Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to clearly establish NextLabs’ position and expectations regarding the use of its IT resources and information assets. These rules are in place to protect the employee and NextLabs. Inappropriate use exposes NextLabs to risks including virus attacks, compromise of network systems and services, and legal issues.
Scope
This policy applies to the use of information, electronic and computing devices, and network resources to conduct NextLabs business or interact with internal networks and business system, whether owned or leased by NextLabs, the employee, or a third parties (collectively referred to as “Users”). All employees, contractors, consultants, temporary, and other workers at NextLabs and its subsidiaries are responsible for exercising good judgment regarding appropriate use of information, electronics devices, and network resources in accordance with NextLabs policies and standards, and local laws and regulation.
This policy applies to employees, contractors, consultants, temporaries, and other workers at NextLabs, including all personnel affiliated with third parties (collectively referred to as “Users”). This policy applies to all equipment that is owned or leased by NextLabs.
Policy
NextLabs provides access to electronic resources and communication systems, such as the Internet, email, and voicemail, to Users to facilitate business-oriented research and communication. Every User has a responsibility to maintain and enhance the Company’s public image and to use these electronic resources and communications systems in a manner consistent with his/her job responsibilities and in accordance with law, regulation and best security practices. NextLabs is committed to maintaining an environment that is respectful to Users (as well as customers, partners, vendors, or others with whom NextLabs communicates or does business) and will not tolerate inappropriate use of its electronic resources and communications systems (either on-site or remote) for the purpose of viewing or transmitting inappropriate subject matter or subject matter that may be offensive to others or inconsistent with NextLabs values, policies, or procedures. Adherence to this policy is intended to meet certain legal tests of due care and due diligence. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
NextLabs proprietary information stored on electronic and computing devices whether owned or leased by NextLabs, the employee or a third party, remains the sole property of NextLabs. You must ensure through legal or technical means that proprietary information is protected in accordance with the Data Protection Standard.
You have a responsibility to promptly report the theft, loss or unauthorized disclosure of NextLabs proprietary information.
You may access, use or share NextLabs proprietary information only to the extent it is authorized and necessary to fulfill your assigned job duties.
Employees are responsible for exercising good judgment regarding the reasonableness of personal use. Individual departments are responsible for creating guidelines concerning personal use of Internet/Intranet/Extranet systems. In the absence of such policies, employees should be guided by departmental policies on personal use, and if there is any uncertainty, employees should consult their supervisor or manager.
For security and network maintenance purposes, authorized individuals within NextLabs may monitor equipment, systems and network traffic at any time, per Audit Policy.
NextLabs reserves the right to audit networks and systems on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with this policy.
Use of NextLabs’ electronic facilities, including access to the Internet and the sending of email through the NextLabs network, may not be used for any of the following activities:
· Illegal activities.
· Accessing, creating, transmitting, printing or downloading material that is discriminatory, derogatory or offensive, or anything that may be construed as harassment or disparagement.
· Accessing pornographic, obscene or offensive websites is strictly prohibited.
· Accessing, sending, receiving or soliciting sexually-oriented messages or images.
· Accessing, sending, receiving or soliciting any unauthorized personal health or financial information of any User, customer, partner or vendor.
· Unauthorized downloading, posting, or disseminating of copyrighted or trademarked materials.
· Unauthorized downloading of software from the Internet.
· Transmitting personal comments or statements in a manner that may be mistaken as the position of NextLabs.
· Unauthorized disclosing or otherwise misappropriating NextLabs confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information, including but not limited to, confidential information such as personnel information, employee phone lists, trade secrets, specifications, customer lists, and research data.
· Personal use in a manner that generates a direct cost to NextLabs (like long distance calls) or interferes with a User’s duties or the operation on the network.
· Sending or participating in chain letters or illegal schemes.
· Unauthorized use of an assumed name or alias to send, receive, or transmit messages.
· Use of the Internet or email for outside commercial activities and/or personal gain.
While NextLabs desires to provide a reasonable level of privacy, Users should be aware that all messages created, sent, or retrieved through the Company’s electronic resources and communications systems, as well as any data stored on these systems, are the property of NextLabs, regardless of content. NextLabs reserves the right to access User’s usage of the Company’s electronic resources and communications systems, such as the Internet, email, and voicemail, including reviewing a list of sites accessed by any individual. No User should have any expectations of privacy in terms of his/her usage of the electronic resources and communications systems. Thus, even though Users may maintain passwords for accessing such resources, Users must not expect that any information transmitted, received, or maintained through these resources is private.
All systems attached to or with access to NextLabs’ network and information assets must maintain a standard and approved software configuration, managed by IT. Minimum-security configurations must include up-to-date and active anti-virus software, standard configurations, screen savers and PC/laptop firewalls for wireless and remote access. (Please refer to the Computer Equipment, Laptop, Desktop , and Virtual Machine Policy, E-Mail Policy, Password Policy and Remote Access Policy).
Any questions or uncertainty regarding this policy or an anticipated use of IT resources or information assets of the Company should be directed to the User’s manager or to IT.
Effective Date: October 1, 2007
Last revision: January 3rd, 2019
Confidential
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