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Replacement laptop

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by zlitocook

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I have always suggested that loner laptops be connected to the network at least once a week. This allows updates, security scans and lets the network check the system. I was reading www.darkreading.com and thought wow how did this get by!
http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=156590&WT.svl=news1_1
If my department let a laptop get out with out compleat protection some one would be looking for a job.
I know there are reasions for not checking on a computer but after a week I would be checking and asking the worker to log in to the network.

3 replies

by charliespencer

Besides failing to update the antimalware apps, how is he accessing any company data? Is everything he needs stored on the hard drive? How is it getting backed up? Is he conducting company business using a web-based e-mail client? Mostly, if he can go three months without connecting to the network, what's he doing that requires a laptop instead of a desktop?

by nicknielsen

According to the article, he was an investigator in the Department of Industrial Accidents. I suspect he had the laptop because he traveled to accident sites. Once there, he conducted the investigation, entered the data, connected via wireless, and emailed the reports. That was probably his only connection to the agency network. Printed output? Probably on a portable inkjet. Email connection most likely via Outlook Web Access.

It's not hard for that to happen, particularly with a dispersed workforce. I have no direct connection to my corporate network, not even a VPN. All I have is a broadband card and a userid.

In defense of my corporate IT, my laptop is legacy equipment from before a merger. My former corporate IT saved a bunch of money by using OpenOffice, Thunderbird, and other open source solutions for common tasks. Heck, the only reason the laptop runs Windows is so techs can use the proprietary software that configures and maintains wireless equipment and scales.

The laptop came with the corporate edition of AVG, Spybot S&D, and SpywareBlaster installed. Since I used to connect through public wireless, I run HijackThis and other security software at least weekly. But then, I know what's going on; it's part of my job. This guy probably only knew accident investigation.

by hal 9000

They don't do the job properly to start off with and then blame the user for everything that goes wrong.

Personally even if this guy was guilty of deliberately doing this the Department in Question doesn't have a leg to stand on and they should just tally up how much they are prepared to pay out in Damages now to save wasting even more Tax Payers Money. Of course they will not do this and will fight as fiercely as possible and Appeal any judgment against them costing the Tax Payer even more.

At least if this was a Criminal Case there is a higher standard of Evidence Required but Bureaucrats jumping up and down making allegations just doesn't cut the mustard with me. If you are going to setup a Mobile Workforce you need to supply the right tools and the more that things like this happen the less likely your employees are to use the tools that are given to them in case they get caught by something not of their doing.

The entire system here needs overhauling from the initial Setup to routinely bringing in Staff and NB's to be cleaned. Of course this will not happen because the money required to do this will come out of the operating budget while Payments for Falsely Accusing a Staff Member of doing something come out of a different budget that isn't administered by those making the allegations.

Col

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