Scope
Define covered systems, networks, devices, and whether personal devices (BYOD) are included, plus any exceptions for contractors or third parties.
A written agreement reduces legal and security risk by documenting acceptable use, data handling expectations, and monitoring notice. It supports consistent enforcement, aids incident response, and creates an auditable record when signed electronically under ESIGN/UETA standards.
Human resources, IT/security teams, and legal counsel commonly prepare the policy and require each employee to acknowledge it during onboarding or role changes.
The agreement is meant for all staff with network access and should be reissued when responsibilities or technology change.
Define covered systems, networks, devices, and whether personal devices (BYOD) are included, plus any exceptions for contractors or third parties.
Describe permitted activities, business-related access, and limits on personal use, including examples of acceptable versus prohibited behavior.
State monitoring practices, data collection purposes, and any limitations; disclose that usage records may be retained and reviewed.
Specify password rules, MFA, software update obligations, approved VPNs, and reporting procedures for suspected compromises.
List explicit prohibitions such as unauthorized access, illegal downloads, circumvention of controls, and use of unapproved cloud services.
Explain consequences for violations, from access restrictions to termination and potential legal action, and how incidents will be investigated.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email link or SMS code; use stronger methods for sensitive roles |
| Routing order | Sequential for approvals, parallel for bulk acknowledgements |
| Reminders | Automated reminders at defined intervals |
| Retention | Store signed copies and audit trail for compliance period |
Choose a signing platform that supports audit trails, secure storage, and integrations with HR or document systems.
Require signed agreement on or before the employee start date.
Reissue or confirm acknowledgement annually or after major policy changes.
Notify employees within a defined window when material policy updates occur.
Begin investigation within 24–72 hours of reported violations.
Provide signed copy on request within standard HR SLA.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | No cap | No cap | No cap |
Optica implemented digital acknowledgements to streamline onboarding
Martin Properties moved employee policies online to speed execution