5 Tips for Using Virtual Technology for Your Business

During 2020, work life changed for millions of people around the world. Small and large businesses alike turned to remote work days to protect their employees and clients from the pandemic while maintaining profits to the best of their abilities. Many of these companies have decided to continue with remote work options even after it is safe to head to the office again. Of course, with a different method of getting the job done comes a different need for technology. Check out these tips for finding what you need to keep your company going.

1. Monitor Your?Networks

With an increase in the number of employees working from home comes an increase in demand on your network servers. If you want to continue meeting as a company, you need to make sure your network can keep up. NetFlow is an excellent way to do that. You may be asking yourself “ What is NetFlow? “. It is a network protocol system that collects, sorts, and analyzes data to ensure your network is prepared for the ebb and flow of traffic throughout the day. Additionally, it provides security analysis by identifying anomalies that could indicate a security breach and sending the information to your IT department. NetFlow does all this by focusing on IP flow, a cache of information, the Command Line Interface, and an export of data known as the collector.

2. Choose the Right Technology

The technology you use is important. What do you need it to do? If you want to track clients, track employees’ hours, and video chat with them regularly, you may need to rely on several different applications. Regardless of what you hope to do while your business is operating remotely, you must choose the right products. Look for applications that provide multi-tasking options, have easy-to-use interfaces, and have strong reviews. Remember, there are free and paid versions of nearly anything you’ll need. Small businesses may be able to get away with using a free version, but if you own a large business or plan to grow in the coming months, it is important to invest in paid versions of your favorite applications now to receive the full range of benefits.

3. Rely on Video Technology

The more virtual face-to-face time you get with your employees, vendors, and clients, the more likely your business is to continue to thrive. Ask questions to the entire group, rather than private messaging specific people, for example. Use video conferencing for live meetings and create video messages for daily announcements or other important information. You can also use many video recording applications to record what’s happening on your laptop screen and provide thorough visuals for your team. Finally, videos make it easy for you to create training information and provide presentations for employees and clients alike.

4. Block Distractions

Whether you’re the team leader or an employee, blocking distractions when you work from home is important and goes beyond finding a room where you can close outside noise away. Consider what websites and applications distract you on your personal laptop and phone. They’ll be easier to access from home, so blocking them during working hours is important. There are a wide variety of focus applications and extensions available for your laptop and mobile devices. Use one to block your social media distractions during working hours. You can set specific schedules so the apps will be available again when the work day is over.

5. Take Advantage of the?Cloud

When your team is working from different places in the city or even the world, you need to make file sharing easy. Email is still an option, but it isn’t the most efficient one. Rely on cloud sharing instead. Regardless of which provider you use, storing and sharing documentation, images, and other important work information online makes work easier. You can provide usernames and passwords to those who are allowed to access the information, and even decide whether they can only view it or will have editing capabilities. Shared applications are also important if your company relies on scheduling appointments and meetings or if you have multiple people who need to keep atop of a list of to-do tasks. Avoid signing up for the first applications and technologies you come across as you make the switch to remote work. Research multiple options first to ensure you get what you need while staying within your company’s budget.

Originally published at https://www.namasteui.com on September 4, 2020.