Security Guidance
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Web Browsing

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides access to the Intranet and Internet for business use. The access helps you to do your job effectively and efficiently.

MoJ security policies governs your use of these facilities.

Reasonable personal use is allowed, if:

  • Your line manager agrees.
  • It does not interfere with the performance of your duties.

You and your manager are responsible for ensuring that you use these systems responsibly.

If you connect to a website that contains unsuitable, illegal or offensive material:

The Department monitors the use of electronic communications and web-browsing activity. If your email use or web browsing seems unacceptable, your manager can request detailed activity reports.

What websites you can access

The MoJ’s approach to website access is continually reviewed and updated. By default, we try to allow access to as much as possible of the internet for all users. Inevitably, there are some restrictions, for the following reasons:

Cyber Security

  • The site is an unacceptable security risk for MoJ systems or users. For example, sites known to host malware are blocked.

Technical

  • The site causes technical issues which interfere with business activities. For example, a video site uses too much network capacity.

Business Policy

  • Only a specific individual or group of users can access the site. For example, social media sites are blocked for systems or users in frontline roles.

The list of websites included in each of the categories is as small as possible. But if you cannot access a site that you think should be OK, you can request a review. Similarly, if you can access a site that you think should be blocked, request a review.

The access rules that apply are described in detail here.

What to do if you are blocked from a website that you think should be OK

Log an incident with your IT Service Desk.

Provide the following details:

  • The address of the website.
  • The time you visited the site.
  • The details of any block message that you received.

The IT Service Desk will investigate the reason why you cannot access the website.

If there was a system error or fault, remedial action will restore access.

If the block is due to an access rule, the Security team reviews whether to change the rule.

What to do if you are able to access a website that you think should be blocked

Log an incident with your IT Service Desk.

Provide the following details:

  • The address of the website.
  • The time you visited the site.
  • The reason why you think the site should be blocked.

Other help

  • HMPPS Prison - All requests should be directed to the IT Service Desk via a local or area IT Manager.
  • HMPPS Probation - Log an incident with your IT Service Desk.
  • All other teams, contact the Security team.

General enquiries, including theft and loss

Technology Service Desk - including DOM1/Mojo, and Digital & Technology Digital Service Desk. Use one of the following two methods for contacting service desk:

Note: The previous itservicedesk@justice.gov.uk and servicedesk@digital.justice.gov.uk email addresses, and the Digital & Technology Digital Service Desk Slack channel (#digitalservicedesk), are no longer being monitored.

HMPPS Information & security:

Feedback

If you have any questions or comments about this guidance, such as suggestions for improvements, please contact: itpolicycontent@digital.justice.gov.uk.