1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the reliability and functionality of the Postal Service network. The Postal Service is committed to providing a high-quality, reliable, secure, and cost-effective data communication environment to support its business needs.

Network Management provides the technological underpinnings for data communication among employees, customers, partners, and suppliers in accordance with security and privacy policies and standards.

2. SCOPE

This policy applies to all Postal Service personnel and contracted vendors and to all information resources, technologies, services, and communications that are part of the Postal Service network.

Network Services include but are not limited to the following:

Wide Area Network (WAN): Consists of a collection of computer based resources arrayed to provide secure computer-to-computer or facility-to-facility data communications across the Postal Service Enterprise in all types of Postal Service facilities

Local Area Network (LAN): Provides data communication connectivity within Postal Service facilities via wire-line and wireless technologies—providing the means for multiple computers within a building or building complex to communicate with each other and access wide area communications service

3. POLICY

The Postal Service network must be installed, managed, tracked, and monitored by Telecommunication Services. Telecommunications network administrators and engineers have ownership of all network components and will oversee any and all connections to the network. Before connecting to the Postal Information Technology Network (PITN), all devices must be registered with and approved by Telecommunication Services and must follow the Postal Service standards for devices on the PITN.

Management of the Postal Service network includes all network-based protocols (IP addresses, routing tables, BGP, IGP, OSPF, DNS, DHCP, etc.). All network hosts or addresses must be registered with Telecommunication Services.

Telecommunication Services will implement and follow network security policy as defined by Corporate Information Security. Any use of network technology solution that compromise the security, reliability, or integrity of the Postal Service network is prohibited. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to: network sniffing, scanning network ports, network denial-of-service, and transmitting network routing information or unauthorized packets across the network. All prohibited activities will be terminated and associated equipment removed from the network.

Business partner connectivity must be requested by a Postal Service sponsor, such as a portfolio manager, program manager, or project manager, and must be funded by the requestor’s organization.

All requests must be approved by the Postal Service Network Connectivity Board (NCRB). All Postal Service personnel and contracted vendors must adhere to the Network Management Standards.

4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

For access to the following documents, contact the US Postal Service. See Publication 5, Let's Do Business for further information about local US Postal Service contacts.

Network Connectivity Review Board Service
Network Management Standards

5. REVISION HISTORY

Version #1.0
Section(s) Revised:        N/A
Revision Description:      Baseline
Revision Date:

Version #1.1
Section(s) Revised:        All
Revision Description:      Updated the look and feel to be consistent with the other policies, processes, and standards.
Revision Date:                08/25/2010

Version #1.2
Section(s) Revised:        All
Revision Description:     This document was made Section 508 compliant and was converted to HTML.
Revision Date:               FY12/Q3