The Ethics Privacy Policy - Essay Example

Introduction

            Decisions and guidelines are essential instruments that drive an organization's objectives forward. An organization that has a security system is one that has taken actions to protect against data loss by having a structured way of protecting it. "Data protection means ensuring data confidentiality, data integrity, and data availability is upheld" (Trust, 2015). Failure to which could lead to loss of company goodwill, legal implications, and closure of the business. Loss of data confidentiality could result from access to your customer's credit cards thus leading to loss of customer's loyalty and trust as well. Thus, adversely affecting the business

                                                           Overview of the policy
            Paper B1 talked about the ethical issue of whether an IT officer should access and read his colleagues and company's private information just because he is the one managing the network. Such an issue is a major concern to the business and its other employees as it needs to know that it has entrusted its information and that of its other employees to morally responsible IT personnel. The company, therefore, decides to draw up an ethical policy to regulate the operations of the IT officer and to ensure the security of the clients, employees, and company information. The company will thus hold liable the person who breaks the privacy rules of any of its parties.

                                                                       Purpose
            The overall goal of setting up the privacy policy is for the company to create an environment of trust and security. Such an environment creates an atmosphere of reassurance to the parties involved because they know that any person who breaks such a rule is held responsible. The policy will thus serve as a guide to IT officers' conduct within the business premises. "Effective ethics is a team effort involving the participation and support of every Company employee" (Institute, 2014). All employees have an obligation to know the ethics Privacy guidelines set by the company.

                                    Scope (roles and responsibilities of stakeholders)
            A security scope defines who has a right to access what information within an organization. The ethical privacy policy applies to all the parties involved in the operations and actualization of the business goals. The IT officers are the primary party affected by this policy, and they should adhere to this policy. The employees, management, and other consultants are secondary parties. They should also adhere to this policy by ensuring they do not interfere in any way with the company's network settings, either by hacking the business security system or by using the network to access information on their colleague's or the company's computers.

                                               Policy/Procedures to follow
The Management’s Commitment to Privacy Ethics

1. The management must commit to ensuring that all employees adhere to the Privacy Policy.

IT Officers' Commitment to Privacy Ethics

1. The IT officers will safeguard the company's information.
2. If, by mistake, the IT officer bumped into a colleague's or the company's private information, then confidentiality will be observed.
3. The IT Officer will maintain the integrity of the data he is allowed access to by the business be it for the other employees or their clients. He will not "manipulate any data entrusted to him" (Northcutt, S., & Northcutt, S., 2004).
4. He will only act in the company's interest.
5. The IT Officer should consider the following Ethical questions:

• Is my behavior legal?
• Does my behavior breach any company policy?
• Does my behavior reflect our company's values and culture?
• Could the action adversely affect any business stakeholder?
• Would the company be concerned if such information got to third parties?

Maintaining Ethical Practices

1. The IT officers are required to recertify their compliance with Ethics Privacy Policy on an annual basis.
2. The policy is availed to all the parties within the organization thus promoting accountability.
   
   

Unethical Behavior

1. The company will not stand breach to the Privacy of any information.
2. Disclosure of any information whether to third parties or any other person will not be tolerated.
3. Manipulation of data is not

                                                           Sanctions/Enforcement
            An IT officer who will be found to have breached the privacy policy will be liable. Since his position is sensitive and involves managing the network, he could risk being dismissed and also have his recommendation citing his dismissal. Citing the reason will be instrumental to ensure that IT officers are responsible and adhere to the ethical privacy policy.

                                                                       Conclusion
            The Ethics Privacy Policy will ensure that the organization's information is protected and thus does not leak to its competitors or the public. This is important in ensuring the company stays on par with its competitors. It is also important to ensure their employees are protected from harm and manipulation by other parties.