Key IT Policies Companies Should Implement

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Key IT Policies Companies Should Implement

Without policies and procedures in place, your technology infrastructure can become like the Wild West. IT is the backbone of business operations and there are multiple considerations when it comes to how employees use technology and how companies secure their infrastructure.

Your IT policies act as guardrails by ensuring everyone understands what network security procedures they need to follow and what is and isn’t allowed when using company devices or accounts.

Some of the advantages of putting together these key IT policies for your Orlando area business include:

  • Mitigate the risk of a data breach
  • Fewer security incidents caused by employee error
  • Ensure that technology is being managed consistently
  • Prepares your company for an audit or compliance review
  • Increases accountability for leadership and staff
  • Promotes resiliency if your company suffers a cyberattack

Policies will include a set of rules and guidelines that users and organizations are to follow when working with business technology. They keep things from being vague and undefined and ensure all users have clear direction as to their use of company accounts, mobile devices for work, etc.

Which Company IT Policies Should Our Company Put In Place?

Acceptable Use Policy

The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) puts guidelines on how computers and other technology equipment are to be used. For example, the policy may state that employees cannot allow others to use their company-issued tablet or laptop.

An AUP policy will also include restrictions on where equipment can be used, and the types of activities employees can do. Such as not being allowed to download unapproved software on a company computer.

You can also include appropriate use of data in an AUP policy. Such as dictating how customer data is to be handled and what is considered an unacceptable use of sensitive information (i.e., restrictions against posting certain details on social media).

This is a vital policy to have in place because it helps prevent the risk of a malware infection or a potential data privacy compliance violation.

BYOD Policy

87% of businesses depend upon their employee’s ability to access business apps from their smartphones. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a common approach used by organizations to keep costs low. 

When a company expects or allows employees to use their personal devices for work, it’s important to have a BYOD policy in place.

This policy will dictate things like:

  • The amount if any stipend employees are paid 
  • Appropriate uses of business data with personal devices
  • How devices are to be secured
  • Any endpoint device monitoring app that must be installed
  • How business assets are retrieved when employees leave the company

Cloud Use Policy

With the significant increase in the number of remote workers during the pandemic, there has also been a rise in shadow IT. Shadow IT is the use of unauthorized cloud applications for business data.

This is often done innocently enough. Employees are just looking for better ways to accomplish their tasks and don’t realize the security risk that unauthorized cloud apps pose to their organization.

A cloud use policy outlines what cloud applications employees can or cannot use when working with business data. It should also include instructions on how employees can recommend applications they think would be helpful, which helps companies continually improve their cloud environment.

Security Awareness Policy

Well-trained employees are proven to help companies significantly reduce their risk of a data breach or other cybersecurity incident. But training is often inconsistent, which can leave employees less aware of how to detect sophisticated phishing attacks.

A security awareness policy puts a framework of security training and awareness in place that is consistent. This type of policy will include things like a company’s awareness goals, how often training is provided, and the expectations of employees to engage with security awareness training.

Incident Response Policy

Having an incident response policy in place can significantly reduce the financial impact of a cyberattack.

An incident response policy lays out the steps that staff is to take in the event of multiple types of work disrupting incidents. This can include:

  • Ransomware attack
  • Other types of malware attack
  • Data breach
  • Natural disaster
  • Server crash
  • Data loss incident
  • Insider attack

When your team knows what to do and has the opportunity to practice incident response in advance of an actual crisis, when a crisis event does occur, they’re well prepared. This gives you a better chance of getting your business back up and running more quickly. 

Password Security Policy

Weak passwords are a major cause of cloud account hijacking. Employees have so many passwords to manage that they often reuse passwords and create simple passwords so they can remember them all.

A password security policy helps reduce the risk of an account breach by putting requirements in place for password strength, among other things.

It may also include details on password management and multi-factor authentication solutions that a company has in place and that employees are expected to use for all logins.

Get Help Creating & Maintaining a Secure & Consistent IT Infrastructure

You don’t have to come up with strong policies on your own. C Solutions can help your Orlando area business formulate IT policies that make sense and keep your data and technology infrastructure protected.

Schedule a free consultation today! Call 407-536-8381 or reach us online.