Is Remote Working Secure?
There are several factors to consider as more firms embrace a remote work culture. This article examines the top three factors that every firm should consider to create a safe and healthy working environment! First, we’ll go through how to keep firm data safe from several locations, given that many workers now work from home.
Second, despite the distance, how to keep workers linked with peers and leadership as smoothly as feasible. Third, how to ensure that workers maintain a good work/life balance, given that many no longer see a distinction between their personal and professional lives.
Let’s get started!
In a remote working world, how do you keep company information safe?
As more employees work from home rather than in the office, it’s critical to ensure that they have safe remote access to business apps and services through their home-based internet connections. Every organization needs a dependable remote access technology solution that workers can connect to quickly.
If remote workers are unable to access the programs they need to conduct their daily responsibilities, their productivity and the company’s overall output will suffer.
Which Remote Access Solution Is Most Appropriate For Your Company?
Many organizations utilize public or private cloud computing platforms like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, which enable remote workers to log in using their allocated credentials via their organization’s primary cloud computing platform. Even though these cloud systems are very secure, hackers may still get access to important corporate information by obtaining employee credentials. If your company utilizes these services, it’s a good idea to set up a multi-factor authentication system that requires remote workers to prove who they say they are before being permitted access to the app.
VPN, VDI, and RDS are examples of more advanced remote access systems. These programs allow secure remote access to a corporate network, a customized Windows-based system, or a centralized server, each with its own set of advantages. Each company will have its unique set of needs for a remote access solution, which is mostly determined by the job they do, the size and scope of their workforce, and their customers. Organizations should also assess the cost of previously leased office space vs the cost of remote access they now demand – it’s a desirable and required investment. Business requirements change as the world of business changes!
How Can You Keep Your Remote Employees Connected?
Companies should investigate innovative and inventive methods to keep their staff linked to one another as remote work has grown in popularity. When workers work from home, it’s easy for them to lose touch with their colleagues and supervisors, which may lead to misunderstanding and poor performance.
Encourage staff to turn on their cameras in every meeting now that communication is more constrained throughout the day. Video conferencing is currently one of the most common ways for distant enterprises to communicate, and face-to-face meetings may help to foster loyalty and trust, as well as increase attention and productivity.
Microsoft Teams, for example, is a popular collaboration tool that includes video, audio, chat, and more, making it even simpler to view team members, exchange work, and connect in person. Many non-verbal signs might be lost in translation if a firm depends too much on phone conversations and messaging services, resulting in distant employee interactions.
Attempt to make meetings more collaborative and interesting in the same way.
Encourage workers to participate actively in meetings by using various meeting strategies. The “Six Thinking Hats” technique, for example, is a simple way to get everyone engaged by encouraging staff to submit new ideas and think beyond the box. Finally, encourage staff to stay in contact by using social media platforms like Slack, virtual team lunches, or virtual business happy hours.
Finding solutions to compensate for the absence of face-to-face contact is critical to maintaining a vibrant and engaged workforce.
How Can You Assist Your Employees in Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance?
The bulk of the day is typically spent by remote employees on their computers, using the business tools and services they need to execute their responsibilities and stay in contact with coworkers and customers. Remote employment, according to studies, does result in longer days. Although working from home has several advantages, such as greater freedom throughout the day, less morning drive, and less formal clothes, it also has some disadvantages.
They’re working longer days, attending more meetings, and receiving more emails than ever before. To accommodate recent economic developments, the average workday has prolonged by 48.5 minutes and the number of meetings has grown by 13%, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Furthermore, since the economy continues uncertain and layoffs have grown, employee worry has caused many to overwork themselves even more in order to show their value, resulting in excessive stress and burnout. Employees will have more time to use their laptops, tablets, or cellphones as a result of the longer work hours. Employees are more likely to experience burnout and exhaustion as a result of their regular interaction with electronic devices that emit digital blue light.
In roughly half of all computer users, blue light has been related to issues like digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Blurry vision, dry eyes, headaches, difficulty focusing, and sleep problems are all symptoms of these disorders. Eye strain is usually treated by making modifications to your daily routines or surroundings, such as taking pauses from gadgets throughout the day to allow your eyes to concentrate. For others, using blue light glasses, which are designed to protect the eyes during activities such as computer usage and contact with blue light while working, may make a significant impact.
Blue light blocking lenses may be used in conjunction with standard prescription lenses or worn alone in frames. They operate as a blue light shield by allowing more natural light into the room while filtering out the damaging blue light.
Businesses should encourage workers to take frequent breaks throughout the day.
Many workers are unfamiliar with remote work, and they believe they are unable to leave their computers throughout the workday or take time off since they are already working from home.
Organizations should make their time-off policies clear, and “vacation time” should be redefined to include more than simply relaxation and travel. Show that you care about your workers by allowing them to be flexible throughout the workweek and proposing that they take shorter breaks more often instead of lengthy vacations.
Converting your company to a high-functioning remote workforce entails a number of phases.
It starts with remote access technology to safeguard your organization and concludes with protecting your workers’ well-being. In 2022, finding a balance between the organization and those who help manage it will result in increased productivity and improved output.
