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Can Video Conferencing Boost Productivity?

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Can Video Conferencing Boost Productivity?
work from home video conferencing

Introduction

Can video conferencing software have the potential to boost productivity? It is easy to get wrapped in the latest tech revolutions and the host of new acronyms they produce When looking to add technologies to improve workflow you can be bombarded with acronyms to the point where nothing makes sense anymore. When looking to adopt new technology or improve on existing technology a vital consideration is if it will help boost productivity and thus improve the bottom line. This needs to be answered without a flurry of acronyms and methodologies. This article will look to answer whether video conferencing can indeed boost productivity as some have claimed.

Right and Wrong

The recent spikes in the need for HD conferencing solutions have led to companies either successfully integrating the technology or struggling to integrate the technology, to the point that it actually hinders productivity. Investing in the right solution then is the first step to unlocking the potential video conferencing promises. Here it can be helpful to bring a third party on board so that a tailored solution that fits the company now and is scalable for the future can be developed.

Collaboration Enabler

Once the first hurdle of getting the right solution is cleared, the true value of the technology can be produced. One such area where value is first apparent regards collaboration. Teams can now operate in different geographical locations as well as have important stakeholders sit in on meetings this promotes a high level of communication between parties. Further, upgrades to the technology have enabled employees to no longer worry about the quality of the video conference meaning more attention can be focused on the project at hand.

Remote Workforce

For many companies to remain competitive they have adopted policies regarding the hiring of a remote workforce. This current reality raises questions on how to best keep the workforce productive. IN the past remote workers were prone to feeling disconnected from the office-based workers. Video conferencing software can bridge the gap experienced here as remote workers will have a greater opportunity to be heard and collaborate.

The Numbers

A recent study seems to support the ideas mentioned above. In the study, 93% of executives agreed that the effectiveness of teams was increased through the adoption of video conferencing. Amongst the companies polled 96% of them had already incorporated telecommunicating to at least some degree. With regards to remote workforces, 93% of the respondents agreed that productivity amongst remote workers was improved. Further, 92% of those polled agreed that it was important to be able to see the faces of their remote workers which in turn boosted other workers’ trust in the remote workforce.

Good Policies

It is clear that the technology can indeed unlock increased productivity amongst workforces there are few requirements that need to be met. The first discussed was having the correct solution in place. Further, the company needs to develop sound policies and strategies governing video conferencing software. If this is done with collaboration and productivity in mind the benefits that other companies have seen are likely to be replicated.

Conclusion

It can be argued, rather successfully, that video conferencing software should no longer be seen as a possible option to open communication channels. Rather, it should be elevated to the default setting and approach. Given the benefits, such technology allows this would seem the only logical approach.

How to Choose the Best VPN Chrome Extensions

Editorial Team
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How to Choose the Best VPN Chrome Extensions

A Virtual private network is a service which provides an encrypted tunnel for connecting to the Internet, protecting online privacy and sensitive information. VPNs are typically used for secure Wi-Fi public connections, covering IP addresses and privatizing your browsing. It avoids unwanted traffic jamming and allows users to carry out operations remotely. There are several VPN Chrome Extensions available and some of them are free.

best vpn chrome extensions

A VPN Chrome Extensions expands a network of companies through encrypted Internet connections. As communication between the system and the network is encrypted, the data will remain private. An employee can function outside the workplace and connect to the company network securely. It is also possible to connect smartphones and tablets via VPN.

VPN benefits you should know.

There are various features or benefits of VPN Chrome Extensions for you. Here in this article we have listed some of the best advantages of using a VPN.

Plentiful server locations

A VPN protects the data of the user by encrypting it using a link between the user’s device and the web server of the VPN. Therefore the user acknowledges the Web server’s IP address (rather than its true IP) and this results in a VPN, i.e. that a user will appear at a place other than their actual one.

It can have a lot of use, for example, bypassing what is known as geo blocking to access striking or shopping sites unique to a certain region.

Mobile apps

Each VPN Chrome Extensions offers Windows PC client software. The real benefit of a VPN Chrome Extensions however lies in its mobile support and keeping your device secure when you are out of public Wi-Fi. Therefore, ensure it supports the technologies of the mobile devices you are using when selecting a VPN. Express VPN has manual configuration instructions for Windows Devices, BlackBerry, ebook readers, Linux and many more.

