I started my new job here in Japan some weeks ago, and have been grappling with a decidedly subpar IT situation. I bought a new laptop before shipping out in the expectation I could use it at work, but unfortunately, my workplace’s IT infrastructure is locked down so that only workplace computers can access the internet system, with no external devices allowed. I tried an ethernet to USB adaptor for my new laptop but it’s stonewalled out no matter what I do.
It’s really grinding my gears since my new purchase has been rendered half-useless and the computers we *do* have are nearly a decade old running on Windows 8 with Celeron CPUs no provision for USB-C, DisplayPort or any modern connections other than tortoise-slow USB 1.0. Even file sharing on the network of anything over 5MB is impossible and requires the file to be broken up into smaller parts for individual sending which is indescribably frustrating.
Is there any way of circumventing this, or am I fated to be stuck like this?
7 comments
Yeah you shouldn’t be using your personal resources to support your company.
Most companies and public workplaces have tightened policies about personal machines and USB’s as there have been a number of cases of data vulnerability or people losing USB’s with sensitive information.
It sucks but you have to stick to what the IT gives you.
Sounds like you have a competent IT team. You should not try to circumvent your workplace IT policies.
Even if you succeeded, a half decent competent IT team would follow up and lock your personal device out. In some places, you could possibly even lose your job doing so.
Talk to your IT staff if they can permit you to bring your own device. If they say no, you just have to live with it.
Possibly talk to your supervisor about getting better/faster computers to do your work instead, and how they would improve productivity.
That’s basic IT security to lock down the network. Some companies, like mine, has a guest network that can be used for personal devices.
But you should not use personal computers to do work, at least not if it’s not approved beforehand. If it’s approved, your MAC address can be added to the allowed list.
If you need a better computer, you should justify that to your Manager and IT procurement so they buy the computer and add it to the network. If you can’t justify a better computer, you can use what you got.
Using private devices is a risk because it may not have the same security measures, and it would be your problem if something leaks out from your computer or if something leaks in from your computer.
Your IT department is not subpar or inadequate, it’s as expected.
Sell your computer and follow your company IT policy. Then, ask for a device upgrade.
This is a good thing they have everything on lockdown
U should be asking for an upgrade instead of trying to open a hole in the companies network
Good CSOC practices ensure non company issued equipment doesn’t have access to internal infrastructure. If you need a hardware upgrade, if it’s affecting your work that is, why not talk to your company to get you one?