As technology advances, it naturally becomes more integrated into daily life. That means many things, good and bad alike. For starters, the internet allows people to pursue working from home jobs that can transform their financial situation, but that entails meeting certain tech criteria. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of your tech when you work from home.
Surge Protection
When working with computers, you always have to face the risk that your machine will be damaged during a power surge. As advanced as modern computers are, they are still made up of many delicate parts, and those parts just can’t handle the full force of a power surge. This means that you’ll need to take certain precautions in order to protect your computer from the inevitably of thunderstorms and the power surges that often follow lightning strikes. First and foremost, you shouldn’t operate your computer during a storm, because that can increase the likelihood of damage in the event of a surge. For optimal safety, install drawout circuit breakers in your home so that you can remove the circuit break in the event of a severe storm. It’s also important to make sure that your power strips are surge protected and, ideally, grounded. Wall outlets are typically grounded by default, but power strips aren’t always protected from surges. When buying power strips, be sure to look for surge protection and grounding features in order to protect the connected devices, such as your computer.
Productivity
Working from home sounds like a dream job, and it certainly can be. However, businesses and their employees alike all have to overcome a certain curdle. From the comfort of your own home, it can be incredibly difficult to stay on task. In other words, you can be too comfortable, and too distracted, preventing your from bringing your A game. There are myriad ways to abate this problem, but one of the most effective is time tracking apps. One of the biggest hurdles from remote workers is the lack of structure. A strict schedule and oversight from a supervisor go a long way toward keeping you in the right headspace for work, but putting those restrictions in place yourself can simulate the structure of a 9 to 5 in a pretty profound way. Outside of this, be sure to minimize your exposure to distractions, and get dressed and sit at a desk as if you were in the office as normal. All of this will help to protect you from yourself in order to stay focused.
Cybersecurity
You’re really at some degree of risk anytime you’re online, but this is typically minimal. However, your job may have you visiting strange sights that you otherwise wouldn’t be aware of, and that’s where the risk becomes palpable. First and foremost, you’ll want to pay attention to the URL when you visit an unfamiliar website . If the address starts with “https,” the website in question is secure, and there’s nothing to worry about for the most part. However, if the URL begins with “http,” then that website is unsecure. In other words, it is lacking encryption and decryption protocols, and that can open you up to the threat of data theft or malware. On that note, install antimalware immediately. Antimalware is not a cure all, and you’ll still want to be vigilant in order to avoid the problem entirely, but mistakes happen. You can’t be on your guard 24/7, so you need a safety need to protect you when and if malware finds its way onto your system.
Remote work is a blessing for workers and their employees. It gives workers the ability to work the job that’s right for them, and it allows businesses to save money. However, there is a downside, and that is the lack of oversight and protection granted by your employer. These tips will help you make the most of your work from home.
