Speed & Security For Home Working

Of course, a primary concern for all IT support teams is that security is adhered to, but, it is not always a business owner’s top priority, as transacting sales and turning the wheels of industry often come higher up their list of concerns.

We had with some foresight in the preceding weeks to lockdown, sourced and prepared notebooks for clients to either rent, or purchase, allowing them to immediately issue equipment to staff, who would then be able to work remotely from home. The use of encryption and VPN (Virtual Private Network) software enabled our clients’ teams to access their normal office systems seamlessly.

Although some hardware items had been in short supply, we were able to fulfil all orders, with all the laptops being shipped out, to be used by clients for their remote staff to access the business IT systems. The company data was kept centrally held in their office, backed up and secure, keeping the control of the client’s commercial data within the core business, not dissipated to multiple remote machines.

Data Hazards

The importance of IT security cannot be played down in a time when the workers who are managed remotely, have access to business data and are suddenly operational with flexible working hours, often on personal devices. This means that training those staff is key, ensuring that they understand the risks they take when downloading data to machines, accessing websites and copying files to shared storage facilities, often including personal spaces.

Bite Size Training For All

We set a goal to keep cyber awareness at the front of business owner/managers’ minds, along with IT training for staff, both, those working and furloughed. This was achieved by holding daily bite-sized IT training sessions on hundreds of different topics including cybercrime awareness, computer productivity and Microsoft office training, all recorded and all uploaded to our YouTube channel to be accessed and referenced by clients at any time.

Cyber Awareness

Our goal of keeping cyber awareness at its highest possible level was born out by the number of phishing emails which were being caught by our mail filters. These were disguised as Government or HMRC Coronavirus updates. Using emotive language and similar branding imagery, with closely familiar domain names, these emails were dangerous to businesses, bringing a high chance of virus infection to unsuspecting users. Our cybercrime awareness training sessions, which are one of our popular IT services have kept clients reminded of the dangers of phishing and virus attacks ensuring that none have been infected.

Dedicated Support Desk

As a business we have not stopped working, with our IT Support Desk being busy throughout the lockdown period. There has been a change in the type of call, with a focus on speakers and webcams for remote working video meetings. Additionally, VPNs and Internet speeds have also had their place in the Support request charts.

Work From Home IT Support

The whole business, prior to lockdown, was split into core teams, divided across two offices to minimise any infection transfer. Immediately lockdown was announced the team moved to a remote working model deploying staff to their homes, including not only the relevant machine hardware, but also VOIP telecoms allowing no geographical boundaries to interfere with our teamwork.

Returning To The Office

As I write this, the current Coronavirus alert level is down to 3 and social distancing is easing with the government moving to open some hospitality from 4th July. The indications for businesses are that they are beginning to bring staff back to their offices, in a socially distanced manner, managing risk assessments and building confidence in returning to their old habitats. Yet the question for many is whether the COVID-19 crisis has opened new avenues, spawned innovation, or, for many set a new tone for flexible working in a manner they had never considered possible.

A Place For Technology

The statistics for Kent make grim reading, with 21% of all deaths involving COVID-19*, but there is no denying that without technology playing such a massive part in home working and flexible working, the numbers would have been far higher.

Having good IT Systems, infrastructure and data backup and protection with good, knowledgeable IT Support and IT services is a key component in businesses moving into the coming year ahead, keeping data safe, staff communicating and working together, either from home or in the office.

At J&J Systems we love to advise small businesses across Kent and the South East with our IT support and related IT services, giving peace of mind that critical business data is secure, protected and managed correctly, with core infrastructure maintained in a systematic and proficient manner.

If your business needs work from home IT support, or any managed IT services with a down to earth advice, give Jacqui a call to discuss how we can help on 01227 371375.