Policy: ASAP20 - R4
Title: ASA Acceptable Use Policy
Date: 01/01/94:Revised 1/24/2019
Distribution: All ASA Clients

The Alabama Supercomputer Authority, a state non-profit corporation (1975 Alabama Code §§ 41-10-390 to 41-10-406), administers the Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN), a statewide education network, and operates the George C. Wallace Supercomputer Center. The purpose of this policy is to provide a definition for acceptable use by authorized clients of ASA services and to indicate recommended action if the policy is violated. In those cases when information is transmitted across regional networks or Internet, ASA clients are advised that acceptable use policies of those networks apply and may limit access.

    • OVERVIEW
    • ASA ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
  • ASA services are for the use of individuals legitimately affiliated with ASA clients, to facilitate the exchange of information consistent with the academic, educational, and research purposes of its member organizations.
  • It is not acceptable to use ASA services for illegal purposes.
  • It is not acceptable to use ASA services to transmit threatening, obscene, or harassing materials.
  • Access to the INTERNET is provided through agreements with INTERNET Service Providers. These agreements allow ASA to grant access to the INTERNET to government, education, and industrial clients. Charges may be assessed by ASA to facilitate network and Internet connectivity.
  • The reselling of the ASA services is prohibited unless approved in writing by ASA.
  • It is not acceptable for ASA clients to interfere with or disrupt network users, services or equipment (intentionally and unintentionally) through the use of ASA services. Disruptions include, but are not limited to, unsolicited advertising, propagation of computer worms or viruses, and using AREN to make unauthorized entries to any other computers accessible via the network. ASA clients are responsible for maintaining an acceptable security status on all assets connected to AREN.
  • ASA clients must respect the legal protection applied to programs, data, photographs, music, text documents and other material as provided by copyright, trademark, patent, licensure and other proprietary rights mechanisms.
  • Authorized ASA clients are required to protect their attached computers, servers, and networks from computer viruses or worms that cause a systemic disruption to ASA and its INTERNET services.
  • Authorized ASA clients are required to provide current and accurate client contact information to enable ASA representatives to have ready access for resolution of problems.
  • Information and resources accessible through ASA services are private to the individuals and organizations which own or hold rights to those resources and information unless specifically stated otherwise by the owners or holders of rights. It is therefore not acceptable for an individual to use ASA services to access information or resources unless permission is granted by the owners or holders of rights to those resources or information.
  • ASA services and resources are provided for use by ASA clients based in Alabama.  None of the anticipated usage is expected to fall under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, a European Union computer security regulation).  As such, ASA services and resources are not compliant with the GDPR regulations.  No data that falls under GDPR regulations should be stored or processed on ASA-provided systems.  If you feel that your usage should fall under GDPR, please contact the ASA Business Office to discuss your needs.

The intent of this policy is to identify certain types of uses that are not appropriate, but this policy does not necessarily enumerate all possible inappropriate uses. Using the guidelines given above, ASA may at any time make a determination that a particular use is not appropriate.

C. VIOLATION OF POLICY

All organizations authorized to access ASA services are responsible for informing their users of this acceptable use policy. All users of ASA services are required to follow the acceptable use guidelines, both in letter and spirit.

ASA reserves the right to monitor and review all traffic and data on ASA provided services for potential violations of this policy. Violations of policy that are not promptly remedied by individuals or ASA clients may result in termination of access to ASA services. ASA will only release sensitive, confidential or personally identifiable information to third parties when required by law, or when in ASA's judgment, release is required to prevent serious injury or harm that could result from violation of this policy.

Final authority for the determination of violation of the ASA Acceptable Use Policy and subsequent penalty rests with the ASA Board of Directors.

It is the responsibility of ASA clients to contact ASA, in writing, regarding questions of interpretation. Until such issues are resolved, questionable use should be considered "not acceptable".