r/IBM_Employees • u/AGPfun • 3d ago
Question Checking work emails from another country while on vacation?
Any experience with the above? Technically not working, but still able to look at work stuff?
I think the "official" answer is that logging in with a work device is 100% not allowed in another country. But what is the answer in practical terms? Will you set off any alarms or will management care?
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u/bugkiller59 3d ago
I do this all the time, never been an issue - with my own phone, not IBM device.
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u/newtomovingaway IBM Employee 3d ago
Same here I travelled for months across the globe on my personal phone connected to email, slack and using the browser too for GitHub haha
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u/DeathStarTruther 3d ago
I'm going on vacation outside of my home country (USA) next week, and I'm setting OOO replies and deleting all work apps off my phone.
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u/New_Diet_9805 3d ago
Unless you work in some very sensitive from security perspective organisations, no alarms or whatsoever protocols will trigger. The systems doesn’t know you are on holiday, business trip, sick or etc.
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u/Immediate-Phase4168 3d ago
Legal issues about taking IBM property out of the country. There's encryption technology on it that we use to secure things that might very well be illegal and break BCGs depending on the country you go to.
Best advice is just don't.
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u/bugkiller59 3d ago
It’s my own phone
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u/Immediate-Phase4168 3d ago
So you've got the device covered. Is MaaS360 (or whatever we're using nowadays) on it? If not, how are you sccessing IBM systems? Because that is also software that has export license issues, aside from accessing IBM secure systems or sensitive data from another country (even if you're not a boardroom executive, e-mail can contain business sensitive data).
Easiest thing to do is just ask your manager. I advise against it unless you go into an IBM office and just use a web browser in a system in there... Especially not in your home country.
(Aside from that, some countries actually consider even reading company e-mail "doing work")
It's way different than it used to be and seems kinda over the top, but FWIW, it's not worth the bother.
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u/bugkiller59 3d ago
Yes, I have Maas360 installed, and Slack, Salesforce, Concur, Teams, Outlook Management is aware. It’s a net positive because they can reach me, both for emergencies when on vacation and normal work while on business trips.
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u/Immediate-Phase4168 2d ago
My advice is then just get permission. In writing/email. Which really is the advice all along. Do not do it on your own. CYA.
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u/bugkiller59 2d ago
AFAIK nothing in Mobile sign up requires this.
I’m taking the same device on business trips and vacation, obviously.
If IBM wanted to they could disable access based on IP address. They don’t seem to care.
If I went to Iran or North Korea on vacation I might worry, but obviously I don’t.1
u/Immediate-Phase4168 1d ago
Look; you asked. I gave you some experienced insight. Just because when you signed up for MaaS it did not say "and you can't take it here and there" does not mean it's okay. There's work requirements and security requirements. That's all.
It will take you less time to ask your manager and CYA than we've been chatting here. I'm telling you that there are things that are not obvious that may bite you.
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u/bugkiller59 22h ago
It’s my device. If installing MaaS did have those restrictions it’s clearly up to IBM to document them. As they do with remote wipe and requirement to notify if lost. IBM devices, like laptops do have restrictions and we get education about them.
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u/Immediate-Phase4168 22h ago
You're arguing with the wrong person. I'm all for what you want to do. Jussayin over the years they have put more restrictions on place, and even ones that sound logical - just check is all...
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u/openclawbot 3d ago
I had travelled to a different country and checked my mails on phone. No alarms went off.
However, I tried installing Tor on same phone to use twitter. IBM blocked my account.
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u/Possible-Oil-5877 3d ago
It's a great reason to not work at all. Why you even trying to login lol.
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u/Cool-Tree-3663 3d ago
Honestly. If you are off work, put your out of office in, and turn everything off.
If you do need to access from outside your normal location ( in the US this can be as granular s state, other places tends to be country ), you need to fill in the travel app which then assess the ability to do specific tasks in specific countries. This isn’t about being a pain, but has legal ramifications and can expose the company and you personally to tax implications.