Working effectively from home – Part Two “Connectivity and Security”

Working from home seems to be here to stay, as even after the stay-at-home orders ended in 2021, 40% of the people who transitioned into working from home stayed in that position. Loyal I.T. has researched the needs and solutions for working from home to ensure that staff are working effectively, safely, and productively. Last week we discussed your business hardware requirements (click here to read this) and this week we are covering connectivity and security.
 

Connectivity

Multiple devices (e.g. phones, gaming consoles, smart TV’s etc.) on a home connection are a sure fire way to interrupt a smooth and consistent connection. Checking your internet speed during busy and not so busy times is a valuable tool. You can then discuss this with your provider or look for a new provider that can manage higher speeds, to ensure maximum productivity. If you are unsure, or need advice regarding this, call us on (02) 4337 0700.

An essential item for internet connectivity is a business grade modem/router. Your workplace, where you will be remotely connecting to, needs a reliable router that can manage multiple logins and downloads to and from the server/cloud. Home users also need reliability, and we recommend a business grade router for working from home. Loyal I.T. can source Draytek routers/modems for users at home and in the office, and can find the right device for you that can manage multiple VPN connections and can be customised for your specific internet connection type.
 

Security

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) extends a private network connection over a public network (the internet) which enable users to send and receive data securely as it uses encryption to ensure a secure connection back to your office. Creating and using a VPN is essential for working from home and if you don’t already have one, it is highly recommended that you contact us to set one up. 

It is also necessary to have the appropriate level of antivirus to ensure that your systems are secure. Loyal I.T. Solutions offers managed antivirus solutions for home and office. Contact us at quotes@loyalit.com.au for more information on our managed antivirus.

Another handy tool is a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Program, which can monitor for any potentially malicious activity on your network and alert you if there are issues. A SIEM application can also provide daily security logs, ensuring extra security. Loyal I.T. Solutions recommends Perch Security. To learn more about Perch, view the Q&A video here.

If you are working in a home environment where multiple people may be accessing your computers, then secure login is a great tool. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is also a great tool – see our blog to learn more about this. Alternatively, why not think about a YubiKey to manage multiple logins, including online programs and social media. Contact us if you want to know the best secure login system for you and your business.

If you are working from home, you will have documents and data that you need to store or forward on. Correct data storage and management is essential if you store documents on your computer’s hard drive. If you have multiple users accessing your equipment or if your computer gets damaged or breaks, you could lose all the data stored on your device. The best options are saving items to a server (remotely) or via a cloud-based program, like SharePoint. Alternatively, if you do not have a server, the MS Suite offers an Office 365 cloud-based storage program, that you can access through a web browser. As a bonus, the MS Suite also has a video conferencing program available – Teams. Contact Loyal I.T. Solutions to learn more about secure data management.

If any of these items are of interest to you, please email quotes@loyalit.com.au for more information or call the office on (02) 4337 0700.

If you missed part one of this blog, click here for tips on hardware in the home office.

Happy home working!