In 2020, many businesses found that working from home became necessary. Will everyone in the company be back in the office in 2021? Many of our clients are making working away from the office a viable option. Are you?
How well is your business prepared to cope with this “NEW NORMAL?”
By now, you’ve considered your workplace safety policy on face masks, the workspace social distance, and the maximum occupancy in the office. You’ve probably already worked out who will be back, who will become a remote worker, and who will do a bit of both.
What about the tech side of things?
Improve flexible working arrangements shouldn’t be a massive upheaval. Ideally, your office should be able to walk back in, sit at their desk and get going. All we need is to settle in for some of your staff working remotely under the “NEW NORMAL.”
Here are the things to consider when return.
Remote working:
Does your current remote access appropriate? Does the current VPN (Virtual Private Network – to allow your people to log in to the network remotely) meet your needs, or would a different one be better now that you know your actual requirements?
How about the computing devices? Many businesses handed out old company laptops, mobile devices, printers in 2020 to allow working remotely. Do these devices suit the needs of each employee’s role? That was great for then, but if some people are home working permanently, it’s now the time to see if a different device would help them do their job better.
Device Safety:
Will the remote user has a work-issued device to use remotely and a computer in the office?
Will remote users carry their laptops and mobile devices back and forth?
Or perhaps they are using a personal device at home and a work device in the office?
Operations:
Are all the devices updated with the latest versions of operating systems, applications, and security?
Is remote access working as it should be?
Is the backup successfully performing every day?
Office Procedures:
Do you have a procedure in place should a device be lost or stolen?
Are you able to remotely restrict access to data?
Who will take responsibility for ensuring the process is followed?
Communications:
Does all your staff know the plan, processes, and procedures?
How do we connect remote and partly remote workers to keep in touch with their teams and managers?
Will you plan to continue to use an online meeting tool to keep communication channels open?
It’s possible that when lockdown happened, we temporarily made IT changes for the speedy result than for longevity. Now we are implementing permanent remote working for some or all. It is time to review and improve what we had in place.
This is the best time TO REVIEW YOUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE and take advantage of the Microsoft 365 productivity tools you already own.
Has your business tried Microsoft Teams? It came with Microsoft 365. “Team” is the tool for connecting with colleagues, planning, posting updates to projects, sharing and co-editing documents. Besides an online meeting tool, your office can use Team to place calls, conducting Video Calls, and sending messages.
Work with your IT service provider to check out the setup of the new working methods.
The “New Normal” setup should be effortless and smooth. You shouldn’t need to worry about it. If your new normal isn’t easy, your office productivity suffers, there are rooms to improve.
Again, check with your IT service provider to find out what they can do to make it happen. They should co-pilot with you and source the most appropriate devices, and work within your budget.
Besides, when there’s a plan, you can anticipate results and recover from issues more quickly.
If you could use advice on getting your office ready for return to work, we’d love to help.
GET IN TOUCH TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE.
Susie Chow – ITensure
Call/Text: (714) 633-9454
