The most crucial tool every remote worker needs for their online jobs is a good computer/laptop. We use it to do our tasks, communicate with our team, and store vital work data for future use.
And since it’s much more convenient and cheaper than having a separate work and personal computer, many workers use their personal computers/laptops for work.
However, there are several risks to using your personal laptop for work. These include privacy problems, difficulties focusing on your work, and blurring the boundaries between your work and private life.
Still not convinced? Here are more reasons you should have a separate work and personal computer:
Having Separate Computers Improves Your Data Privacy.
An essential part of making a remote setup work is downloading your company’s chosen monitoring software on your computer. The use of these apps has increased as many companies shifted to working from home.
These applications allow employers to track and monitor an employee’s activities during their shift. Some companies even require employees to download multiple monitoring apps, just in case.
Although their purpose is understandable, these apps remain a significant threat to your data privacy, especially if your work computer is also your personal computer.
These apps can even track your online activity, allowing your company’s IT department to monitor the sites you visit or emails you write. Sure, you may not have anything to hide, but still…
Can you imagine your boss being able to snoop around your private messages or emails? What if they discover that you and your co-workers have gossiped about them. What now?
Clearing Your Company-Given Computer/Laptop Of Your Personal Data And Vice-Versa Is Difficult.
Another reason you should consider having a separate work and personal computer is how difficult it is to clear your company or personal data from them.
You may not want to think about it much, but you won’t stay in your current job forever. Better opportunities may come, or you might suddenly get laid off.
When this happens, part of company policy regarding using your company-given computer for work is to remove all personal data before returning it to IT. This ensures that the following user of the computer/laptop won’t find any of your personal data on it.
Of course, you can simply do a memory wipe of your company-loaned computer/laptop to ensure you’ve removed all your personal data. However, by doing so, you may also delete vital work-related data.
It Further Blurs The Line Between Your Professional And Personal Life.
Remember, mixing work and your personal life is never a good thing.
When using your personal computer for work, it’s often easy to fall into the temptation to browse your social media “for a short while.” Or to use your company-given computer to write personal emails and watch Youtube.
Conversely, it’s also easy to get lured into working even after your work hours are done. Or even during your vacation days if you’re the type to bring your laptops to your trip. After all, your work tools are just a click away.
Thus, having a separate work computer from your personal computer helps you avoid these problems and preserve a healthier work-life balance.
Doing so also helps you to detach from work, allowing you to enjoy your downtime playing games or bonding with loved ones. And it enables you to focus on your tasks instead of browsing social media or chatting with your friends online.
Your Personal Computer/Laptop May Not Be Able To Handle Your Tasks.
Yes, getting two computers, especially if your current one is still usable, might feel unnecessary. However, you’d better check whether your current computer/laptop can handle your assigned tasks first.
This is especially important if you’re working on an online job that can put a significant strain on your computer. Jobs that involve graphic design, video editing, and web development, for instance, require a high-end computer/laptop.
If you know that your computer/laptop isn’t up to the task, don’t hesitate to request one that can from your company. Just make sure you use it only for your work; and not for playing the latest AAA games.
2 Computers Are Better Than One.
Our work and personal lives should ideally be conducted separately. However, the shift to a remote setup made this more difficult to do.
Fortunately, there is a way to solve this issue. And that is by having a separate work computer from your personal computer.
Having 2 separate computers enables you to better protect your personal data from inadvertent surveillance. It also allows you to avoid the hassle of removing sensitive data from your computer once you’ve finished working for your current employer.
So when you ask yourself next time: “Should I use my personal computer for work,?” you know what the answer is.
If you’re still looking for remote work opportunities, Remote Staff is here to help. Our jobs list contains a wide range of positions you can apply to, ensuring you won’t run out of options. Good luck!
