Managers: Please stop asking the help desk (or worse, InfoSec) to go through your recent ex-employee’s computer files for “anything important” before they wipe the device.
First of all, if it was “important” it shouldn’t be on the device. Period.
Second, you’re expecting the Help Desk to know what’s important. Knowing what’s important to your team’s/org’s operations is YOUR job. I hope you don’t ask the janitors to go through your trashcan to make sure you didn’t throw anything important away…
Finally, it raises privacy issues. Yes, I know in the US lots of companies have that “no expectation of privacy” clause in the employee handbook. But it’s still invasive and leaves staff feeling sleazy and vulnerable. If you have a reason to search, make it clear and specific. Otherwise, work toward processes that keeps “anything important” in a place where it’s easily recoverable without rummaging through people’s life.
#WorkHell
#InfoSec
#InformationSecurity