Integrated kill switch

There is no 100% protected VPN service, and they could be vulnerable to IP leaks, which would disclose your true IP address online. This can happen more frequently if the VPN service is overloaded. The solution is a VPN kill switch, which will track the failure of the VPN link – when the connection drops, the real IP is exposed and a kill switch prevents data transfer.

Briefly, it destroys the link, as its name implies, to prevent the passage of unencrypted data (and the passage of your true IP).

Anonymous DNS servers

DNS (Domain Name System) resolution is the mechanism by which the address is modified into the address bar of your web browser. The VPN Chrome Extensions purpose is to secure our private lives, and we want the VPN Chrome Extensions to be set up so that we can also secure our users during the DNS translation process (maintain data from the ISP’s prying eyes).

While the Google DNS translator is often used for its speed, from a privacy point of view it would be a lousy option.

No log policy

In terms of logging policies, the VPN services are different. Many VPNs, such as data that can be returned to authorities on requests, can hold elements of the browsing activity for months.

A VPN Chrome Extensions that has a “no log” policy, even though it is not conservative, because many businesses claim to be providing it because it still has some data (e.g. session logs) in reality. It is important to read the privacy policy of the VPN provider carefully to make sure there are no secret catches.

Router support

Instead of the VPN Chrome Extensions being installed on all your networks, an alternative solution is to install the VPN immediately on the router of your home network and to use the VPN support on any device connected to your network. Although this is always a better option, there are two items that are required: a compatible router and a supporting VPN service. A VPN is a successful intermediary networking tool to operate on a router.

Support for Open VPN

Although all VPNs preserve the data secret by building an encrypted data path, there are a range of protocols for this data encryption. The greater the range and choice of protocols provided by a VPN, the better, however you want to have a service following the Open VPN protocol. This is the new Standard protocol, which is considered highly stable. Ideally, you can choose between the two Open VPN (TCP and UDP) varieties.

A great VPN browser extension unlocks your geo blocked content, secures a link and secures your personal data from hackers and cyber criminals. The number of VPN Chrome Extensions in the Chrome database is immense. There are so many choices, and every extension claims to be the highest.

Essential features to look while choosing VPN chrome extensions.

The durability of Chrome provides a great deal. Its functional configuration, reliability and protection are some of the reasons why many of us preferred and rejected Internet Explorer, Firefox and Edge.

·         Pick the right VPN as per the needs and go beyond free choices.

The first step to optimize your VPN is first to pick the right one. Make sure that VPN Chrome Extensions provides the appropriate infrastructure and customer service and is a secure encrypted link that can be enabled easily.

·         Save money with an annual charge

You can save money by opting for an annual subscription if you want to go for a paid VPN.

·         Deploy the extension to Chrome VPN

It might look superfluous as Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser and the only point of communication with the Internet for many people, but by logging in to your VPN using the OS-level software, stuff like Skype and the Microsoft Office 365 productivity suite can also be protected by the VPN – a huge bonus for a genuinely private.

Best VPN Chrome Extensions

There are numerous VPN Chrome Extensions from a huge list of companies. But in this article we are mainly focusing on companies which have chrome extensions. Chrome VPN extensions makes blocked content available. In addition to the release of such files, VPN offers protection to mask your IP address, internet connection logs and personal information so that all anonymous material can be unblocked and accessed.

Here’s a list of best VPN chrome extensions: 

RUSVPN

RUSVPN  for Google Chrome Is a fast secure VPN service with 362+ VPN servers· more than 38 Countries. If it’s linked to a Wi-Fi public hotspot, your email, passwords and personal details are encrypted by Rusvpn, there’s no need to worry about your privacy or data security..

Express VPN

Express VPN Chrome extension is well built and controls the traffic of your browser. ExpressVPN allows a superb browser extension to handle the native VPN connections of your computer. ExpressVPN has developed applications on Windows , MacOS, iOS , Android, Linux and other wireless routers.

Nord VPN 

This extension is of budget friendly application. It is a user-friendly device and has Chrome extension support. NordVPN is an independent browser extension, which operates with or without the native NordVPN program installed. The applications allow you to connect easily either by selecting a position on a map or a server from a list. Checkout our in-depth review of Nord.

Safer VPN 

The Chrome extension of this VPN is an HTTPS proxy and is user friendly. The app uses 256-bit AES encryption, protection against DNS leak, and the VPN link with the option to kill switch.

