Who may use the company laptop?
Priya works for a software company. They give her a laptop. At lunch she plays a game on it. After work she uses it to watch a film. Last week she sent a rude message about a customer on the work chat.
Which of these is allowed? Where is it written down? And what if she finds out that her company is doing something wrong?
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptable use policy (AUP) | A written set of rules for how people may use an organisation's computers and network. | A page every new starter signs |
| Procedure | A list of steps that people follow to do a job. | How to report a problem |
| Policy | A written rule or plan that an organisation follows. | A holiday policy |
| Etiquette | Polite and sensible ways to behave. | Do not write in capital letters, it feels like shouting |
| Sanction | A punishment or action taken when a rule is broken. | A warning |
| Whistleblowing | Telling the right people about serious wrongdoing at work. | Reporting a hidden safety fault |
| Confidential | Private, not to be shared. | A client's plans |
| Network | Computers joined together so they can share things. | The office Wi-Fi and its computers |
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Quick check: Priya's laptop
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Quick check: Priya's laptop
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
What an AUP is for
An acceptable use policy (AUP) tells people how they may use the organisation's computers, accounts and network. It protects the organisation, its customers and its staff.
New staff and students usually sign it. Without one, people may not know the rules, and a problem is harder to deal with.
What is usually in an AUP
| Part | What it says | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Permitted use | What you may do | Use work email for work. Use the internet for study or research |
| Prohibited use | What you may not do | Visit illegal sites. Install unlicensed software. Share your password |
| Working practices and confidentiality | How to handle private information | Lock your screen. Never share client data in a public chat |
| Communication etiquette | How to write and speak, so the organisation looks good | Be polite. Do not post complaints about customers online |
| Sanctions | What happens if you break the rules | A warning, loss of access, or dismissal. Serious cases can go to the police |
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Would the AUP allow it?
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Would the AUP allow it?
5 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.