Winter is coming! A winter storm warning has been issued for North Texas counties including Dallas, Collin, Denton, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Grayson. Neighboring counties may be affected as well. By as early as Thursday morning, 2 to 4 inches of accumulated sleet and snow is to be expected. This could be the biggest snow in DFW since 2015. However, due to the complexity of the winter forecast, the predictions may still be subject to change. What does this mean for businesses? Well, to work from home of course! Here’s how you can prepare for the storm.
Remote Work
Since the beginning of Covid-19, many companies have adopted the idea of working remotely. Some companies have even taken on a 100% remote stance as a result of the pandemic. However, not all companies have resorted to working from home, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, during times like these where the torrent weather conditions call for bracing at home, remote work may be necessary.
Employees are not the only ones who benefit from remote work. Here are some ways employers benefit from it as well:
- Increased productivity: Working from home can mean fewer distractions for your employees, which leads to increased productivity. Employees are given the option to take brief breaks when needed, allowing space for them to fully commit to their work and abide by their own schedules. This can leave employees feeling more energized and eager to focus on their tasks.
- Efficient communication: When working remotely, employees have many options of communication platforms to choose from in order for communications to stay In one place, resulting in improved organization and better collaboration between employees
- Improved work-life balance: Letting employees utilize a better work-life balance leads to fewer burnouts and heightened time utilization.
- Larger talent pool: Instead of being limited to one area for new hires, employers are given the option to choose people from anywhere. This may be a viable option for many companies, given more options of candidates to select from.
- Lower turnover rates: For many employees, big life events can mean leaving a role at a company. This can be anything from relocating to a new state or country to even having kids and needing to stay home to take care of them. Giving the option of working from home, you won’t need to worry about losing valuable employees to significant life changes.
Complications of Working From Home and How to Prevent Them
Of course, with working remotely, comes potential complications as well. Hackers are always finding ways to infiltrate systems and reap the benefits of compromising sensitive data. Here’s how to protect your business from cyber criminals at bay:
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is an essential tool for protecting your computer and data as they travel across the internet. By creating a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the web, VPNs ensure that sensitive information remains private, even when using unsecured or vulnerable websites. This layer of protection is invaluable for preventing hackers, malware, and other cyber threats from exploiting weaknesses in your internet connection.
VPNs are not just for personal use; businesses rely on them to safeguard proprietary data, protect employees’ online activity, and maintain the integrity of their systems. For individuals, VPNs offer an added layer of security by concealing your IP address and location, keeping your online identity anonymous. This is especially important for those working from home or accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi networks.
For home users, VPNs can protect activities such as banking, shopping, or accessing private accounts, ensuring that your data remains out of reach of prying eyes. Businesses, on the other hand, can use VPNs to securely connect remote employees to the company’s internal network, maintaining productivity without compromising security.
If you’re planning to go remote, we offer comprehensive solutions to support your transition. Alongside our reliable VPN services tailored for both businesses and personal use, we also provide Microsoft Suite services to meet the needs of remote teams. These tools empower your employees with secure access to essential applications like Word, Excel, Teams, and more, enabling seamless collaboration and productivity from anywhere.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your security, protect sensitive data, or enable your workforce to thrive remotely, we have the solutions to help you succeed. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can support your business or home computing needs.
Conclusion – Brrrr!
If you’re finding yourself home this winter season, fear not! The storm shall pass. But don’t forget to stay warm, eat soup, and enjoy plenty of hot cocoa (the ones with the tiny marshmallows of course. No questions asked!). And don’t forget, we’re here for all your IT needs. Contact us today, and we’ll brace the storm together. Let’s build a snowman!
