Reply to: Benefits of my own development laptop?

[Bunk]

70 disallow?

Yep

[heyya99]

Edit: And yes, Faqqer's 30/70 split is probably more accurate than 50/50.

70 disallow?

[Bunk]

It depends a lot what type of thing you're working on too. I should point out that although banks won't let you connect your own equipment to their network, I've worked on a project which was separate to the bank's main systems and used my own laptop for that. Indeed, it would have been impossible to work on it using the machines connected to the network because they were so locked down. But generally speaking, most places don't expect you to use your own machine, and most would probably rather you didn't. I keep reading that BYOD is catching on but I haven't seen much of that yet.

Edit: And yes, Faqqer's 30/70 split is probably more accurate than 50/50.

Edit2: And no jokes about me thinking it was BYOB please

[jmo21]

Everywhere I've worked would not allow you to connect your own machine to the network

[SueEllen]

I found even quite small companies have strict IT policies about this sort of thing. Previous permieco. would let me remote desktop over VPN, but not have copies of code etc. on my own machine, and TBH I didn't really want to be in that position. It could be awkward when you leave if they want to inspect your machine to make sure you're not keeping anything you shouldn't be.

All that should be covered in your contract anyway i.e. you may by "accident" have the code but if you use it then they can sue you.

[heyya99]

surely it would be a good idea to have your own dev environment for personal development anyway?

if you can use it on site just a bonus

I have a private laptop but it's not powerful enough to run a lot of applications; just enough to do tutorials etc.

[original PM]

surely it would be a good idea to have your own dev environment for personal development anyway?

if you can use it on site just a bonus

[VectraMan]

I found even quite small companies have strict IT policies about this sort of thing. Previous permieco. would let me remote desktop over VPN, but not have copies of code etc. on my own machine, and TBH I didn't really want to be in that position. It could be awkward when you leave if they want to inspect your machine to make sure you're not keeping anything you shouldn't be.

[TheFaQQer]

In my experience, it's about 50/50. Banks certainly won't allow it.

I'd say it was about 30/70.

Public sector probably wouldn't do it - central government won't. Most consultancies that I've worked with wouldn't allow it.

I only use my own with current client because it was quicker and easier to get me a secureID token and log on than it was to try and find me a laptop. My laptop is significantly more powerful than anything that they have on offer anyway.

If the client lets me use my own kit, then I build a virtual machine to work in, and then when I'm finished on the project I can just archive that away and move onto something else.

[eek]

Even a top of the range macbook is less than £2000 when you claim the VAT back on capital expenditure.

[blacjac]

The one client I have had that allowed it, insisted that the laptop be joined to their domain, meaning I no longer had admin rights to it (unless I logged in locally, but then I could't access their network).

[heyya99]

Seems like a risk then. I cannot see myself in banking for a long time though.

[Bunk]

All my clients so far have allowed it. Is it common to have them prohibit it? Is there a type of industry that forbids it? I usually work in eCommerce.

In my experience, it's about 50/50. Banks certainly won't allow it.

[Scrag Meister]

I haven't come across a bank that would allow this.

Everything is shut right down.

No installing your own software, actually it's a dismissable offence.

[heyya99]

You need to find clients who are happy to let you use your own kit - even though your current one does, that's no guarantee that any client will in the future.

This is particularly true if you are working on-site and expecting to plug directly into their network - it's different if you are working remotely.

One of the PMs with this client asked me about using my own kit because I have access to payroll data. The fact that I have access to payroll data regardless of kit, seemed to bypass him. That and my laptop is encrypted to a higher standard than their normal kit.

All my clients so far have allowed it. Is it common to have them prohibit it? Is there a type of industry that forbids it? I usually work in eCommerce.