Information Technology Policies and Standards

1. Internet access from the City's networks may be "filtered" using a third-party product or service.
2. Access shall be limited or blocked based upon categories or protocols defined by the vendor of the product or service. The category and protocol names shall be published in a standard. Each category or protocol blocked or limited in the standard shall reference the applicable City policy.
3. Employees requiring access to blocked or limited sites in order to conduct official City business only may request an exemption from a site restriction. At its option, the City may request that the vendor re-categorize the site. A request procedure shall be published.
4. Employees may not request exemption from restriction of sites that are not directly related to conducting official City business.
5. Employees may not request exemption from limitation or blocking by category or protocol.
6. Authorized administrators may temporarily add known sites to a local, custom "blocked" category or protocol on an emergency basis in order to protect the City's information technology assets (i.e., during a virus outbreak).