IT Impacts of COVID-19

For the foreseeable future, most businesses may need to continue to work from home to reduce health risks related to COVID-19. What will that mean to companies operating in an extended work-from-home dynamic? In the short- and long-term, there are adaptations and considerations regarding IT and infrastructure that can keep employees and businesses safe in the short- and longer-term. 

First and foremost, businesses need to upgrade security surrounding their VPN. Cyberattacks, phishing schemes, and more are at an all-time high, and there is no chance that they will be decreasing in the long-term. Companies need to be hypervigilant when it comes to suspicious emails, whether at home or in the office, by protecting information through cloud-sharing rather than sending attachments or downloads to keep business data secure and safe.

If remote work continues, companies will also need to consider the ongoing security and functionality of their employees’ at-home work environments. If remote work is looking to be a more long-term scenario, employees may need to have separate machines for work versus personal use, and they will need to have a secure router for their WiFi. Employees also need password management and a reminder system in place with appropriate protocols. Without these measures, employees may overuse the same password between work and personal accounts, may not change their passwords frequently enough, or not be protective enough of their passwords. For the sake of business, cyber, and network security, your VPN needs to know which user is logging on, wherever they may be.

If your business is in the midst of or preparing to transition to in-office operations, you will need to take thorough security precautions to ensure your employees are not transferring any threats from their home environment to your business networks or devices. Your IT provider should be assisting you with the appropriate measures to protect your business environment as your employees return to working in an office environment. 

Our world is changing–and we will be adjusting for some time in the near and long-term future. Knowing that your business has the right IT and managed services partners can give you the peace of mind you need to ensure that your business, employees, devices, networks, and sensitive information is safe and secured.

At MidnightBlue, our focus is on keeping your business secure, backed up, and running 24/7, so you can focus on running your business. Contact us today to talk about managed services and IT solutions that make the most sense for your business.