With so much of the workforce operating out of home offices right now, it’s important to maintain a sense of connection with colleagues and co-workers. Fortunately, technology can make that easier. Here are seven must-have tools for a more productive remote work experience.
1. A Strong Business Wifi Internet Connection
Home internet plans may be good for surfing the Web or getting some extra work done after hours. But along with most of the nation’s schoolchildren — as well as throngs of remote workers now using broadband from their homes — you may require a faster, more robust connection for things like video conferencing or cloud-based graphics work. CCI business broadband and business Wifi services deliver more to customers, including the ability to use the SD-WAN for internet access from multiple locations — including your home.
2. Cloud-Based Office Productivity Tools
When your whole team is working remotely, it’s important to have cloud-based apps that allow for easy collaboration across the miles. With CCI as your business ISP, your company gains access to Microsoft 365 Teams featuring the business productivity tools you use the most, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint and Power BI (on some systems). Share files, make changes in real-time and collaborate from home as if you were in the office together. The only thing missing is the coffee run!
3. Robust Video Conferencing Software
MS Teams offers video conferencing solutions that include scheduling capabilities and the ability to transition seamlessly from voice to video. Your CCI business broadband delivers all the speed you need without latency for a smooth video conferencing experience.
4. A Clean and Quiet Room to Hold Video Conferences
You probably don’t want to be caught in your pajamas working from your kitchen table, where last night’s dishes are still piled up in the sink. Homeschooling, working from home, doing housework, and quarantining (without an end in sight) isn’t easy. Make it less stressful by carving out a professional space where you can show up on camera without worrying about who — or what — is in the background. A blank wall or perhaps a piece of inspirational artwork in the background sets the tone for a professional encounter. Some video conferencing solutions also enable you to choose a fun, virtual background. Again, keep it professional — unless an outer space scene or the Hogwarts Castle is on-brand for your company.
5. Seamless Connectivity Between Your Smartphone and Computer
Whether you’re FaceTiming to answer a quick question from a colleague or you’re involved in an all-out video chat with your whole department, the ability to seamlessly transition from Wifi on your phone to your desktop or laptop computer can help you stay in touch.
6. A Fast Computer System with Enough Processing Power for All Your Apps
Depending on what your work entails, it may be a good time to consider upgrading your computer or laptop. Your CCI business broadband connection should not be the limiting factor regarding your computer’s speed or your own productivity. Consider investing in a new, faster computer — or perhaps dual screens — now that you’re using your home computer setup more often.
7. Anti-virus and Cybersecurity Software Tools
Whether you’re logging in through your employer’s virtual private network (VPN) to access the business servers or you’re accessing files through the cloud from your home network or business ISP, you want to make sure your files are safe and secure. In addition to creating effective passwords that feature a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters, invest in updated anti-virus and malware tools to keep critical files protected. If you have any questions about how to implement these tools or what your company recommends, speak to someone on your IT team who should be able to help you get set up with software to keep your company’s critical data safe.
CCI is there to help our business broadband customers through these challenging times of remote work by providing the tools, solutions, and bandwidth your employees need to thrive while working remotely.