Windscribe

This VPN is a brilliant Chrome plugin that can be used either separately or with the software. Instead of having a firewall which blocks all communication outside the tunnel, Windscribe has no killing switch, precisely, in order to ensure a zero chance of a leak.

Strong VPN 

It is a basic extension of chrome that allows you to modify your IP. StrongVPN allows the Strong Proxy for Google Chrome plugin extension. Several locations are open, so that geo-locked content can be unblocked, but you may want to rely on the StrongVPN privacy application.

Conclusion

By encrypting your information and protecting your online activity against cybercrime and even your own ISP, VPN Chrome Extensions secures your public internet connection. As far as online privacy is concerned, the most stable VPNs are also likely to be open with respect to their privacy policies.

In recent years, concerns about internet privacy have grown from government data leaks to Facebook data leaks to the rise of laws controlling data mining. People typically use VPNs to protect against cyber-snooping, but this software can be useful if people wish to access blocked websites or override their online identity and location. VPNs are the only solution to the question of how your privacy can be secured by providing anonymity and preventing ISPs monitoring your operation.

Hackers Absolutely, Totally Love Your Social Media Accounts

Editorial Team
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Hackers Absolutely, Totally Love Your Social Media Accounts

Cybercriminals net a whopping $3 billion a year from social media alone. Unfortunately, many of their victims actively helped them earn the money by inadvertently providing hackers with the valuable information the criminals needed to do their dirty work.

why hackers like social media accounts
PIC: Hacker

Many cybercriminals troll social media account to gather personal information because they know they can use this personal information to gain access to personal and even work computers. How well does this work? The stats make it clear that hackers are on the right track. 

MSP Marketing professional, Stuart Crawford from Ulistic asks marketing professionals consider the following:

  • About 59% of individuals use personal information such as a family member’s name, pet’s name, hobby-related word, part of one’s address, one’s birthday, or the name of a favourite book or movie to generate passwords.
  • Nearly 60% of individuals use the same password for all the social media accounts, only changing passwords when they are compelled to do so.

To make matters worse, the FBI recently warned that many people are inadvertently revealing the answers to common password retrieval questions by taking part in popular social media challenges. These challenges include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Posting a graduation photo of yourself to show solidarity with the graduating class of 2020. Such photos tend to include not only one’s graduation year but also information on which high school a person attended and, in some instances, even the name of the high school mascot.
  • Posting the name and a photo of one’s current best friend or a best friend from a particular stage of life (i.e. best childhood friend, best friend from high school/university, etc.)
  • Posting information about a first pet
  • Posting the name and photo of one’s favourite concert, restaurant, or a teacher from a specific grade
  • Posting information about the make and model of one’s first car on social media account.

With the right information, hackers don’t even need your account password. They just need to hack into your email account, say they lost the password, and then correctly answer the security questions to reset access to your account.

How to Protect Your Social media account from Hackers:

Needless to say, one of the best ways to stop hackers from gaining access to your Social media account is to not give them the information they need to do so. If you’ve already taken part in social media challenges that share personal information, delete the photos and information. Warn friends and family members about the dangers of putting up too much information on social media so they don’t inadvertently reveal information about you that could lead to a breach.

The FBI also highly recommends using two-factor authentication. Once this is set up, hackers can’t gain access to your accounts even if they figure out the password because a string of six letters/numbers is sent to your phone after you put in the password and you have to put in the code to gain access. Using two-factor authentication will make it harder for you to get into your accounts but the added layer of security is more than worth the extra effort.

Use strong passwords on all your accounts. Such passwords should include upper- and lower-case letters, symbols, and numbers. Use a different password for each account and change passwords regularly. If you worry you’ll forget important passwords, consider investing in a password manager.

Hackers are continually on the lookout for easy prey. Avoid becoming their next victim by avoiding social media account challenges that involve sharing excessive personal information and taking measures to keep your social media accounts secure at all times. Doing so will drastically decrease the odds of having to deal with a devastating attack or the sale of your personal information on the dark web. This is how to protect yourself from hackers.

