Security Guidelines

There are several types of security about which all staff members must be concerned. It is the responsibility of each person in the department to assist in the enforcement of county security procedures. Some of the most significant types of security are listed below for use by the staff:

1) Information: There will be times when the staff member will have access to confidential or sensitive information while performing his/her duties. Each staff member must always treat such information with care and only discuss it with others on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.

2) System Access: Staff members will be provided with passwords, which will allow them access to various functions within the computer system. These passwords should be treated with the same care given to other confidential information. If allowed to pass to the wrong hands, those passwords could be used to damage or destroy the sizeable investment the county has made in our software inventory.

3) Software: Proper procedures must be followed to assure that our investment in computer software is secure. This applies to programs developed ‘in-house’ as well as purchased third party software and must adhere to all agreements that are in place between the county and our software vendors.

4) Physical Security: Each staff member is responsible for securing their personal belongings and for protecting the county-owned equipment that is assigned to them for the completion of their duties. An awareness must be developed by each staff member to the potential of theft from his or her office and they must report any suspicious situations to the management of the county.