05 Nov Buying the best tools for remote working

2020 has come with a unique set of challenges to everyone’s lives across all backgrounds. Businesses have had to adapt to a different way of working. They have had to produce a place of work that is productive whilst allowing for the 2-meter distancing measures bought in by the government, for some this simply isn’t possible. This lead other businesses to make a transition to a staff force with the majority working remotely in a relatively short amount of time.

Now that we prepare for potentially another long lockdown, and with the government telling people to work from home if we can, the need for good remote working infrastructure is imperative to the survival of many businesses up and down the country.

Managing the IT infrastructure of your business and guaranteeing a good quality of IT is very important for multiple reasons. The most important of which is the latest insurgence in “Shadow IT”. Not sure what Shadow IT is?

Shadow IT

Shadow IT is the use of unauthorized software, systems, and services. When in the usual work setting, in the office, etc, software, hardware, and network services that are being used by the employees are properly protected and licensed with authorization protocols to ensure restricted access. As workplaces evolve to being more remote-based, employees are making their own choice of tools they want to use to carry out their work. Employees are using their cloud drives to store sensitive data that is the companies responsibility to protect and store, they are also using platforms such as WhatsApp to share work-related information.

This is a growing problem that as a business you need to have a grip on as tightly as possible. Now that nearly 50% of workers are working remotely due to Covid-19, shadow IT is becoming more of an issue for many companies.

Three of the most common forms of shadow IT applications include the hardware used (laptops, mobiles, etc), ready to use software packages like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, etc, and cloud services like SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS (we will explore the cloud services later in the blog series).

Why do people choose Shadow IT?

Shadow IT simply helps employees work more efficiently, it also helps improve productivity as onsite applications may be slow or lacking in productivity-enhancing features.

Security concerns

Shadow IT can have a serious effect on security. When using shadow IT employees often don’t inform the IT department, in turn making it difficult to provide up-to-date security measures. Shadow IT applications are not vetted by organizations, resulting in violations of legislation like GDPR.

Managing Shadow IT

The first thought that comes to mind is banning shadow IT altogether, this can be very difficult and non-productive. Finding a way to manage shadow IT can create better opportunities for innovation and in turn, become a positive thing for your business.

There are many ways to take action regarding shadow IT:

• Use asset management tools to keep track of all assets used by the business.
• Put plans in place in case of a data breach.
• Test all deliverables before putting them to use.
• Constant education for your team is essential, keep them up-to-date with industry best practices and your business ethics regarding security principles.
• Keep your team aware of your business’s IT roadmap. Project your scope clearly and prioritize your IT goals.
• Regularly monitor your networks to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to security.

Don’t let shadow IT creep into your business. Arm your team with the tools they need.

Empower your team with the right tools they need to do their jobs – before they go looking for their own solutions. Netcom is here to offer a wide variety of cloud services, tools and service solutions customized to fit your needs and workflow requirements. Contact us today and we can help guide you to get the most from your teams’ remote working!

We’re Netcom, how can we help?

At Netcom, we are well-versed in helping companies in various sectors navigate the often mystifying, jargon-filled worlds of IT.  With over 15 years’ experience and covering virtually all aspects of business IT, we can help guide your business through this uncertain period and help you deploy cutting edge solutions that will not only help you weather the current storm but keep your business at the top of its game beyond the pandemic.

For guidance on IT strategy, cybersecurity and digital transformation why not book a free, no-obligation discovery call today by calling 0114 361 0062.