Acceptable use policy
Company: Northgate Building Ltd
In force from: 1 January 2027
Owner: IT Manager
Applies to: Employees and contractors
1. Purpose
This policy protects people, data and systems at Northgate Building Ltd. It says what is and is not acceptable when you use what we provide. Using our systems means you accept it.
2. What it covers
Company laptops, phones, email, the internal network, cloud accounts, the customer portal and any personal device used for work
3. What you may do
- Use our systems for the purpose they were given to you.
- Keep your accounts and devices secure, and lock them when you leave them.
- Treat other people with respect, in every message and call.
- Keep confidential information confidential.
Limited personal use is allowed if it does not affect work, cost money or break these rules.
4. What you must not do
- Break the law, or help anyone else to.
- Harass, threaten, discriminate against or abuse anyone.
- Share, store or look for illegal, hateful or sexually explicit material.
- Try to get into systems, accounts or data you have no right to.
- Spread malware, spam or scams, or interfere with how a system works.
- Share your password or let someone else use your account.
- Copy, sell or share data, source code or other material you have no right to use.
- Infringe copyright, trade marks or other rights.
- Use the system in a way that harms our name.
Installing software that IT has not approved
Using company accounts for crypto mining
5. Security duties
- Use strong, unique passwords and a second step (such as a code) where offered.
- Keep software and devices updated.
- Do not connect unknown devices or open unknown links and files.
- Report lost or stolen devices at once.
6. Monitoring
We log access to systems and may review email and web use on company accounts to protect security and check these rules are followed.
7. Reporting
If you see or suspect a breach of this policy, or a security problem, report it straight away to security@northgate.example or the IT Manager. Reports made in good faith will not be held against you.
8. What happens if it is broken
Access can be limited or removed. For employees this may lead to action under the disciplinary procedure. For contractors and customers it may end the agreement. Illegal acts may be reported to the authorities.
9. Review
IT Manager reviews this policy every year and after any major incident or change in the law.