Probably there's a handbook rule or policy your employer has that you must use their hardware. For example, it could be a data/IP protection policy that doesn't

Probably there's a handbook rule or policy your employer has that you must use their hardware. For example, it could be a data/IP protection policy that doesn't allow any company data on any storage medium not owned by the company (and that includes your personal laptop). Another matter is software licensing. You mention the IDE. Is your IDE properly licensed for commercial use on your own laptop? If not, the company may need to throw out all that you do when they find out, or they risk losing all their commercial licenses. If you really want to use your own hardware, I would seek a letter from HR/legal with a statement to the effect that the company allows it. But given that the company gives you a laptop with a software image, it's likely they have to for a real legal reason. Or you could become a consultant/outsourced supplier where it will be expected, in most cases, that you will use your own hardware. Though not always. If you don't properly handle this, the likeliest scenario is that you will be fired when they find out. If you are lucky, they won't tell this to your future employers when they ask for references. I think it's common to be lucky in that regard to be honest, but not everyone is. And if the org loses licenses or has to throw out a chunk of their codebase, you may find yourself in a lawsuit (possibly between a client/supplier of your employer and your employer). Of course, if it's a small start-up, personal consequences are less likely. But don't act this way towards a small company.