The job market worldwide experienced a shift in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While working from home used to be a luxury, it is now almost a necessity, and it’s here to stay. Therefore, it’s imperative for business owners to put measures in place to support their remote workforce. Here are five ways to provide IT support to your remote workers.
Embrace Cloud Computing
Cloud computing goes a long way in removing geographical barriers, which is the backbone of remote working. For instance, you can provide your workers with virtual phone numbers. That way, they can attend to work calls through their cell phones without disclosing their personal contact information to clients. Cloud computing also allows remote workers to access data whenever needed, so productivity increases. However, you need to customize permission requirements, so that critical data doesn’t get into the wrong hands.
Have IT Support Round the Clock
Remote working opens up the possibility of having workers from all over the world – which translates to different time zones. Other workers might also shift to different working schedules despite being in the same time zone. Whichever the scenario, you need to provide IT technical support 24/7 to accommodate everyone. That way, none of the remote workers will have to pause their operations as they wait for their issues to be handled. IT support services include network monitoring, service desk, and endpoint management.
Maintain Cyber Security
Cyber security remains one of the enormous challenges that remote work pose. But you can collaborate with your IT department to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. The IT team should develop a security policy, such as setting up a strong password. All employees should also have antivirus software and use private connections. It is also essential to equip your remote workers with other cyber security tools, such as spam filtering tools and a secure VPN.
Also, it would be best to issue your remote workers with company-owned desktops and devices. That way, it is easier to control security protocols. Besides, all employees will have a consistent experience.
Streamline Communication
Remote workers need to have a strong sense of belonging – which you can achieve through regular communication. That might mean shifting from traditional email to more interactive platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. It is also essential to ensure collaboration among workers on projects through platforms like slack. By so doing, you will enhance teamwork at the workplace and increase productivity.
Scheduling Online Team Building Activities
While IT support is vital for your team’s productivity, remember not to neglect their social needs. Lucky for you, you don’t always need proximity to bond with employees. The workers can carry out team-building activities, such as virtual home tours, multiplayer gaming, and on-call coffee sessions.
It is also essential to provide mental health support and training programs to improve their skills. Most importantly, ensure that you observe work-life balance, by ensuring that remote workers don’t end up clocking more hours than their counterparts at the office.
