Our current reality has created a big push for people to work from home. There are many applications and services that give organizations the ability to have their employees work remotely. The Work From Home Readiness Checklist consists of three main pillars that you want to be sure you cover when implementing a work from environment: hosted items, access tools, and policies.

Hosted Items

• Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
  SaaS is any software or application that is hosted on the Internet and is accessible by users either from an organizational device (laptop, phone, tablet) or a personal device. Systems like payrolls services, ERPs, Office 365 fall into this category.
• Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)
  IaaS is a managed computing infrastructure that is offered on-demand, meaning computing can be quickly scaled up and down. Azure, Mi-CLOUD, and AWS are examples of this and include the application, the data, and the computing needed.
• SharePoint Online
  SharePoint can be used as a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information from any device.
• Microsoft Teams
  Microsoft Teams allows you to collaborate, communicate, host meetings, file, and app sharing in real-time in one central place.
• OneDrive for Business
  One Drive for Business allows you to store, sync and share work files in the cloud. It gives you the ability to collaborate on files without email attachments.
• Exchange Online
  Exchange Online is the hosted version of Microsoft’s Exchange Server messaging platform.

Access Tools

• Remote Desktop
  Remote Desktop is a multi-user environment that shares a server(s) for users to access an organization’s applications, files, and other resources. A server-based remote desktop would run a version of a server-based operating system, which differs from virtual desktops that can run Windows 10. Remote desktop is great for general use – Office Suite, standard applications but gives the end-user very few options.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Environment
  Similar to a Remote Desktop, VDI is multi-user, the big difference is each user gets a Windows Desktop (not server) and Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) in Azure. VDI/WVD can support those applications plus specialty/higher-end applications and allow the user to “personalize” their desktop.
• Remote Accessible Desktop
  Many organizations assign physical desktops to each team member, but these devices can be made accessible from outside of the facility. This is done with technology like LogMeIn, Team Viewer, or other remote access software.
• Organization Owned Laptops
  Laptops given to employees that contain company programs and information that is to be protected by the employee using it, allowing the employee to use it at home or on-the-go as if it were their work desktop. These belong to the company and must never be used for personal use or storage.
• Softphone Accessories
  Softphone accessories allow you to use an application, like Microsoft Teams, on your computer, tablet, cellphone, etc. to hook into a corporate or company-owned phone system or managed phone system. This will allow you to be an extension of the company, through the use of an accessory, from anywhere.
• Cell Phone
  If approved and monitored by the company, cell phones and smartphones are a great way to reach a virtual desktop or remote desktop environment for work. Although you may not be able to use it to its fullest extent, this still allows you to access key information on-the-go, especially with all of the apps available today.

POLICIES

• Bring your own Device (BYOD) Policy
  This policy establishes guidelines for employees to use for their personally owned electronic devices for work-related purposes, both while at work and at home. Specific restrictions should be put in place for employees accessing internal resources on a personal device outside of the office.
• Cell Phone Policy
  Does your organization reimburse a portion of the employee’s cell phone bill or do you provide an organization owned cell phone. What are the restrictions regarding either.

We want to make sure you have everything you need to keep your team collaborating securely from home. Take the Work From Home Readiness Quiz to check your readiness!