Digital Marketing Vs. Social Media: How to Viably Pick Between the Two

Guest Contributor
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Digital Marketing Vs. Social Media: How to Viably Pick Between the Two

As organizational product campaigns and promotions are admiring primarily digital platforms, are in the procedure of, or have previously practiced a digital transition. Equally, an outcome analyzed, social media, and digital marketing ensured that marketers could flourish more fabulous sales activities. Even though, for an enthusiastic internet handler, digital marketing can be a distinct concept. Perhaps, several businesses and product holders are unaware of their priorities and significance to influence through online tools and networks for competitive marketing.

digital marketing vs social media marketing

When it originates to advertising a service/ product, industries or businesses positively prefer online. There are two foremost possibilities brands can resolve down, i.e., Social Media Advertising and Social Media Marketing. Equally, with better importance, the business advertisers should carry campaign techniques to realize consumer interest in detail, counting the pros and cons to decode the accurate marketing plan and approach for each product, service, and technology offered by organizations.

Reputation Of Digital Marketing

Overall, the amount of internet consumers possesses rising daily. The modern Global Digital Report, assessed by marketers, established that internet users’ statistics globally elevated from 3.66 million to 4.39 billion (i.e., a 9% increase over a year). 

Additional incredible Data represents Facebook, monthly receiving around 42,033,600,000 new logins.

The leading organizations, start-ups, influencers, and product marketers are eyeing on consumers’ interactions through social profiles. The social audience usually devotes ample time over networking platforms. A brand should invest resources equally to customers for long-lasting product presence, reach, and followers’ engagement. To enhance the social campaign, brands and product advertisers can customize various existing techniques and tips over the Digital Marketing domain, including content marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), Social Media Advertising, or Google advertising.

Social media is a considerably smart marketing strategy that fits inside Digital marketing for sizeable professional service organizations and B2B firms. Accordingly, heighten their social media presence, valued product sales, creating leads to end with successive conversion. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, consent brand holders to aim diversified social audiences to carry trending technologies, products, and services to efficient social users.

Key Variances Of Social Media & Marketing Strategies

In general, the advertising strategy and selection of networks depends on companies and industrial goals. Social media is frequently used for interaction with brand viewers/customers and mounting product awareness, whereas other methods of digital marketing promotions produce objectives to initiate traffic or accelerating trades. Still, social media platforms have additional specific features currently that empower sales. For instance, Instagram now permits businesses to tag products and retail straight over the app in several regions.

Likewise, diverse social platforms have various interest-based audiences. Social media marketing practices LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and many added online media. The audience shares valued data/content and interconnects with several communities and groups widely or privately in social networks. 

In contrast, further procedures of digital marketing take account of efficient blogs, forums, apps, Google Ads, YouTube, etc. where the consumers pursue and discover their interests and requests.

The planning method also fluctuates based on the brand marketer’s expectations. Social media campaign planning is a slightly time-consuming procedure than forming a new and marketing approach. Planning concurrently over digital marketing promotions involves creating a well-suited scheme for every channel comprising social media. Perhaps, B2B advertisers and firms prioritize content marketing as a trending concept and content circulated through posts over online media networks. The differences, as mentioned earlier, educate brands to craft engaging content.

Social Media – A Part Of Digital Marketing

Brand/Product awareness – Numerous approachable businesses continually expose higher brand loyalty and qualify social followers to catalog their product. Additionally, forming and posting better content, indeed, will create the appearance of the businesses even superior.

  • Reputation – Handling multiple social media accounts by brands is tricky. Social media executives must be cautious with the tone of communicating messages to users. Moral content carrying posts offering to users is a vital step to acquire a reliable brand reputation.
  • Competitive Benefit – Knowing and unique content can convey a brand extra advancing than its competitors. Upright content can build a buzz and create hype over the social platform audience. Let’s consider, “Boys will be boys “campaign by Gillette brand that activated a massive share of the male population, attaining 1.5 million mentions over social platforms within the first two days. The gathered tweet counts and percentages account over 230,000 times, presenting that brand ought to ensure an attitude.
  • Rising sales – The sales funnel and objectives vary for brands and each campaign. Generating a well-targeted promotion with accurate call-to-action links or buttons can initiate traffic and intensify sales conversions straight from the business’s website.

Social Media Or Better Digital Marketing Networks

The responses gathered from marketing experts are evident that both practices are essential. However, both strategies’ structure and intensity are subjected to the orientation of the service/product and the organization. A digital marketing approach is vital for uprising businesses and domains. But the nature of social media strategies can be customized and tailored to ensure higher engagements via blogs, email newsletters, websites, and e-journals of a specific business.

