CPCS blocks website for a number of reasons: content promoting a hostile work environment (objectionable), online gambling and gaming, Cloud storage, etc. Cloud storage is blocked per a requirement of the General Counsel to ensure client data isn’t hosted outside CPCS-owned and -controlled systems.
However, it is recognized that sometimes we need access to blocked content or websites. For example, we may need access to a blocked pornographic site in defending a client or we are working with a partner who hosts their files in the Cloud (Onedrive, Google Docs, Dropbox, box, Wikidot, etc.).
IT will, on specific request and for a limited duration, provide access to an individual(s) to blocked content or sites. Typically, we will provide access for one-week.
To request a site be unblocked, send an email to the helpdesk with the site address, person needing access, rationale, and a duration requiring access. These requests are typically fulfilled in 1 business day.
It is important to determine whether the content is blocked and request access in a timely fashion, so IT can fulfill your request without impacting your timeline. So if, for example, you are going to be viewing a document with a partner on a Saturday morning, check during the week to see if you can access the site. If you can’t, since you’ve checked in advance, you will be able to request access in advance and not affect your Saturday meeting.
Remember, while IT tries its hardest to be responsive, we don’t have staff to support requests 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, please research your need in advance to ensure timely unblocking.
If you think a website was blocked unnecessarily, feel free to contact me directly, and we can see if its blocking is unwarranted. If it is, we’ll open permanent access.
Some of the site categories CPCS block are:
- Porn
- Malware
- Torrent
- Cloud storage (wikis, Onedrive, Dropbox, box, Google Docs)
- Music streaming (Pandora, Spotify, etc. due to bandwidth constraints)
- Gambling
- Gaming (sorry WoW fans)