More companies are providing remote workers with devices to ensure productivity and security while they’re working from home. According to a survey, 64 percent of businesses provided hardware like laptops and PCs to support remote employees. Providing equipment can boost morale and engagement as it makes workers feel valued and respected. Doing so also simplifies IT support as it makes it easier for IT personnel to troubleshoot and update company-owned devices remotely.
Investing in the tech and systems needed to support remote workers can lead to business success. However, you need to keep tabs on all deployed devices to protect your company’s financial health and reputation. If you’re a business owner or an IT manager, here are some effective ways to keep track of your company’s remote work devices anywhere in the world.
Use an Asset Management System
For small organizations, using shared spreadsheets to manually track assets can be an effective way to keep tabs on all deployed equipment, as long as the logs are regularly updated to keep the system accurate. However, if you need to track and manage thousands of employee laptops across the globe, you’ll need to use an asset management system to automate the tracking process. With an AMS, you’ll know the location of all your laptops, find out how well they’re working, and identify users of each device. The system also lets you know which devices are ready for redeployment, and it allows you to deploy or retrieve company-owned assets with just a few clicks.
Worried about workers bringing their devices while they go on holidays abroad? Do you suspect that certain laptops are being loaned to employees’ family or friends? Don’t fret. Most AMSs will typically send alerts and notifications so you’re informed about asset movements. This way, you’ll know if the laptop, tablet, or smartphone was taken to a different location, loaned to another person, or if it was stolen. More importantly, this system will help you to keep data secure since you can remotely disable hardware, or erase data from lost or stolen devices.
Install Productivity and Activity Monitoring Software
Want to know if your remote employees are staying on task? Before deploying laptops or PCs, be sure to install productivity and monitoring software on each device to improve transparency, strengthen security, and boost your remote team’s efficiency. Real-time monitoring of employee behaviors and actions can help you identify distractions and unproductive time, and this also provides insights into individual performance that HR can use to make fair evaluations.
Some business owners may think that installing such software may result in lower productivity, and there’s also concerns about employees feeling devalued as they’re under constant surveillance while doing work tasks. However, installing activity monitoring software can actually have positive outcomes since it keeps remote employees engaged, and it shows how their individual work can contribute to overall company success. Doing so also strengthens data security since these apps can detect unauthorized access or downloads, as well as potential threats.
Encourage Remote Employees to Follow Best Practices
Keeping company-owned devices safe and in good condition is a shared responsibility, so while you’re keeping track of equipment remotely, employees should follow best practices to keep their assigned laptop or PC secure. Remind workers to use their devices exclusively for work-related tasks, and avoid personal activities like watching videos, scrolling on social media, or online shopping. Encourage all employees to use strong, unique passwords for each of their work accounts and enable automatic software updates to thwart cyber criminals. Also, let them know that they should never leave their devices unattended in public places. Coffee shops and libraries may seem like safe places to do remote work, but there’s always the possibility of thieves lurking to steal unattended laptops or tablets.
Knowing the location and status of company-owned devices enhances security and allows you to manage business assets effectively. Keep track of remote work devices with automated systems and apps, and remind employees to follow best practices to keep laptops, PCs, and other devices safe and in good condition.
