T 3.30 Unauthorised private use of telecommuting workstations

It is easier to use a telecommuting workstation at home for private purposes, because the employer has only limited usage monitoring capabilities. There is a risk in this case that untested and unapproved software will be used and that computer viruses and other malware will infect the telecommuting workstation through careless use. This might result in confidential data becoming compromised, for example. It is not only possible for the telecommuter to use the telecommuting workstation improperly, but also for family members or visitors to do so. In particular, children and youths may be tempted to use the telecommuting workstation for gaming purposes, possibly without the telecommuter even knowing it in some cases. Possible damages may include erased hard disks with a total loss of data, reinstallation costs, or the need to re-enter data, for example.

Similarly, it is also possible to access the numerous resources available in the LAN of the organisation using the telecommuting workstation. When unauthorised persons use the telecommuting workstation, they may also be able to misuse the services offered on the LAN such as the fax gateway or Internet connection, for example. In addition, there is always a risk of data and programs being stolen in this case.