Smart working: the best way to work – protected – from home
It can be done and it could have been done earlier. The emergency caused by Covid19 has clearly demonstrated that working from home, without congesting means of transport, causing traffic and pollution, is possible. And maybe this lesson will change the way youthink about work once and for all.
But be careful: IT experts are warning users of teleworking of the risks involved in managing home networks and their connection with corporate networks, which must always be protected. In fact, it is important to put essential measures in place to guarantee file sharing and protect operating systems from hackers who, taking advantage of the moment of crisis, operate undisturbed, spreading spyware in files that are apparently related to Coronavirus.
Always updating the routers and passwords in use to protect wi-fi is essential. If employees were used to working on company PCs that ran on routers protected by all security devices, Smart working requires that information pass through home routers, which are not programmed to guarantee the protection of external PCs, to get to corporate networks. If the router comes from a Telecom network, the update is automatic: if you have installed it, a periodic update of the data input and output port is required.
In addition, you need to install a VPN – virtual private network – both on PCs and on smartphones for secure communications: large companies have already done this, while small companies or professional studios can easily get it by downloading the appropriate apps from the cloud. If you work from home, the IT security giants recommend you separate work files from personal ones, limit apps, always keep your operating systems and software up to date and be careful when you surf the net.
For Smart working to be safe and secure, you have to use the right tools. For shared communication, Skype and Hangouts Meet, which can stream meetings, are recommended, but also Zoom, which can host 100 participants in a video call. Google Teams can be used, which combines video conferencing, chat and application integration. Finally, the use of Cisco Umbrella is also recommended, which protects communications with Duo Security, guaranteeing companies the trustworthiness of devices to allow access to the network. A free offer is also available for Slack, a renowned collaborative software, which allows you to organize messaging, scheduling and share work projects.
The moment is a difficult one, but technology can help: today, thanks to broadband and to these innovative tools, working outside the office is a concrete and alternative possibility. To face emergencies such as the one we are experiencing, to be sure, but also to reflect on a new dimension of work.
