The Internet is a medium for the public transmission of information, and serves as an excellent source of research and technical information. It encourages and improves communication, public relations, visibility, contacts, and electronic commerce. The Internet can provide an organization with some critical competitive advantages. It can be used for messaging, information and resource sharing, collaboration, or for obtaining additional technological resources and application software to augment certain tasks and activities. It is, therefore, in an organization's best interest, to encourage the prudent use of the Internet for certain business purposes.
Internet access is provided as a resource to support the overall objectives of the organization.
The Internet, by definition, is boundaryless, unmanageable, and uncontrolled. Because the Internet is a public forum, organizations may be held accountable for the abusive, inappropriate, or unethical behavior of its users. In addition, the protection of proprietary information, internal systems security, and the productivity of the user community are all key factors that must not be placed at risk. As a result, all aspects of an organization's Internet presence must be carefully managed to ensure that an organization's image is properly protected, its liability is limited, and that the use and access of the Internet is suitable for the business purposes of the organization. These objectives should be accomplished in a cost-effective manner.