AUP is short for acceptable use policy and is also known as TOS (Terms of Service).
An acceptable use policy is a contract specifying what a subscriber can and cannot do while using the services of an ISP or any other Internet and online service. The AUP is written by the service provider and it basically outlines the expectations of a person who interacts with the service or technology.
A typical AUP contains things like liability disclaimers, lists of actions or behavior that will result in the termination of a customer’s account, definition of terms such as “unlimited use,” billing policies, SPAM clauses, etc.
In addition to being used by online service providers, some business owners may specify requirements for employees who use online services while working. Today, with the popularity of mobile learning, schools may also require parents and students to sign an AUP before using school computers and other devices connected to the school network or Internet.
Other Uses: AUP is also short for Agile Unified Process.
