Note: this content is general, educational information, not individualized legal, tax or employment advice. Conditions at each company and country change frequently; always verify current figures and requirements against the official source before making a decision.
Working remotely means your laptop carries more responsibility than an office machine ever did — a handful of habits cover most of the real risk.
The non-negotiables
- Full-disk encryption enabled (built into both Windows and macOS, just needs turning on).
- A password manager instead of reused or memorized passwords.
- Automatic cloud backup for your work folder, not just an occasional manual copy.
- A VPN when working from public Wi-Fi (cafés, airports, coworking spaces with open networks).
What companies usually require
Many remote employers now mandate a company-managed device or an MDM (mobile device management) profile on your own laptop — ask about this before you buy your own hardware for the role.
