By: Kelly Gillespie, Business Account Consultant
As many of us have experienced recently, the traditional brick-and-mortar office isn’t the only viable option for performing our jobs these days. In the wake of the pandemic, business leaders have needed a more open approach to remote work, and the IT/Cybersecurity folks have made a mad scramble to have the right equipment, security, and applications to make the experience feel seamless.
So now you need to be prepared for more remote work. The gear you hurriedly assembled to get it done during the last few months sufficed under the circumstances, but might not be the best long-term solution. Not to worry – we have guidance on the “what” and “how” to set up a remote or a mobile office! Let’s start with the basics: equipment.
This sounds so obvious that you will roll your eyes (at first), but it is the very essence of setting up remote access. Examining the functions of your job will help you determine your equipment needs. Allow me to expand…
While a desktop PC is the most powerful and least expensive option, it is not necessarily the right one, especially if you are a road warrior in sales or field service. If you’re a power user who does database work or graphic design, for example, you may need a desktop.
Everyone loves the laptop, but is it the right tool for the job all the time? Since laptops are essentially miniaturized versions of desktops, they generally lag behind in processing power and storage technology. They can have significant limitations, such as memory, input/output ports, operating system support, and power. If you are a field service engineer, a laptop is usually a must-have, but many other jobs don’t require the full function of a laptop.
With the rise of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) adoption, a tablet can typically cover the bulk of most job functions – email, productivity suites, and web interfaces, including remote desktop access, to most SaaS line of business applications. The downsides are lack of support for dashboard accessories, such as secondary monitors, full size keyboards or mouse, and enhanced security software.
Here are a few items you need in order to make your remote work life much easier. Let’s assume that you have a dedicated workspace with a decent desk, chair, and lighting – all important and essential items – and focus on the gadgets and more to round out your remote office.
It should go without saying, but your home internet connection may not be sufficient to the needs of supporting a home office. Check with your IT folks to see what kind of bandwidth you need to operate remotely.
Regardless of your computing platform, monitors are key to being able to do it without ruining your eyes or happy thoughts. At a minimum, desktop or secondary monitors should:
You should have at least two monitors (one can be a laptop screen). Productivity software works best when you have extended screen real estate to work with, not to mention using multiple web browser windows.
You also may want to consider a monitor mounting system to improve your viewing angle and ergonomic comfort, not to mention gaining some of your desk space back.
If you are using a laptop or tablet, one of the essential accessories should be a docking station. This will provide multiple ports, including connections for monitors, USB, and even Ethernet. Otherwise, you will need to buy separate adapters for each device type you want to connect and you will likely only be able to use one at a time on ultra-slim laptops or tablets.
Who hasn’t gotten to the client meeting or presentation and realized their laptop/tablet was almost out of battery and the power supply wasn’t in the bag? Keep one on your desk and one in your bag. Same with your phone charger. ‘Nuff said.
As we have all experienced over the last few months, video web meetings are the new norm. Most laptops and tablets have a decent webcam for a single person, but the built-in microphone is not of the highest quality for the best audio experience. Use a USB microphone and headphones if you are doing video meetings with more than just the person seated directly in front of the laptop. An external webcam is also a good investment when displaying a meeting room or larger group.
For backups and nothing else. And like your Mom said, don’t ever take USB drives from strangers. You don’t know what has been on that drive and could inadvertently find yourself with a virus.
You may want to consider a few other items to make your life easier.
You have your remote/mobile office all set up and you are feeling pretty smug about it because you can check email, share documents, check inventory, etc. That’s great, but what happens to all of that information when you click a suspicious link or visit the odd website only to find that you are the unhappy recipient of malware?
Don’t leave home without it. In fact, use it at home, too. Your IT department may have a specific VPN application that you need to use, so check with them first, but on laptops, tablets, and smartphones, having and using a VPN is essential.
You wouldn’t dream of leaving your house unlocked while you are away, so why would you leave your data unguarded? A good anti-malware program is essential, especially for mobile devices. Check with your IT department first, but make sure all of your mobile devices, including your smartphone, have security software installed.
Your best line of defense, especially against ransomware or theft of a device, is a regularly scheduled, secure and tested backup. Not only should you backup your laptops/tablets/smartphones, but what about all of that data in the SaaS cloud? You guessed it: that needs to be backed up as well.
Here are some miscellaneous pieces of software/websites you may find useful when working remotely:
Finally, working remotely isn’t just about technology, it is about how you can efficiently and effectively operate outside of the traditional workspace. Here are a few tips.