When it comes to your business, your office is integral. It’s where your employees are. It’s where your equipment is located. In today’s digital world, more and more aspects of business are starting to be done online. You don’t always need to be there. Sometimes, however, you might need to access your business when you’re not in the office. An employee might need something from you or you need something done quickly before you can get in. Here are four ways to stay connected to your office no matter where you are.
Automate
Home automation is becoming more commonplace. Today, even businesses are starting to automate their offices. With automation, you can control things such as your heating, air conditioning, lights, and security system. You no longer need to wonder if you remembered to set your alarm system or if you altered the temperature on the thermostat. Instead, you can easily shut off lights that were missed or set the alarm if you forgot to do so before you left, all without having to drive back to the office. Not only does this provide you with peace of mind, but it also helps your business to save money. By altering the temperature or shutting off unnecessary lights, your office is using less energy. This reduces your carbon footprint as well as your monthly utility bills.
Set Up a VPN
VPN is an acronym for virtual private network. This solution offers you a way to connect remote devices to your office network. Unlike a public Wi-Fi connection, a VPN connection is encrypted. You don’t have to worry about unauthorized individuals connecting to your network and going through all of your business information. The only ones who will be able to access the VPN are those who have the password.
Once your VPN is set up, you can connect wireless devices to it. This may include your smartphone or other smart devices. You will then be able to access your office’s network from anywhere, just as if you were at your desk. You can also set up other users so that others, such as those who work remotely, can do the same.
Be Able to Print at a Moment’s Notice
Sometimes, you need documents printed right away. Your employees might need some information to provide to a client but they don’t have access to your computer. You might need something ready for you as soon as you walk in the door.
Using enterprise mobile printing, you can print documents from your smartphone even though you’re not at your computer. Mobile printing allows you to provide better service to your clients, which can help to enhance your relationships with them. It can also help to boost your productivity. No matter where you (or anyone else from your office) is located, you can generate a print job and have the necessary documents in the hands of the individual who needs them in very little time.
Cloud Computing
Cloud storage is becoming more common for businesses. You can store large amounts of information and access it via an internet connection. By storing information this way, you free up vital computer space. Storage is scalable. As your business grows, you can increase the amount of storage space you have instead of having to replace your computers or invest in other physical systems. One of the greatest benefits of the cloud is the protection it offers your business. In the event of a catastrophic event that destroys the computers in your office, the information stored in the cloud is still there.
Anything stored on the cloud can easily be accessed remotely. With cloud computing, you (or other employees) can access documents stored there. All you need to do is enter specific credentials. These credentials are there for protection. No matter if you’re across the country on a business trip, you can still access the documents you need right from your smart device. If you have employees who work remotely, you can provide them with the credentials to sign on. This way, they need to access the cloud storage and access any information they might need to complete their tasks. You can also share documents with them through the cloud.
When you can connect to your office on the go, you eliminate the need to go in just for one or two little things. You can take care of other essential business while still giving the employees in the office what they need quickly. This connection then helps to boost the productivity of your office and reduce unnecessary stress.
