| Building an acceptable use policy for blogging can be | | | | intellectual property is concerned could have |
| one of the tougher jobs for a company's human | | | | devastating financial consequences. |
| resources and internal security divisions to develop. | | | | This is only one example, there are many others. If a |
| Blogging is a rapidly growing mode of communication | | | | person severely disagrees with the content of a blog |
| that provides readers with material on everything from | | | | and starts what is known as a 'flame' war with the |
| the day-to-day comments of authors, movie stars, | | | | blogger through the comments section, the corporation |
| characters on soap operas to hard-hitting news | | | | may be held liable for the harassment if the employee |
| articles and columns. The growth of blogging has given | | | | is posting the responses through the corporation's |
| rise to a multitude of programs and tools designed to | | | | computers. What happens on company computers, |
| help everyone from the personal blogger to corporate | | | | whether permissible or not, is the responsibility of the |
| users. | | | | company. They are considered legally culpable. |
| But how does blogging affect an organization's | | | | There are legal and financial reasons to be very clear |
| Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)? In order to address | | | | in the AUP with regards to blogging. Some |
| blogging accurately in an AUP, you must first define | | | | corporations, although only a small percentage, employ |
| what constitutes a blog. The word "blog" is actually a | | | | software that screens where and how an employee |
| shortened version of "web log" and is similar to a | | | | can browse the web. If there are filters preventing an |
| message board in that one can post thoughts and | | | | employee from viewing a pornographic website, then |
| opinions to be read by others. A blog can be viewed | | | | there can be filters that prevent the viewing of political |
| by the public or accessible only via password | | | | or day trading blogs. Blogs that focus on financial and |
| depending on how the owners have set it up. Blogs | | | | business issues are growing more popular every day. |
| can provide in-depth information about specific topics | | | | These blogs may be a source of entertainment and |
| or they can be a place for writers to vent their | | | | information, but it is up to the corporation to decide the |
| feelings, but their ultimate goal is to bring readers | | | | level of involvement that an employee may have. |
| together and then encourage interaction among them. | | | | It's worth mentioning that anonymous guests can read |
| Blogging can be a harmless and interesting way to | | | | most blogs, although they may not be able to post |
| communicate with like-minded others but, like any | | | | comments or responses. Blogs can be enormous |
| unmanaged activity, the opportunity for abuse is | | | | resources for students, educators and other individuals |
| always there. If an organization's AUP addresses their | | | | for discussion, debate and the sharing of experiences. |
| Instant Messaging, Peer-to-Peer, email and other | | | | However, they need to be controlled and monitored. |
| Web-based communications, they need to consider | | | | Blogs are an excellent marketing tool, hooking visitors |
| blogging as an important technology to include. | | | | into the site by providing them with financial advice or |
| Organizations should decide of they want their | | | | credit building tips, for example. The marketing a blog |
| employees to be able to read blogs or post to them | | | | can provide can translate into tens of thousands of |
| as part of an overall communications policy. | | | | hits a day for a site. It's also important for some |
| What are the ramifications of no AUP where blogs | | | | companies to get their message out there; blogs can |
| are concerned? The rapid growth rate of blogs in the | | | | put a human face on a company that seems only to |
| country means that entire services like and are hosting | | | | be a corporate entity. That human face can improve |
| communities of bloggers. A criminal utilized personal | | | | customer relations, invite consumer contact and |
| data posted in some blogs to stalk and attack young | | | | increase company visibility. However, employees |
| high-school girls. | | | | should be educated about the type of information they |
| Employees that post their identities and information to | | | | are allowed to post if they are allowed to respond. |
| a response on a blog can influence decisions. For | | | | Companies that maintain their own blogs should be |
| example, if an employee of a major computer | | | | particularly attuned to the commentary they generate. |
| corporation responded to a technical blog with advice | | | | Blogging is a new frontier for the corporate world, but |
| about avoiding a new product line because of a lot of | | | | as with many prior innovations, they are quickly taking |
| known 'bugs' the company is leaving itself open to legal | | | | advantage of it. Security, awareness and education will |
| exposure. Corporations require employees to sign | | | | help corporations, employees and even their families |
| non-disclosure agreements for a reason, the threat of | | | | from suffering negative experiences while blogging, |
| exposure where company confidential information and | | | | reading blogs or responding to a blog on the Internet. |