>deny me the ability to download legit software from the likes of Microsoft and other reputable vendors because Because when your computer screws out and you'r

>deny me the ability to download legit software from the likes of Microsoft and other reputable vendors because Because when your computer screws out and you're unable to work, IT is on the hook for your lost time and you get to go floppy because 'the network is down'. If IT is responsible for ensuring your technology environment supports your productivity, which in almost all organisations they are, then they need to be in exclusive control of it or they cannot provide a comfortable level of assurance to the organisation. Responsibility and control go hand in hand. I won't take responsibility for anything outside of my control, and if you're sane neither will you. Teams that are willing to confront their organisation's established norms and assume responsibility for the continued operation of their workstations and the corporate network they are trusted members of may be able to gain permission (from management, not IT) to get install privileges. If you're in an organization that's deployed a zero-trust model this is much easier, and you only have to assume responsibility for the workstations as the network is already resilient againsts it's participants. Everyone else needs to sit down. If you're not giving me an unlimited bank account of the company's money, I'm not giving you admin rights; And the motivation for restricting both are very similar. On the other hand, ensuring people have what they need to be able to do their job to the best of their ability is kinda the point of IT. Unfortunately it's never a simple job to distinguish between 'blustering and wants to run a bitcoin miner' from 'needs a legit piece of software to do their job better' without proper engagement to understand your needs. If you have legitimate needs you don't look any different from the dickhead in the other department that's taking the piss, until we've gone through that 'red tape'.