Training Video | Acceptable Use Standards

Acceptable use standards are the written rules that tell your staff how they may use company technology, and they work best when every new hire reads and signs them.

Key concepts

• An acceptable use policy defines the approved uses of company devices, accounts, networks, applications, and data.
• It should also say plainly what is not allowed, such as installing unapproved software or sharing logins.
• Good standards cover personal use, removable media, cloud storage, and taking work data off company systems.
• Have new hires sign the policy before you hand over accounts, laptops, or building access.
• Review the standards every year so they keep pace with new tools and new ways of working.

Why it matters for your business

Most data exposure starts with ordinary carelessness rather than a clever attack, and rules nobody has read cannot prevent it. A clear, signed policy tells people exactly where the line sits, and it gives you fair grounds to act when someone crosses it. Standards also make training simpler, because you are teaching one agreed set of rules instead of case-by-case judgment. If you want help writing and enforcing standards that people actually follow, our virtual CISO service can build and maintain that program alongside your team.