Asset issued to an employee - What precautions can i take to protect my company's laptop?

An employee has been provided a laptop. He is assigned to work from home in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Our operations are based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Can anyone suggest how to ensure that I do not encounter issues by issuing him a laptop? What precautions can I take to protect my company's laptop?

Hi Balaji,

I am assuming that the employee has been working with your firm for a longer time and is trustworthy. If you are issuing a laptop, ask him to sign the form that contains all the details of company assets issued to him. Please ensure that his signature is similar to the other documents he has submitted.

Thank you.

Dear Monica,

The person has been with the company for 2 months now, working in marketing software products. He urgently requires a laptop. Simply getting a form signed or verifying his address is only a temporary solution. I am more concerned about what would happen if he were to abscond tomorrow and change his address. How would we track him in that case? Furthermore, documentation, even on a stamp paper, is only effective if we are able to trace him.

Please advise on how to proceed.

Thank you.

Dear Balaji / Santosh,

I am looking forward to transactions in accounts views. It is a regular practice of the Administration and Accounts Department to keep the DSR or Assets Register. The computer / laptop / printer is an Asset Item and it has to be depreciated by 60% p.a. All establishments have to keep a Register called the Asset Register. You can instruct your Marketing Executive to submit a letter mentioning that he is in custody of the LAPTOP (Make - Sr. No:, Dongle drive Sr. No. if any installed on it). This letter will need to be presented to your Auditors during the process.

This letter will serve as a precautionary measure as well as an official document to reflect the same as Fixed Assets in the Balance Sheet.

Ramakant

Hi Balaji,

Working from home presents its own challenges. One of them is ensuring that the employee is actually working. There is software available that can "track" the laptop; it will also indicate when the laptop is started up and shut down, as well as download all its activity to your main server. It is advisable to have this software installed, as it is widely available on the internet.

I hope the above information is helpful.

Regards, Harsh