Example policy elements and their role in bandwidth management and optimisation

1. Example policy elements and their role in bandwidth management and optimisation

2. Warning • These are not all necessarily recommended elements and approaches • Presented just as ideas and suggestions • Adoption should only be considered on a case by case basis

3. UNAM • “Electronic communications facilities (such as e-mail) are for company related activities only.” • Could be used as the basis to block Web sites or protocols that are not deemed within the core “business” of the organisation • Monitoring of traffic might show • certain entertainment Web sites being high users if bandwidth, these could then be blocked using a proxy cache • MP3 traffic could be blocked using your firewall and only opened to users who could demonstrate a “business” need for such information • The emphasis could then be on the blocked user to demonstrate the “business” need of the activity in question

4. University of Bristol • “The following will also be treated as contravening these regulations: (a) any action that would impair the function or security of the University's computer network;” • Could be used as the basis to take appropriate action against anyone who attempts to work around any BMO technologies you put in place • E.g. someone trying to disguise traffic through your firewall • Someone not using your proxy cache server (although if well implemented then that should not be possible)

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal • “scanning all incoming message and file downloads for malicious codes such as viruses or Trojan Horses” • This would allow you to configure your mail server to reject infected email messages without the need to inform users • A security issue • No need to accept complaints that users are having their emails rejected

6. UCT • “the University reserves the right to restrict or otherwise control the use of any of the internet protocols (This right to restrict may include the right to set a limit on individual usage by volume for undergraduate students, postgraduate students and staff)” • Allows for the implementation of user quota system • Restrict users (individuals or groups) to set volumes and that these volumes could differ between users or groups

7. University of Natal • “Violations of this policy will be handled in accordance with procedures established in the Conditions of Service or the Rules for Student Discipline.” • Regular abusers of any rules or regulations can be reported by the ICT department to the appropriate authorities to take further action • Or they can be contacted directly with the warning that the appropriate disciplinary procedures will be started if their behaviour does not change

8. But things need to be two way • “UCT reserves the right to interrogate electronic records held by UCT, but this right will not be exercised without the written permission of the Vice-Chancellor” • You can monitor users Web traffic and act on any patterns that you deem appropriate • But, this will not be done just at the discretion of the system administrator