Businesses can employ their social media existence to instruct a wide-customer base over different networks and communities. Brand advertisers can discover potential followers and form a community of authentic consumers. Disregarding social media techniques indicates neglecting a standing from esteemed customers and abolishing marketing chance to excel around the domain.

Though, before selecting the kind of digital marketing networks brands expect to promote, Advertisers should realize audience demographics, campaign resources, and outcomes much precisely. Statistics imply business marketing experts about the highest engagement and commitment to receiving customers’ platforms over ad and content promotions. In analyzing, marketers can encounter and cross-check various strategies and techniques from competitors to their desired services/product offerings. Marketing any industry on social media has been revealed to yield sizable profits in additional methods than whole supporter amounts or likes. Related ad services are perfect for any industry with the aspiration and resources to initiate social appearance.

About the guest author:

Claire Divas is a US-based freelance content writer and long-time reader about new Digital Marketing trends to learn new things. She loves to work in WordPress and focuses on her writing skills. She is also experienced in content marketing to make a qualified SEO. She is an avid Trollishly.com Social Media Blogger.

14 Power BI Basic Interview Questions that will help you succeed in getting the job.

Sreejesh
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14 Power BI Basic Interview Questions that will help you succeed in getting the job.

Microsoft’s Power BI is creating quite a buzz in the business analytics service. There is a rising demand for professionals with Microsoft Power BI certification training. Power BI is a solution for business analytics for visualizing your data, sharing your data through reports and live dashboards, as well as embedding the data in apps and websites. In this article, you will get an overview of the Power BI tool and some basic questions related to Power BI that are frequently asked in Power BI job interviews.

power bi

What is Power BI? 

Power BI is a business analytics software solution offered by Microsoft. It consists of software services, connectors, and apps that aim to provide cloud-based business intelligence services and interactive visual insights. The interface is straightforward that enables end-users to create dashboards and reports. Whether it is an on-premises hybrid data warehouse, cloud-based collection of data, or a simple Excel spreadsheet, with Power BI, you can conveniently connect to your data sources, explore them, publish reports, and collaborate with your organization.

Basic interview questions on Power BI 

Knowing the importance of the Microsoft Power BI certification training course, your next step should be getting familiar with some basic questions that are generally asked during Power BI job openings. A set of the top Power BI interview questions has been listed below:

1. What are the different components of Power BI?

– Power BI Desktop (Windows desktop application), Power BI service (an online SaaS service), and Power BI mobile apps for Android and iOS devices

2. What is the use of Microsoft Power BI Desktop?

– It is a desktop-based application on Windows used to design, generate, and publish reports to the cloud.

3. Briefly describe the workflow of the Power BI components.

– The Power BI components work in collaboration and follow a general workflow – the first step involves connecting to the sources of data, followed by building the report in Power BI Desktop. Next, the report can be published to the Power BI Service and shared, so that end-users can access and interact with the report on mobile devices.

4. What is the function of the Power BI Report Server?

– Power BI Report Server enables publishing Power BI reports to an on-premises report server. It provides services and ready-to-use tools when you want to keep reports behind a firewall, without moving to the cloud.

5. What are the building blocks of Power BI?

– Visualizations, datasets, reports, dashboards, and tiles

6. What are the different components of Power BI?

– Power Pivot, Power Query, Power Q&A, Power View, and Power Map

7. What are some of the essential features of Power BI?

– Exploration and analysis of data from many sources, visual transformation, and sharing of data, built-in security, compatibility across multiple devices, ease of making report-related queries using simple English

8. What are the most common data sources?

– Power BI datasets, MS Excel, text, web, analysis services, and SQL server.

9. What is DAX?

– DAX or Data Analysis Expressions are a collection of functions, constants, and operators that are used in formulas for calculating and returning values.

10. What is Content Pack?

– These are packaged dashboards, reports, and datasets that can be shared and accessed by other Power BI users of the organization.

11. What is Row Level Security?

– It is a security feature in Power BI that uses filters to ensure that only the relevant users have access to the data.

12. What is the function of the in-built time intelligence feature?

-The in-built time intelligence features of Power BI allow quick and easy detection of data trends. Various attributes and dimensions, such as the date-time dimension, can be used to view the data.

