Acceptable Use of Information Technology - Computer Systems and Software Licensing
1. Authorized Computer Systems and Accessories
1.1 - Users may not connect personally-owned computing devices to the wired Pierce College District (hereinafter referred to as "District") network, including, but not limited to, classrooms, labs, or meeting spaces except under limited circumstances with prior District IT department approval.
1.2 - Wireless connections may be made to the District’s public wireless network at any time.
1.3 - Employees may be authorized to take District-owned computers and mobile devices home for use in fulfilling official duties. District IT department staff will review and, if necessary, perform any additional installation and configuration of such computers and devices, to ensure District compliance before remote use is authorized.
1.5 - The use of network monitoring tools (hardware or software) by individuals other than those authorized in the District IT department is not permitted. This includes but is not limited to traffic analysis and device monitoring/polling tools, as well as packet capture tools.
1.6 - Installation or use of hardware or software to establish and/or sustain network connections that bypass the District’s firewall are not permitted.
1.7 - All network devices must appropriately be hardened based on industry best practices – e.g., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Washington State compliance standards, and vendor configuration standards before being connected and used.
2. Computer System Modifications
2.1 Modification of District computer hardware and software require coordination with the District IT department.
2.2 Unauthorized system modifications are prohibited. Such restrictions are designed to ensure system integrity. These include but are not limited to the following:
2.2.1 Unauthorized alteration of the officially supported and installed operating systems
2.2.2 Unauthorized installation/removal of hardware and/or software
2.2.3 Unauthorized access into network and/or system resources
2.2.4 Deliberate introduction of invasive computer software such as viruses, malware, and other destructive applications.
2.3 Any installation of shareware or freeware must be accompanied by a business justification form and approved through the District IT department processes before being installed and will be a coordinated effort between the District IT department and the requestor.
2.4 Unauthorized modifications or negligence of equipment requiring a District IT department fix will be paid for by the appropriate department’s budget.
3. Software Licensing
The District expects all users of District technology to comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing copyrighted material, including computer software applications. The District complies with Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) security policies; Title 17 U.S.C. (the Copyright Act); and all related laws, amendments, and policies as they apply to software licensing and copyright.
3.1 The District is the sole licensee of all software purchased using state funds or grants where the District is the fiscal agent. The purchasing authority for technology, including software, has been delegated to the Vice President for Technology and Infrastructure or their designee, who is authorized to negotiate and sign software licensing agreements on behalf of the District.
3.2 It is the responsibility of the user to know, understand, and abide by all licensing agreements of software utilized.
3.3 All software licenses and the original media purchased by the District will be retained by the District IT department or the department purchasing the software as approved by the District IT department according to software licensing standards. It is the responsibility of the District IT department to maintain a District Software Catalog.
3.4 Copying of software is strictly prohibited.
3.5 Installations of software for which legitimate verification of ownership or license cannot be documented, software that is unlawfully obtained or is not permitted by the software license is strictly prohibited.
4. Non-networked Technology
4.1 Some District-owned computers are not attached to the network by either wired or wireless means. These devices may either be set up with a generic login account or may require the use of an individual login account, depending on a security analysis of the purpose of the computer.
5. Telephony and Electronic Messaging Systems
5.1 Telephony systems (e.g. desktop phones and/or headsets, mobile phones) are provided to employees for conducting state business. Employees are not permitted to make personal long-distance calls that would result in charges to the District.
5.2 District mobile phones may be provided to individual employees with a demonstrated business need; they should be used only to conduct District business and within the use outlined in the Data Classification, Handling, Security, and Ownership procedure.
5.3 The provision of a mobile phone to an employee is at the discretion of the employee’s area Vice President and is dependent on appropriate routing of the mobile device authorization and agreement form.
5.4 Use of electronic messaging systems (e.g. Gmail, Google Chat, social media direct messages, Discord, Slack, etc.) that are not provided or approved by the District is prohibited to ensure data integrity, security, and access.