What would you do to enforce the policy?

A security policy is developed by senior management to assign certain responsibilities and mandate certain requirements, which are usually aligned with the agency’s mission.
A new policy was just created to prohibit peer-to-peer software downloads, as most are illegal and may bring malicious content to the workplace. You, the security officer, noticed that employees resisted the policy and chose to continue downloading peer-to-peer software. In an initial post, explain how you would handle this situation. What would you do to enforce the policy?

ANSWER
If I were the security officer and I noticed that employees were resisting the new policy prohibiting peer-to-peer software downloads, I would take the following steps to enforce the policy:

1. **Educate employees about the risks of peer-to-peer software downloads.** I would explain to employees that most peer-to-peer software downloads are illegal and that they may contain malicious content, such as viruses, malware, and spyware. I would also explain that downloading peer-to-peer software on the organization’s network could violate the organization’s Acceptable Use Policy and could result in disciplinary action.
2. **Implement technical controls to block peer-to-peer software downloads.** I would work with the IT department to implement technical controls, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to block peer-to-peer software downloads on the organization’s network.
3. **Monitor employee activity on the network.** I would use network monitoring tools to identify any employees who are downloading peer-to-peer software on the network.
4. **Confront employees who are violating the policy.** If I identify any employees who are violating the policy, I would confront them directly and explain the consequences of their actions.
5. **Take disciplinary action against employees who violate the policy.** If an employee refuses to stop downloading peer-to-peer software on the network, I would recommend that the employee be disciplined, up to and including termination of employment.

In addition to these steps, I would also work with senior management to develop a communication plan to explain the new policy to employees and to emphasize the importance of compliance. I would also work with the IT department to develop a training program on network security best practices, including how to avoid peer-to-peer software downloads.

By taking these steps, I would hope to be able to enforce the new policy and protect the organization’s network from the risks associated with peer-to-peer software downloads.