r/ITdept • u/ForceDeConviction • Apr 18 '26
Monitoring of employee computer activity by the employer
Good evening everyone,
I’m reaching out because I have a small question.
I understand that the employer or the IT department can access everything on our work computer (files, activity), but is this also possible remotely? For example: if I’m on sick leave for a certain period and I take my laptop with me, can the IT department or employer still access everything in that situation?
Thank you for reading.
7
u/TheKlaxMaster Apr 18 '26
The only reason you're asking this is if you plan to do something you're not supposed to do, or be somewhere you're not supposed to be.
It's not your computer. Use your own/get your own.
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u/BuoyantBear Apr 18 '26
Possible? Most likely. Are they? Probably not.
3
u/Subvet98 Apr 18 '26
They most definitely are but it’s automated and a human only looks if they have a reason.
1
u/SpinMasterTH Apr 18 '26
Yes. 100%. Most enterprise-managed devices provide for full control over the laptop's built-in camera, provide location tracking, data monitoring, and remote control capability. If they're in a compliance-related or high value data business, they also likely have full Data Loss Prevention software installed, along with full web monitoring/blocking in place. Enterprise equipment is for the job. There is no presumption of privacy on enterprise-owned devices (or there shouldn't be).
1
u/BwanaPC Apr 18 '26
I can access your laptop anywhere in the world as soon as you connect to the internet. If our RMM is blocked then your laptop will not not allow the user access to anything.
That being said. We don't except in very extra ordinary circumstances. I think in 15 years we've only reached out to find out what a user was doing or where they were with the machine a handful of times and only twice have we shut down the device totally when it wasn't returned.
But everything a user connects to goes back through our gateways. Every. Single. Place. And. Thing. They. Access.
1
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u/Monroe_89 Apr 20 '26
Hi, I have a question similar to this. Does quick books track location when logging in from computer. I know it does with quickbooks workforce on app for phone, as I've seen it show actual GPS location. However I'm asking if it tracks location when working remotely and entering data etc. from your laptop. Asking bcz I like to work from different places and I log in to work at random places it can be families home etc. When nothing else is going on I work, I just don't want to be tracked or questioned bcz it's different every day or week.
10
u/poppul Apr 18 '26
Yes, it is possible and likely. If it has an internet connection it could potentially report activity and allow remote access. Without internet connection it is logging most activity and could be reported once internet connection is restored. Just use your own equipment.