Acceptable Use Policy: An acceptable use policy establishes rules that a user must agree
to follow in order to be provided with access to a network or to the Internet. These
policies have become common practice for many businesses, educational institutions,
and government entities and require that all users physically sign an acceptable use policy
before being granted network access. Most acceptable use policies have some common
attributes, requiring that the user agrees to adhere to specific guidance on what is accept-
able use as well as clearly defined unacceptable use guidance. Often, the policy outlines
what does and does not constitute acceptable uses of the corporate computer system as a
way to shield the company from liability in the event of a termination or censure due to
misuse. Also used in many public Internet hotspots such as airports, libraries, and cafes
as a liability shield against illegal acts committed using the public connection.