# Employer's Security Audit Request on Personal Devices Request for admin access on personal laptops raises privacy concerns. - **Source:** [cybersecurity](https://brifing.si/source/57fea5eb-f11e-4b81-bc15-114313a8bd59) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/72161cda-e1da-49ba-8980-c6e1ce3edd0e ## Situation Overview A customer service employee shares that their employer demanded installation of Qualys security software on personal laptops, with the company added as temporary admin. This urgent request targeted randomly selected employees for a cybersecurity audit. ## Employee Concerns The employee questions the safety of granting admin access to personal devices. They're uncertain about Qualys' data access capabilities, the selection criteria for audits, and whether they can legally refuse such requests on privately-owned equipment. ## Qualys Software Function Qualys is a cloud-based solution for detecting vulnerabilities in corporate networks. However, installation on personal devices may risk exposure of private data. The exact permissions required by the application remain a critical unknown factor. ## Admin Access Risks Temporary admin privileges grant full device control, including file access and software installation capabilities. Employees should understand their legal rights when facing such requests, especially regarding personal data protection laws. ## Employer Responsibilities Companies must establish clear remote work security policies. For personal device usage, explicit employee consent and data privacy guarantees are essential. Security audits should be transparently communicated in advance, not demanded urgently. ## Employee Recommendations Workers receiving similar requests should first seek formal approval from HR or IT departments. For personal devices, using virtual machines for work separation or requesting company-provided equipment are more secure alternatives worth considering. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.reddit.com/r/cybersecurity/comments/1v4gr2o/request_from_my_employer/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._