In most cases, using your home PC for office tasks shouldn’t be a problem. However, there are certain aspects that are worth knowing to decide correctly between using a computer exclusively for work and another for your daily life.
Before starting with the topic, we must be clear that reality is what it is. There are many companies that do not provide their workers with laptops or computers, so they have no choice but to use their personal PC when they have to complete a task from home. And even if they gave you a company computer, it is possible that you would prefer to continue using your own, because it is more comfortable, faster, or you have it closer at hand.
In short, the suitability of using a specific computer for work (whether it is one provided to you free of charge by the company or one that you have purchased) or using your own depends on two factors: the protection of employee data. the company, and the protection of your personal data. There has been a great debate on this topic in the forum HackerNews, and below we collect some of the arguments that its users have put forward.
Let’s give several examples. On the one hand, if the company provides you with a work computer, they will probably be interested in you using it. In fact, it may be mandatory. This, especially if we are talking about a large company, can be motivated by two reasons.
Security risks
The first is that this computer will come with its own security tools to prevent leaks, data leaks or hacks to the company through your computer. The second is that the equipment system has some monitoring software integrated that allows the company to even know your routines, such as what time you use it and when it is inactive.
You, of course, are interested in keeping your company’s data, users, passwords and all types of access to information protected, especially, as we say, if it is a large company or with information related to clients and other confidential data. . No one would want to be the culprit of a successful cyberattack on their company because they are accessing their databases from an unprotected computer.
It is true that, for example, Apple Macs are considered very secure and data theft-proof. Still, the risk is still there.
Your privacy
To this we add another factor, unlikely, but possible: in case the company faces a legal problem, the authorities could demand that you give them the laptop to examine it. Logically, you wouldn’t want anyone to study what you have on your personal computer, so it will always be a better option to be able to give them a computer that you know you haven’t used for anything other than work-related.
In the European Union, where individual privacy protections are largely guaranteed, these situations are unlikely, but not impossible.
But, on the other hand, if your computer includes software similar to Rippling, dedicated to managing remote teams, you may be uncomfortable that the company could have data about when you use the device, since this would threaten your privacy, freedom and autonomy. .
This is one reason why you would prefer to use your personal PC, free from any kind of intrusion.
Fair use of resources
Finally, there is the issue of the expenses that we incur versus those that the company bears.
Maybe your personal computer is faster and technically better than the one the company provides. Using the company PC will make you uncomfortable if you feel that it slows you down in your tasks. However, you have to think that the company is right to give you a laptop (you should have the right to be provided with your work tools). If this PC is slow or bad, it is the company’s responsibility to fix it so that your productivity (and, therefore, that of the company) improves.
It is in the company’s own interest that its workers have the necessary tools. You shouldn’t be the one investing your own money in buying an expensive PC to be able to perform your tasks. Therefore, the investment you are willing to make also comes into play. Even if you think you don’t mind using your own PC, remember that by increasing the number of hours you use it (workday plus leisure use), you will wear it out faster.
