Member Article

Get the most out of remote working with Probado

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are being ushered into a remote model of working, some for the very first time! While many businesses now offer flexible working and working from home options, it has never previously been done on such a large scale. Local IT company Probado has been helping with the transition, supporting businesses across the region to limit interruptions and ensure employees can work efficiently and safely from home.

Co-founder and director Gordon Maclean explains how they’ve been helping businesses set up remotely: “In a usual scenario, businesses would have the luxury of time to trial remote working, test it and iron out any technical issues that may arise. However, many businesses have now been thrown in at the deep end and are having to take operations remote much sooner than planned. Thankfully we have been able to respond and our team remains fully operational, but there are challenges within the supply chain for home working products such as laptops and headsets.

“There are so many areas to consider when setting up an office remotely, from the telephone systems to cloud storage and unified communications models. Thankfully, we are able to carry on as usual and assist businesses as best we can with that transition.”

While remote working presents its own challenges, Gordon suggests there are a few simple things that can be done to ease the strain: “Working from home for a long period of time is a huge adjustment but it needn’t be riddled with IT problems. You might be forced to use domestic equipment to access business IT infrastructure and, if you need additional software installing, this can generally be provided using remote tools. It’s very important to have up to date antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your network traffic.”

Another area where IT can help keep your team connected is telephony. “VoIP telephony has revolutionised business communications, allowing business to keep calls flowing seamlessly and help staff keep in touch, hopefully keeping team morale up! There is a wide range of softphones available and team chat software that can be downloaded to your home working devices allowing you to hopefully crack on as normal.”

Connectivity is vital for any remote working but can pose a challenge for businesses now working across many locations. Gordon explains: “A lot of people are reporting slower internet connections with more people working from home. You may have three or four people set up at the dining table and the kids also on the Wi-Fi doing their schoolwork. It’s a shock to both your own system and your router’s!

“It’s not just streaming quality that can be affected by a slow connection, file downloads and conference calls can also take a hit. It may seem simple but being closer to the router will provide a better connection, so set the router up in your workspace to get the most out of your Wi-Fi. Other options are Wi-Fi range extenders which can be purchased online or talk to your providers to see if you can increase your broadband package. Restricting other users’ streaming times is also an easy fix – ask your kids to stream their Disney film at a time when you’re not making an important Zoom call.”

When working remotely access is key. Being able to access important files, systems and other applications is essential to carry on as normal. “Cloud solutions are ideal for home and remote working as they can be accessed from anywhere with the correct log-in credentials,” says Gordon. “The security of cloud servers may be called into question; however, additional factors such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and stricter password measures will ensure your team can access files and data securely. MFA includes things like additional security questions, pin numbers or even biometrics such as fingerprints or voice recognition.”

Working from home can also have a huge impact on your wellbeing, he added: “There are steps to help make working from home as normal as possible. Keep your work and personal devices separate and switch your work phone and computer off at the end of your day. Having clear boundaries will really help maintain the work life balance even when you don’t have the physical act of coming home at the end of the day. At least you can avoid the traffic!”

Probado has been operating for 13 years and provide IT services, telephony and cyber security managed services for businesses and charities across Yorkshire and the North West.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Probado Ltd .