Successful IT departments are defined not only by the technology they deploy and manage, but by the skills and capabilities of their people. IT workers must keep up to date with the latest technology trends and evolutions, as well as developing soft skills like project management, presentation and persuasion, and general management. Due to the ...

Data in transit means data is at risk if the proper precautions aren’t followed. Data stored inside a securely monitored environment is much less likely to fall into the wrong hands than data exchanged between people and systems. With this in mind, it is essential for company personnel to adhere to firm and clear guidelines ...

Ethical behavior is something most people practice every day. It’s rare that an organization will need to enforce an ethics policy, but having one in place is a good idea. This ethics policy from TechRepublic Premium outlines areas where interactions with vendors might be questionable. From the policy: STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT Any short-term benefit gained ...

Keeping track of changes to equipment, software, procedures and anything else related to the information technology environment within an organization can be quite a feat. The better an organization can document these changes and keep track of changes to how things are done, the smoother these transitions will be, and it will be less likely ...

Today, many businesses rely on outside companies, known as third-party organizations, to handle their data or services. Some examples might include vendors, marketing firms, recruiting organizations and other external entities. In these instances, it’s likely third-party vendors might collect, store or refer to confidential or sensitive information regarding the business or its customers. To ensure ...

This policy is designed to help your IT staff guide employees toward understanding and adhering to best security practices that are relevant to their job responsibilities. From the policy: SUMMARY A security policy is only as valuable as the knowledge and efforts of those who adhere to it, whether IT staff or regular users. Understanding ...

These guidelines cover the procurement, usage and administration of IoT devices, whether provided by the company or employee owned. From the policy: SUMMARY The Internet of Things refers to network- or internet-connected devices, such as appliances, thermostats, monitors, sensors and portable items, that can measure, store and transmit information. IoT devices may be business oriented, ...

Internet use in the course of conducting business is a foregone conclusion. For most industries, lacking access is an encumbrance, at best, to getting things done. However, significant risk accompanies internet access, such as viruses, ransomware and data theft, all of which result from unsafe practices. In other words, infections can occur just from connecting ...

It’s an unfortunate event when an employee becomes severely ill and requires an extended sick leave from work, but companies should have a plan in place for these situations. This plan needs to ensure that both the employee and the company have a set of duties and responsibilities and provide a fair arrangement for all ...

Maintaining electronic communications in business involves walking a fine line. Employees want relevant information to be kept available for future reference so that they can do their jobs, but keeping these items long-term can pose security and resource risks. Server hard drives can fill up, or stolen data (even if outdated) might pose a threat ...