United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Directive AMS 3300.2 2/14/2013

GUIDANCE ON USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES

1. PURPOSE

This Directive establishes the AMS policy on the purchase, configuration, and use of 

mobile devices, including smartphones, iPads, iPhones, and tablet computers.

2. POLICY

End-user mobile technology devices, including laptops, tablets, and smart cellular 

phones, should be used whenever possible to cost-effectively improve end-user 

productivity and the customer experience with AMS programs. AMS managers are to 

evaluate the efficiency of assigning mobile devices to end-users and purchase and assign 

only the minimal number of appropriately configured devices necessary to accomplish 

this goal. Government data, including email, must be stored only on Government 

systems and never on personal, non-Government systems.

3. MOBILE DATA SECURITY

a. Storage of Government Data Restricted to Government-Owned or -Managed

Devices. All Government data, including email, business notes, and calendar 

information, will not be copied to non-Government-owned data drives, 

personally-owned devices that do not have Government mobile device 

management software installed, or commercial Web storage services such as the 

Apple iCloud or to non-Government-owned storage devices. When configuring 

Government accounts, automatic archiving of data to commercial cloud storage

services must be disabled.

b. Government Email Restricted to Government-Managed Email Systems.

Government emails will not be copied to personal, non-Government email 

accounts. Government emails must reside only in Government-managed email 

systems to protect information from unauthorized disclosure and to meet the 

Government’s legal responsibilities regarding records management. Similarly, 

Government email archive files (Outlook files with a PST file extension) may not 

be copied to non-Government owned data drives or Web storage services.

c. Use of VPN Required When Using Public Wi-Fi Services. To protect 

Government data in transit across the Internet, after connecting a mobile laptop 

computer to a public Wi-Fi service, always immediately use the Virtual Private

Network (VPN) service to connect to the AMS network. The VPN service will 

encrypt all data moving across the Internet between the mobile device and the 

AMS gateway server. For additional security in public locations, also turn off 

your computer’s Bluetooth service.

Distribution: AMS Originating Office: ITS/OCIO
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Smartphones and cellular tablets have data encryption built into their default 

connections so no special action by the user is necessary.

4. MOBILE APPLICATION ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

a. Government-Owned Mobile Devices Require Government Application Accounts.

A separate Government account/Apple ID must be established by each user and 

associated with his/her Government-owned mobile devices that use application 

store accounts (e.g., the App Store or BlackBerry App World). Personal Apple 

ID or Blackberry accounts may not be used to manage Government-owned 

devices.

b. No Default Assignment of Government Credit Cards to Application Store 

Accounts. When configuring Government accounts, create the account without 

the association of a credit card. Government credit cards are not to be used as the 

default billable source for an Apple or BlackBerry application account.

5. WINDOWS LAPTOP AND TABLET ACQUISITION GUIDANCE

a. Prudent Assignment of Mobile Technology Devices.

(1) One Workstation Device per Employee. AMS managers will typically 

assign only one workstation device to each employee. Managers will 

assign a laptop or tablet computer to employees that require a fully 

functional mobile workstation device. A dockable laptop computer is 

often the best choice for meeting the in-office and mobile computing 

needs of AMS users. When a dockable laptop or Windows tablet 

computer is assigned to an employee, the purchase and assignment of a 

desktop computer to that same employee is not authorized. Exceptions to 

this policy will be approved, in writing, by the Deputy Administrator or 

the Associate Administrator. The assignment of a mobile cellular phone is 

permitted in addition to the use of a workstation computer.

(2) Travel Laptop for Office Use. A single laptop can be shared by all 

travelers in an office, as long as the travel laptop is maintained in a healthy 

state with current patches and anti-virus signature files.

b. Optimal Use of Windows Tablet Computers. AMS users are permitted to request 

the use of a Windows tablet computer in place of a laptop computer. The 

migration to a Windows tablet device will be part of the regular equipment 

refreshment cycle for that user.

6. SMARTPHONE ACQUISITION AND CONFIGURATION GUIDANCE

a. Acquisition of Smartphone Devices. AMS users authorized to use a Governmentprovided smartphone are permitted to choose to use either a RIM BlackBerry 

smartphone or an Apple iPhone. Users currently using a BlackBerry phone may 

migrate to an iPhone only as part of the regular upgrade process for existing 

contracts. Upgrades from an existing iPhone model to a newer iPhone model also 

are allowed only as part of the regular upgrade cycle for existing contracts. 

Because of support limitations, the purchase and use of Android phones is not 

authorized at this time.
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b. iPhone Device Configuration. The most current iPhone model with 16 GB of 

memory is the default model approved for use by AMS users. Purchases of 

phones with larger memory must be justified through a waiver provided by the 

Agency Chief Information Officer (CIO).

c. Acquisition of Smartphone Applications. BlackBerry and iPhone models will be 

configured to allow users to download applications from an application store. 

Personal-use applications that are appropriate for use on Government-owned 

equipment (e.g., those not related to gambling or pornography) can be 

downloaded, provided they do not interfere with the performance of official 

duties. Any personal-use applications that are not free must be purchased with 

personal funds.

7. APPLE iPAD ACQUISITION AND CONFIGURATION GUIDANCE

a. Acquisition of iPad Devices. The iPad will be offered to a niche set of users in 

AMS that need convenient and frequent mobile access to AMS email and Internet 

news. Deputy Administrators and the Associate Administrator will designate 

which users are eligible for iPad devices in each Program in consultation with the 

Agency CIO. The Associate Administrator will designate eligible users for the 

Office of the Administrator and Staffs.

b. Acquisition of iPad Applications. iPad users will have access to AMS email and

the Internet for Web browsing. Personal-use mobile applications that are 

appropriate for use on Government-owned equipment (e.g., those not related to 

gambling or pornography) may be downloaded to the iPad, provided they do not 

interfere with the performance of official duties. Any personal-use mobile 

application that is not free must be purchased with personal funds. The cost of 

mobile applications authorized in advance by a manager for the performance of 

official duties may be reimbursed by the Agency to the employee as a local 

expense provided that the reimbursement is appropriately documented (i.e., 

receipts noting the name of the application, the name of the authorized user, the 

period of use, and the business justification). End-user support may not be 

available for mobile iPad applications downloaded for business use.

c. iPad Device Configuration. Users will need ubiquitous connectivity so the default 

model will be the Wi-Fi with Cellular using 16 GBs of memory. These devices 

must be purchased with an annual wireless carrier contract through the Agency’s 

telecommunications acquisition process. Requests for Wi-Fi only iPad models 

require justification and will use the same technical approval process as laptop or 

tablet computers. The life cycle of the iPad is considered to be 2 years. After 2

years, a new iPad can be purchased with the Deputy Administrator’s or the 

Associate Administrator’s permission.

8. MOBILE DEVICE USE IN LIVESTOCK, POULTRY AND SEED PROGRAMS

For bargaining unit employees in the Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Programs, when the 

employer determines the employee is in non-pay status, the employee will not be required 

to perform any job duties using the mobile device, cell phone, iPad, tablet, or laptop 

assigned by the employer.
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9. INQUIRIES

a. For more information about the use of mobile technology in AMS, contact the 

office of the AMS CIO at 202-720-1234.

b. This Directive is available online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/amsissuances

/s/

Douglas C. Bailey

Chief Information Officer