13. Is Power BI considered to be a user-friendly interface? If yes, why?

-Yes, Power BI is considered to be extremely user-friendly due to its interface which essentially eases the task of exploring underlying data. For instance, there are a host of innovative visual tools in Power BI that let you combine data from different files, web services, and databases.

14. Why is Power BI popular? 

The benefits of Microsoft Power BI certification training will be evident once we look into the reasons behind the surging popularity of Power BI. Some of its salient features include: You can stay up-to-date about the data. Since Power BI is cloud-based, authorized users can access reports, irrespective of their location and the device they are using. Any change in data is continuously notified on mobile devices, allowing real-time data monitoring.
Power BI enables integration of data, whether it is located externally, in the cloud, or locally. Through the interactive dashboards, you can effortlessly search and explore data. 
Power BI allows you to have a clear and consolidated overview of your financial data in a single window.
Power BI comes with remarkable compression abilities of text/.csv and Microsoft Excel files that contain data, too vast for analysis and visualization in Excel.

  • You can stay up-to-date about the data. Since Power BI is cloud-based, authorized users can access reports, irrespective of their location and the device they are using. Any change in data is continuously notified on mobile devices, allowing real-time data monitoring.
  • Power BI enables integration of data, whether it is located externally, in the cloud, or locally. Through the interactive dashboards, you can effortlessly search and explore data. 
  • Power BI allows you to have a clear and consolidated overview of your financial data in a single window.
  • Power BI comes with remarkable compression abilities of text/.csv and Microsoft Excel files that contain data, too vast for analysis and visualization in Excel.

Need to take a course 

As the demand for data reporting and data visualization is soaring, most companies are on the lookout for Power BI Dashboard Designers. There is a surge in Power BI job openings. The stepping stone towards a career as a Power BI specialist is a Microsoft Power BI certification training course. Having this certification validates your expertise in data analysis, data modeling and visualization, dashboard configuration, and direct connection to data sources in Excel as well as Power BI. 

Power BI skills let you create real value for the business, giving the latter better control over customers and operations. The certification course trains you for seamless handling of Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and Power BI mobile. Proficiency in Power BI opens up a range of potential career paths, including data engineers, data scientists, business analysts, and product managers. Such professionals, who have knowledge of power query, data warehouse roles, self-service analytics, and Microsoft flow, are instrumental in changing the course of businesses through the robust platform of Power BI.

Conclusion

Power BI has simplified the processes of data integration and data visualization with the added benefits of Row Level Security, cloud-based environment, and Natural Language query. It has become an indispensable tool for companies aspiring towards a data-driven culture. There cannot be a better time to sign-up for a Microsoft Power BI certification training course!

Reboot Quickly, Efficiently, and Safely Post-Pandemic

Sreejesh
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Reboot Quickly, Efficiently, and Safely Post-Pandemic

As of May 8, 2020, twenty-six states have loosened restrictions to allow some businesses to begin operating again; furthermore, many of the states that are still under lockdown are making plans to reboot their economies. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic still poses a danger and business owners will need to take measures to protect their staff members, partners, suppliers, and clients from sickness.

rebooting it services post covid

Nick Hess who owns an IT services company in Portland, OR, and who has a reboot plan for his business shares some of the types he’ll be following in both his Oregon and Ohio offices.

Decide What “Reboot plan” Means for You

Reboot/reopening your business should not automatically mean bringing all your employees back to work regular shifts. Allowing staff members to work from home whenever possible not only helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also makes life easy for parents whose children may still be at home. In addition, it helps your business save money, time, and hassle that would have been spent on adapting the office to allow for social distancing.

Don’t wait until your state’s economy is fully reopened to begin planning the reboot plan for your business. Planning ahead of time can help you get your business up and running faster than would have otherwise been possible. Start communicating with your employees, suppliers, business partners, customers, and potential customers now to let them know what to expect from your reboot plan operations. Your employees need to know about work from home options, staggered shift hours, and any changes in a job description or job responsibilities. Employees and customers alike need to know your new business hours and rules concerning the use of masks.

