Do you feel like you are falling behind at your job? Or Are you an overachiever who wants to get ahead of work to impress the boss?
Believe it or not, we sometimes find the means to bring our professional work at home. Doing our job at home means utilizing work databases and cloud applications through the use of our personal devices. Though it seems like a harmless deed, you might actually do more harm than good to your company.
You might think, “What possible harm could I do?”
Logging into personal devices leads your company’s network vulnerable to viruses. Though we try to provide our devices with anti-virus protection programs, some may not be adequate enough. In some cases, our software is not updated because we simply hit that “remind me later” button. Without the proper security, we can unknowingly bring in a virus to our company’s network, exposing it to valuable information.
Also, it is important for employers to keep in mind that they do not have complete access to their employees’ personal belongings. Therefore, they would not be able to monitor activities on personal devices. Without supervision, employees have eligibility to download information for their own agendas. At the same time, employees can unintentionally leak personal information on company servers that can affect company operations.
Tip:
“DO NOT use your personal devices when Working Remotely From Home unless it is covered by our managed service plans. Only use devices that are under our vigilant watch of patching, updating, and monitoring.”
Having a managed service plan for personal devices can greatly help secure company information. The business’s data can be monitored through the services by a reliable IT department and ensure the integrity of the user while Working Remotely From Home.
How Can Captain IT Help?
We can set up a way for you to work from home securely; call our office if you would like us to set that up please call (951) 335-4650
For a FREE Network Assessment, schedule your appointment Click Here
We work 24/7 year-round to ensure that your business does not fall prey to data breaches. For more information on how your business can best be protected, schedule a FREE 2-hour assessment with Captain IT by filling out the form linked.
Here is how you should access your company’s network while Working Remotely From Home:
1 Request to have remote access to your work computer. Many companies require permission to access the VPN. Call your IT (Information Technology) department or visit the IT website of your company to apply for access.
Depending on the nature of your job and your company’s Internet security policies, the IT department might be able to assist you immediately.
If the IT department requires supervisor permission, contact your supervisor and have him/her make the request on your behalf.
You will probably need to provide your username and password to request access.
2 Install VPN software on your work computer. Virtual private network software needs to be installed onto your work machine so that you can work from home. Go to your IT website for the link to download the software and the instructions. Installation is usually self-guided.
VPN software instructions may be different for Mac and Windows users. Make sure you are reading the correct instructions for your operating system.
If the IT department does not configure your work machine for you, the technicians may give you instructions for configuring your computer yourself.
Call or email your company’s help desk if you have trouble with the install or configuration.
3 Connect to the VPN. Once the VPN software is installed, you may need to activate the VPN. On a PC, Go to Start→Programs, and then find the name of the VPN software you installed. Double click the VPN client to open. You may be prompted to enter your username and password. This will vary based on your company policies.
If you are using a Mac, go to your “Applications” folder and click on the VPN software you installed.
Your VPN may automatically connect after it is installed. Read the installation instructions or contact your IT department.
4 Enable Remote Desktop on your work computer. Remote Desktop allows other computers to connect to your work computer. For Windows users, click on Start→Control Panel→ System→Remote Desktop. Check the box that says “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.”
Write down the full name of your work computer. You will need this later when you connect from home. The name of your computer should be listed under the box you checked.
If you are a Mac user, you can go to the Mac App Store and download “Microsoft Remote Desktop”
5 Leave your work computer on when you leave for the day. Your work computer needs to be connected to the network in order to be accessible to a remote computer. Launch the remote access software on your work computer, if required. It depends on how your IT department has configured your network.
6 Check the system requirements of your home computer. Before you install the VPN software on your computer, make sure that your home computer meets the system requirements. The requirements will vary based on your company. Typical requirements include an up-to-date operating system and a certain amount of RAM (hard disk space). Requirements will differ for Mac and Windows users.
System requirements are usually available on the IT website.
If you have questions about the system requirements, call or email your IT department.
7 Download the VPN client software to your home computer. Load the VPN client software to your home computer just as you did to your work computer. The installation process is usually self-guided. Make sure you follow the directions.
If you run into problems, your IT department may have you bring your computer into the office to install and configure the software.
If your IT department does not install the software for you, the technicians might give you the software to take home along with installation and configuration instructions.
Call or email your company’s help desk if you have trouble with the install or configuration.
8 Launch the VPN client software on your home computer. On a PC, Go to Start→Programs, and then find the name of the VPN software you installed. Double click the VPN client to open. You may be prompted to enter your username and password.
If you are using a Mac, go to your “Applications” folder and click on the VPN software you installed.
9 Access the Remote Desktop on your home computer to Working Remotely From Home. You must now access the Remote Desktop on your home to the computer to connect to your computer at work. If you are a Windows user, go to Start→Accessories→Communications→Remote Desktop. Once you have reached the Remote Desktop, type in the name of your work computer then press “Connect.” You should now be connected to your work computer and able to work from home.
You must be logged into the VPN before connecting through Remote Desktop.
If you are using a Mac, download “Microsoft Remote Desktop.”
If you have trouble locating your work computer on the network, contact your company’s help desk.
10 Know that your home computer may be slower than your work computer. The speed of your VPN connection depends on the speed of your internet connection speed at home. The faster your network speed, the faster your VPN connection will be. Keep in mind that the information that you send and receive is encrypted. The encryption process slows things down as well.
11 Do not use your VPN for personal web surfing. Your company can see all of your web activity when you use a VPN. It is not a good practice to conduct personal web browsing over the VPN. You do not want to get in trouble at work. Simply minimize the Remote Desktop window if you need to do something personal.
To learn more and see images check out “What to do if you do not have an IT Company / Guy?
