ClientCo cancel external email from today

[d000hg]

Yes, true. And seeing as they're paying me to work and I don't actually need external email, I don't mind. I just wondered if this is the way forward for many companies in the future.

I don't really see a problem client banning you using their email for non-work stuff, it's more the issues this might cause:

- you can't talk to customers, suppliers, etc
- might affect ability to use serious online resources?

[pmeswani]

Morning,

This has never happened to me in the many years i've been contracting.

This morning I came in to find an email - ClientCo are cancelling all contractors access to external email. From this evening, we will be able to neither receive nor send emails to external email addresses.

Is this a new thing?
Does it happen elsewhere?

Funny thing is, I can see their point. In today's world (smart-phone etc) I can happily get by with using my phone for emails and I guess if there are unscrupulous contractors emailing sensitive data out of the company they'd want to put a stop to it.

Plus, it must be better for IR35 purposes - not having access to ClientCo's facilities, proving not an employee etc.

Thoughts anyone?

It is not common practice to block external email access to contractors. However, a lot of large (and maybe small and medium) companies do have email filtering solutions in place to block spam from coming in. In my line of work, it is essential for me to speak to the clients suppliers as and when required. If any client were to block external e-mail access to me, they would have to justify it.

You may find from next week, they may reverse the decision.

[manclarky]

Just to add to the confusion, I've merged your threads.

Thanks for merging threads - I'm new to this...!

So now when data is being stolen, it has to be copied to a usb stick?

No, I'm at a bank which means coping to a stick has been stopped, but copying from a stick is ok????

[Scrag Meister]

Just to add to the confusion, I've merged your threads.

So now when data is being stolen, it has to be copied to a usb stick?

My ClientCo has stopped USB stick use too.

[Clippy]

What was the official reason given for canceling your external email access? Security?

In which case, as it is a bank, that is understandable.

At one of my previous gigs, permie new starters were automatically given access to external email/internet access whereas contractors/temps had to be authorised by their 'line manager'.

[Hex]

It's very common for banks to prevent you from accessing your own web based e-mail service (e.g. hotmail, gmail). It's an attempt at a security measure. They want you to put any email through their system so it is logged. I've worked at 2 banks and they both did this. They also stopped access to bulletin boards such as this one!

They usually don't mind you putting personal email through their system.

[manclarky]

It's prevent you from accessing your own web based e-mail service (e.g. hotmail, gmail).

Yes, we can't access web-based emails, except on dedicated PC's outside the network

They usually don't mind you putting personal email through their system.

They do here...!

[beercohol]

Don't use clientco's dirty little email system! It's against your company policy to use a mailbox that is not under your total control. How can you be sure of security?

By all means, let them set a mailbox up for you, set up autoforwarding, and then only ever reply from your contractorguru@itconsulting.com address!

[Scrag Meister]

What was the official reason given for canceling your external email access? Security?

In which case, as it is a bank, that is understandable.

At one of my previous gigs, permie new starters were automatically given access to external email/internet access whereas contractors/temps had to be authorised by their 'line manager'.

Confidential bank info emailed home

[manclarky]

set up autoforwarding, and then only ever reply from your contractorguru@itconsulting.com address!

I can see the 'logic' there - no different to the ClientCo's email policy. However, seeing as from tonight, I can't 'autoforward' to an external email address (my company) then the point is moot - they're paying the piper, therefore, calling the proverbial tune.