Use Technology to Minimize Personal Contact

The right IT hardware and software can help you avoid personal contact as much as possible. VoIP business phones, for example, allow you to make phone calls and video calls with ease so people don’t always have to visit your office for an appointment. FindTime and Doodle help groups of people share their personal schedules and set up meetings via the internet. Appointment scheduling apps such as Acuity Scheduling and Appointlet allow customers to schedule appointments at your business with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Pay Attention to Small Changes and Improvements

There are lots of small things a business can do to protect its employees and customers from the novel coronavirus. Hand-gel bottles should be plentiful throughout the office or business premises. Motion-sensor garbage cans help people dispose of waste without coming into contact with germs. Large corporate offices may want to consider buying each employee a hands-free door opener so germs aren’t spread by everyone touching the door handles. Clorox wipes help employees keep their desks virus-free without damaging IT equipment.

Plan for the Future

Every single business owner should have a long-term plan that includes the possibility of the economy shutting down again if the pandemic gets out of control. As part of this plan, a wise business will invest in the Information technology needed to make working from home easier, faster, and more secure than before. Furthermore, a reboot company should look for ways to use Information technology to serve clients faster and more efficiently than before.

It won’t be easy to reboot plan your business once the lockdown ends. Companies and customers alike will need to adjust to the “new normal” and the odds are that some mistakes will be made as you learn how to best serve your employees and customers. Even so, following the pointers above can save you huge problems or even the eventual permanent shutdown of your business. Plan in advance, communicate clearly with everyone you work with and invest in products that minimize social contact to help your employees work safely while providing a high standard of service to your current and future customers. What are your Reboot plans? please let us know in the comment section.

Do All Your Employees Really Need to Work from Home Until January 2021?

Sreejesh
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Do All Your Employees Really Need to Work from Home Until January 2021?

Large businesses the world over are extending work from home operations far beyond mandatory lockdown periods. Google recently announced that all its employees would need to work from home until the end of the year while Facebook and Zillow said it would allow its employees to do the same if they wished. Amazon and Microsoft report they are allowing employees to work from home until at least October while Slack says it will do the same until at least September. The move begs the question: should other businesses follow suit? 

work-from-home-covid-1
PIC: Work from home jobs

Tristan Stewart, a Dallas IT outsourcing specialists offers the following pointers to consider that can help you determine the best course of action for your company.

What are the Advantages and Need to Work from Home?

A growing number of businesses are discovering that leasing large offices and paying high utility bills is no longer a must to run a successful business. Allowing employees to work from home can not only help a business save large sums of money but also improve employee morale. Many people who can work remotely jump at the chance to avoid lengthy commutes to and from work. What’s more, a recent study has found that employees who need to work from home work longer hours and are more productive than their colleagues who work in a traditional office setting. If you’re concerned about employee productivity, there are apps like Workpuls which will help you in keeping a track of employee productivity during work from home. there is definite increase in work from home jobs.

Furthermore, companies that bring employees back to the office will need to make huge changes to adapt to the post-pandemic “new normal”. Office furniture may need to be moved around or even upgraded to ensure social distancing. Business owners may need to provide hand gel, masks, alcohol wipes, and other accessories to enable employees to avoid infection. Staggered work hours could take a toll on employees who are asked to work at inconvenient times. It’s also worth noting that there is a very real possibility that the state or even Federal government may declare a second lockdown if COVID-19 cases rise exponentially after the economy is reopened. Allowing workers to continue working from home whenever possible helps a business to avoid the hassle of bringing workers back only to send them home again a few months down the line.

Are There Any Disadvantages to Working from Home?

The work from home model leaves companies vulnerable to cyberattacks for several reasons. Many employees use personal devices that are less secure than business laptops. These devices may have outdated software, inadequate antivirus/antimalware protection, or use little or no password protection, much less two-factor authentication. Additionally, employees connect via a home network that isn’t as secure as a company one. Companies that don’t have strong endpoint security can be breached via a compromised device or connection, putting huge amounts of personal data at risk. Businesses that do opt to allow their employees to continue to work from home would need to put strict cybersecurity measures in place. Partnering with an IT managed services company that can provide proactive cybersecurity services, support, and employee training is important for any business owner who wants to avoid common yet potentially devastating cyberattacks.

Should all your employees need to work from home until the end of the year? There is no one right answer to the question. A lot depends on a company’s needs, location, current situation, and a host of other factors and increase work from home jobs. While there are many good reasons to allow employees to work from home as much as possible, there are also real risks involved. Businesses throughout the United States will need to not only assess the current situation carefully to make a wise, well-informed decision but periodically re-examine the initial decision to ensure the business is operating as safely and efficiently as possible.

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