Adding Work VPN to Personal Computer

skipy89 on 18/01/2022 - 08:00

Hi

I've joined a new Company( 3 Months ago) that works solely from home. The company has provided a work laptop( Windows 7, Core i5, HP Elitebook , that has a VPN to enter their system).

i purchased a laptop docking station and currently run 3 external monitors( E223) from the docking station. Every now and then I seem to having problems connecting to work VPN or movement between the screens can be slow at times and other minor issues from time to time.

I'm thinking about whether to ask their IT team to allow me to connect my personal computer(Dell XPS 8940 Tower) to the work from the company VPN. I'm hoping that it improve productivity and efficiency for myself. This would also allow more space on desk as well. This is a logistics based role so I would classify task as general office roles. Using Excel, teams, Office programs and the companies numerous internal programs.

Just wanted to see if anyone has done the same in my position? and if so the pros and cons of doing so.

Thanks in advanced.

Computing VPN

Comments

  • life is suffering on 18/01/2022 - 08:12
    +5

    Don't think they will allow due to security reasons. Personal laptops cannot be monitored remotely or have required software pack. You can request by however

  • MrHyde on 18/01/2022 - 08:16
    +4

    Depends on the company security policies and how their external access is set up. If there is no copying allowed between computer systems and local machine and all access to resources is through a jumphost, then yes, they might allow it.

    If you need files locally on your machine in order to do your work; then unlikely they will allow it as once the files are on your personal laptop, they have no control over them.

    All you can do is ask the IT team at the company and accept their response.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 18/01/2022 - 08:40

    If it’s Toll they’re likely to be a bit tighter with IT security these days, at least I would hope.

  • Ryanek on 18/01/2022 - 09:08
    +5

    I would highly suggest you keep your personal and work devices separate.

    • cashless on 18/01/2022 - 09:19

      ^ This is the correct answer.

  • AndyC1 on 18/01/2022 - 09:26

    Even if they do so allow it then once they put the VPN software on it they will join the PC to the company domain in order to secure it, which means you will be locked out from doing any updates or installing programs, which is not what you want.

  • sly on 18/01/2022 - 09:27

    I think if you're in a highly regulated industry (e.g. bank), you would not be able to use your personal laptop with company VPN. You can check if the company can provide a "virtual desktop" solution which allows you to connect to.

  • Homr on 18/01/2022 - 09:44
    +1

    What VPN does your company use? If its Cisco Anyconnect, then just download that program, install it and enter in your login details and off you go. No need to ask IT, they don't need to know and probably don't want to know

    I purchased a 2nd hand laptop (dell latitude i5 11th gen) just for this purpose and it's definitely faster then using the crappy work laptop they provided me. My productivity has increased dramatically.

    I wouldn't use your personal computer though

  • slow on 18/01/2022 - 10:36

    If they have half decent security (ie host checker) even if you install the client it will not allow you to connect from a non company computer.

    Once the VPN is connected you are effectively plugged into their network , so any malware you have on your unmanaged computer can affect the company network (and vice versa)

    Doesn't hurt to ask though - maybe they don't care about security so much, or don't know any better

    Citrix / VDI on the other hand is a different story

  • KaTst3R on 18/01/2022 - 11:05

    They wont allow it. Work laptops usually have hard drive encryption so if you try to use a USB to copy files out it wont work. If they allow you to use the VPN on a personal laptop that means you could effectively copy out the entire company network drive and store it on your personal external drive.

    Many companies uses Citrix which is logging into a virtual desktop via a non-work PC through a web browser. It is much safer for you and the firm. You could check if your firm has this.

    • Gronk on 18/01/2022 - 11:42

      Work laptops usually have hard drive encryption so if you try to use a USB to copy files out it wont work.

      The HDD encryption you're talking about is to render the HDD / SSD useless in the event it's stolen, I have a work laptop with Bitlocker on it and once the drive is unlocked you can copy whatever you want because the company doesn't limit the use of the USB ports.

      My other work laptop on the other hand, here's an actual video video of me logging into it

  • Mechz on 18/01/2022 - 11:16

    If the SSD isn't soldered to the board, take it out of the laptop and put it in the desktop and boot from there. Easy.

  • rektrading on 18/01/2022 - 11:23

    Easy fix.

    Set up a proxy on the work unit to route the data from the VPN to the WLAN.

  • Gronk on 18/01/2022 - 11:25

    Yup, I have the work VPN installed on my PC since we all started WFH last March, hasn't really been an issue.

    This will differ based on the VPN config but in my case I couldn't access devices on my local (192.168.1.x) network until a recent change, because that route was also present in the VPN connection. That meant I couldn't stream videos from my Plex server while working, boo hoo :)

    Aside from that, just don't store any company data on your personal device and don't watch porn while connected and you should be fine…

  • Marty-69 on 18/01/2022 - 11:44

    If you log in with the company username/domain, everything you do might be saved in your user profile, which might get synchronised to the company network. So, if you (accidentally) do some personal stuff, it will end up at the company. I wouldn't do it or be very careful.

    • skipy89 on 18/01/2022 - 13:37

      Thanks for all the responses. I think just easier to use work laptop. Potential Disadvantages malware, personal info etc etc outweigh the increased efficiency.

  • IJustKnowStuff on 18/01/2022 - 17:00
    +1

    Can you RDP from your home machine the the laptop? That might work better. Especially if they're all wire connected. It's what I do with my 3 or 4 work devices.

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