Businesses Working From Home
COVID-19 is largely increasing the number of small businesses working from home. There are many options to bring work home with you. To start working from home, you will most likely need a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This allows you to access a server, network attached storage device(NAS), your workstation, or any other network device while out of the office. To set up a VPN, you will need a firewall at your business. CompuSys can set up and manage a firewall as part of a Managed Services agreement, or on demand as needed. You may also need to send and receive work calls from a remote location, this can be done with our CompuSys Hosted PBX VoIP phone system.
Remote Access
Once your firewall is set up and configured for VPN access, the VPN will need to be set up on the laptops or workstations that will be used while employees are out of the office. Once these devices have VPN access, there are a few ways to continue work. If an employee uses a laptop in the office, that laptop may be taken home, connected to a home network and the VPN, and it will work as it does in the office. Other options include the use of the VPN and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to either their office workstation, or a terminal server. These setups will give the employee complete access to their office resources, including programs and files.
CompuSys Hosted PBX VoIP
Having access to your business phones is crucial when working from home. Traditional phone systems may allow for the forwarding of phone calls to employee cell phone numbers, but those employees will need to make calls from personal cell numbers. CompuSys Hosted PBX VoIP phone system provides 2 significant advantages. Users can take their office phone home. As long as the phone has internet and power, users can make and receive calls as though you are in the office. CompuSys Hosted PBX VoIP phone system also allows for the use of a softphone mobile application to be used on employees’ mobile devices without compromising the security of their personal phone number. This soft phone allows a user to use their own device, but still be able to send and receive calls from the office number, and even allows for the transferring of calls to other extensions within the phone system or phone numbers outside of the phone system. (Meaning you can transfer calls to any number!)
If your business is closing, or looking to work from a remote office location, reach out to our experts who are readily available to assist with getting your company setup for remote operations. Give us a call at (386) 238-1692 or send us an email at [email protected]!