How to Create a Basic Technology Policy for Your Small Business

A technology policy (sometimes called an Acceptable Use Policy or AUP) documents how employees are expected to use company technology. Without one, your business has no baseline for accountability, no framework for disciplinary action, and no evidence of reasonable security practices if you ever face an audit or breach investigation.

What Your Technology Policy Should Cover

• Acceptable use: What business technology may and may not be used for
• Password requirements: Minimum length, MFA requirement, no sharing
• Device security: Screensaver lock, encryption requirements, software installation restrictions
• Email and internet: Personal use expectations, prohibited content and activities
• Remote work: VPN requirements, home network security expectations, physical security of devices
• Incident reporting: How and to whom employees report suspected security incidents
• BYOD (if applicable): Requirements for personal devices used for business
• Data handling: How sensitive data (customer, financial, health) must be stored and transmitted

Making the Policy Effective

A policy no one has read is no policy at all. Have every employee sign an acknowledgment that they've read and understood the technology policy. Review and update it annually — technology and threats change fast. When you onboard new employees, include the policy review in their first-day orientation.