We are rapidly approaching the six month mark since the COVID-19 pandemic flipped our world upside down. There is so much uncertainty with regard to the financial and overall impact of it to our lives, jobs and businesses. Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight.
We have children who have started the school year from desktops at home, thus starting a new era of “distance learning”. Among the challenges of this new way of educating from afar, is the decline of internet speeds, affecting almost everyone to some degree. There is also the “new normal” of working from home. What was once thought of as a no-go has turned into a necessity as Zoom meetings have overtaken those of a more traditional in-office approach. That’s not to say that there are no caveats, as poor voice quality, shoddy image and video quality and delays hinder true productivity.
Simply put, technology is not fool proof. While we are learning to adapt and adjust during these unfamiliar times, there are still everyday IT related issues that have gone un-remedied and we would like to shed some light on these and how to solve them.
- Summer heat – High temperatures are unavoidable, but you can do something to prevent it from overheating your computer. Make make sure that your equipment at work and at home are well ventilated and on a battery backup in case of any power outages. This is crucial, especially during the weekend when the AC is off in most office buildings.
- Internet speed – If possible, use a wired connection connected to the back of your modem/router instead of using wireless. Also, try stacking hours when the internet is less used.
- Say your kids are in their classes between 9-4pm, try connecting to the internet early in the morning or later in the evening. Also, contact your internet provider and ask if a faster speed is available. If your modem is old, ask the Internet provider to change it.
- Better Technology – Faster PC’s and laptops are faster on the internet too and perform better in connecting to your office PC. This is applicable for both the office and home equipment.
- Cyber Security – Hackers and cyber criminals have increased their activities. It pays to be cautious and use a good VPN and remote access programs to connect to your office and cloud. Have a good Antivirus program and scan your computer regularly, update your operating system and third party applications. Do not click on attachments and links that you are not sure of. Use two factor authentication. Get in the habit of sending emails with sensitive information via an encrypted email service. Lastly, make sure your home Wi-Fi is password protected.
- Office Emergency Visit – Have staff assigned to go to the office on a short notice if there is a trouble should arise, to turn on servers or workstation, etc.
- Communication Programs – Nowadays, programs such as Zoom and Teams have become a mainstay in our vocabulary and our work life. It is important to find what works the best for you, not what is popular. It takes time to evaluate these programs but many of these vendors are offering free trials and long term use without any financial commitments.
- Comfortable & Ergonomic work space – Many work from home spaces are not ergonomically friendly. It’s difficult for an employer to ensure the ergonomics of an employees work space, as everyone’s setup and actual work space are different. Having two monitors and putting them on adjustable arms can do wonders for your eyes, neck and back. Also, a comfortable chair is a must.
- IT Support – It is important to deal with a local IT company that you can trust and rely on for immediate support and advice in case trouble should strike.
Hopefully these pain points and their remedies offer some guidance into getting and keeping things in tip-top shape while we navigate these uncharted time. For any question you should have, feel free to contact us at: 818-501-2281 or via email at: info@ceocomputers.com
As an IT company in the business for over 32 years, CEO Computers is a trusted name in the local community and have gained that reputation by providing quality, dependability and a strong IT support system. Give us a call and let us assist you with your IT needs.
