Acceptable Use Policy Guide

Device use, remote work, prohibited activities, and monitoring — for distributed teams pursuing SOC 2.

acceptable use policy template preview (COR-011)
.docx COR-011

Acceptable Use and Remote Work Policy

Device use, remote work, prohibited activities, and monitoring — for distributed teams pursuing SOC 2.

How to Fill Out This Acceptable Use and Remote Work Policy

Acceptable use policy template — Employees should acknowledge this policy at hire and annually. Cross-reference COR-006 training and COR-012 physical security.

Recommended Owner: Security Lead | HR for acknowledgments

What this file is for

Document purpose

Acceptable use and remote work rules for distributed teams.

In your program: Employees acknowledge at hire; aligns with COR-001 Section 7.

Before you start

Getting Started

  • Enable Editing in Word; replace `[` placeholders and delete gray examples.
  • Cross-check names and vendors with SOC-002, SOC-004, and Phase 1 COR policies.

Document tour

Fill out the file section by section

Work through the sections below in order. Each block matches a heading or tab in the downloaded COR-011 file.

1. Purpose
  • Set expectations for devices, networks, and prohibited activity.
  • After editing 1. Purpose, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
2. Scope
  • Employees and contractors with system access.
  • After editing 2. Scope, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
3. Acceptable Use
  • Permitted use of company systems and customer data.
  • After editing 3. Acceptable Use, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
4. Prohibited Activities
  • No credential sharing, pirated software, or personal cloud uploads of company data.
  • After editing 4. Prohibited Activities, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
5. Remote Work Security Requirements
  • Home network hygiene, screen lock, no unattended sessions.
  • After editing 5. Remote Work Security Requirements, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
6. Device & Network Security
  • MDM, disk encryption, OS patching — match MDM reports.
  • After editing 6. Device & Network Security, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
7. Email, Communications & Data Handling
  • Classify data per COR-009; no sensitive data in personal email.
  • After editing 7. Email, Communications & Data Handling, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
8. Monitoring & Privacy
  • Describe what is logged — align with employee notice / jurisdiction.
  • After editing 8. Monitoring & Privacy, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
9. Violations & Enforcement
  • HR escalation path; reference COR-001 for sanctions.
  • After editing 9. Violations & Enforcement, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.
10. Review and Approval
  • Annual acknowledgment via HR-001 / HRIS.
  • After editing 10. Review and Approval, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.

10.1 SOC 2 Common Criteria Mapping

  • CC1.4 / CC6 — update if scope changes.
  • After editing 10.1 SOC 2 Common Criteria Mapping, search for `[` placeholders and gray sample names — auditors flag incomplete templates.

Quality check

Before You Finalize

  • Acknowledgment process documented (HRIS or DocuSign).

Evidence

Where to Store It

  • Store the completed file in your compliance evidence folder (signed PDF for policies).
  • Register the document in COR-013 with version, owner, and next review date.
  • Link the file from your evidence index or SOC-005 project plan when you use Phase 3 trackers.

Next Steps

After customizing Acceptable Use and Remote Work Policy:

  1. 1Complete the file: Finish every section or tab in COR-011.
  2. 2Register: Add version and owner to COR-013.
  3. 3Operationalize: Train owners listed in the document.
  4. 4Evidence: Keep exports auditors can sample during fieldwork.