Is working from home going to be the new normal? Remote work had been on the rise prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, but now the trend is skyrocketing. While many companies saw the benefits of even part-time remote work, others still were slow to embrace it. Many believe that employees are more productive at the office and are more engaged with their team, but that attitude is changing.
However, the COVID-19 crisis forced many businesses to shift gears and require their employees work from home. The scramble for remote-work capabilities presented companies with a number of challenges, but chief among those was adequate technology to support their remote workforce.
Remote Infrastructure Tools & Recommendations
Having a sufficient technological infrastructure in place is critical for businesses wanting a smooth transition. Employees will need secure access to the systems, services and information used on a daily basis, and IT departments will need to make sure everything is set up to work properly.
Here are some recommendations on implementing a successful work-from-home setup:
- Each employee will need access to the necessary technology to work at home. A computer with a webcam, VoIP phones , mobile phone apps, a reliable internet connection and a mobile hotspot for backup are all strongly recommended.
- Remote desktop services allow employees to access their work computers remotely as if they were at their desk, and VPNs keep those remote connections secure.
- You will need sufficient network capacity to accommodate all employees’ remote access. Each remote access session can use anywhere from 1.5 Mbps to 15 Mbps, depending on the system and services being used at any given time.
- Robust access controls—including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical systems—need to be implemented depending on each employee’s role.
- Ensure you have cloud-based apps and storage set up for each employee. Storage services like Google Drive and productivity/task managers like Asana greatly help with remote collaboration.
Whether the COVID-19 crisis will subside or not remains to be seen. Some companies may go back to their regular office work, but many are seeing the benefits of remote work as well. One thing is certain: all companies must be prepared to deploy remote-work policies to prevent further headaches down the road.
MAXtech Is Here to Help
Don’t let technology hold your business back. No matter if your remote policies are temporary or permanent, MAXtech can help you get what you need to succeed. Our MAXcloud remote desktop service is secure and keeps your employees connected no matter where they are. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.