Just one memory stick
A new starter plugs a memory stick from home into a work PC "to print a photo". The stick carries a virus.
By lunch, three PCs are locked. Nobody told the starter the rule. Nobody checked.
A written policy, and people who follow it, would have stopped this.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Network | Computers and devices linked so they can share data. |
| Policy | A written rule that says what people must and must not do, and why. |
| Procedure | The steps to follow to carry out a policy. |
| SOP | Standard operating procedure: a procedure that is written down and the same every time. |
| Digital use policy | The rules for how staff use the organisation's computers, Wi-Fi and data. |
| Bandwidth | How much data a link can carry each second. |
| Bottleneck | The narrow point that slows everything down. |
| BYOD | Bring your own device: staff using their own phone or laptop for work. |
| DSE | Display screen equipment: screens and the desks and chairs used with them. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can explain what each part of a digital use policy is for, and what goes wrong when it is not followed.
Starter: what you know
Have a go
Starter: what you know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Cycle 1: policy and procedure
A policy says what the rule is and why it exists. A standard operating procedure (SOP) says how to do it, step by step.
Example. Policy: only approved software may be installed. SOP: 1. Ask the help desk. 2. The help desk checks it. 3. The help desk installs it.
The digital use policy holds six SOPs. Next you meet each one.
The six procedures and what each is for
| Procedure | What it covers | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Network usage and control | Watching bandwidth, finding bottlenecks | Keep the network fast and spot odd traffic |
| Internet usage | Blocked sites and social media | Cut risk from bad sites and wasted time |
| BYOD | Own devices used for work | Stop personal devices leaking company data |
| Working from home | Safe set-up and a DSE check | Protect data and the worker's health |
| Password renewal | When and how passwords change | Limit harm from a stolen password |
| Software usage | Only approved software, kept updated | Close known weak points |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: policy or procedure?
Have a go
Check: policy or procedure?
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.