web pages that are viewed) may be monitored by special software for the presence of various computer viruses and other malicious computer programs. Viewed Web pages may also be monitored to ensure that the content conforms to these acceptable usage guidelines.
6. The accessing, viewing, storage or transmission of suspect, pornographic or otherwise objectionable material is not permitted. Any such material is to be removed immediately.
7. Know how to close the Active Window, so that if objectionable material is inadvertently displayed you can quickly close the Window. (For details, see: Tips - Closing the Active Window .)
8. When using a search engine, be on the look out for objectionable words, and think carefully before clicking on a link to another Web site.
9. If using a chat room, and someone else in the room uses undesirable language or vulgarities, then exit the chat room promptly. You don't have to tolerate such behaviour.

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Last revised: 20 May, 2003.