Work is no longer done primarily in the office – employees must be productive on the go, at home, or while they travel. But they need IT’s help to stay connected.
In addition to a productivity boost, greater mobility improves employees’ morale and the company’s ability to recruit people.
As more users require mobile support, here are some steps IT must take:
- Build a robust network – Most mobile workers will be connecting through the web, which means their companies must have robust and reliable broadband service — as will the users’ homes. They’ll also need strong routers, and a VPN connection.
- Consider virtualization – Desktop virtualization can allow users to have access to the same virtual desktop at home as when they’re in the office.
- Test security – Users’ home networks likely aren’t as secure as a corporate network, so be sure to run tests to make sure hackers won’t be able to access the company through the mobile worker’s connection.
- Develop self-help tools – Troubleshooting will be difficult when a user’s in a different location, so give mobile workers access to FAQs, self-help guides and other information to help people handle common issues on their own.
- Train support staff – Supporting remote users requires a unique skill set. Consider having some help desk staffers who specialize in remote support.