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The Internet is an essential tool for many businesses. Email and the web offer a variety of ways to improve communications with staff, customers and suppliers. However, allowing your employees unrestricted access to the Internet carries risks. If they accidentally or deliberately access illegal web content, e.g. anything related to paedophilia, your business could be open to prosecution. There is a security risk - your employees could download and install software infected by a virus. In addition, any abuse of your email facilities could cause internal and external problems. For example, sending bulk email could result in system overload and network congestion. Why you need Internet and email policies   There are two major reasons to introduce policies for Internet and email use within your business: to ensure that communications resources are not wasted and productivity doesn't suffer to help protect the business from potentially damaging material being sent or received via the Internet or email and any possible resulting legal action  In general, providing Internet access and email facilities to your staff has tremendous benefits. It can increase efficiency, aid communication and help employees increase their basic IT skills. Allowing staff to access the Internet and email facilities outside working hours can be seen as a perk of the job. However, controlling and policing such access may be difficult.