When TDL surveyed customers on their experiences since COVID, patterns began to emerge in their approach to transforming their systems and processes which led us to form the COVID rapid transformation map.
Most Australian enterprises have now entered into a new rhythm of remote working and online collaboration as a means of doing business.
70% of our customers have already ‘addressed the immediate’; employees can log on and customer service continues in some form or other.
The next phase, is optimising the less than ideal remote experience that was created by such a rapid shift from the office. This phase sees leaders looking to ensure customer focus is priority, employees are productive, and systems and processes are optimised.
TDL have identified a four-point checklist for emerging concerns in the ‘adapt and optimise’ phase.
Managing your remote environment with TDL’s four-point checklist.
1. Manage your assets and endpoints securely
Ensure your devices don’t lose domain trust
If the domain trust is broken between user devices and the domain, users will not receive important system and security updates, more importantly when you eventually return to the office individual devices will be locked out of the system and will require a system administrator to manually unlock each device. If you have a large workforce, this will quickly become unmanageable.
Manage disruption to seamless sign on for users
If the domain trust is broken, users password changes will not be synchronised and will require them to login twice for each access, once with their old password and once with their new password.
TDL recommend:
2. Ensure stable and scalable connectivity
VPN Issues
Watch out for legacy VPN solutions which may compromise your user connectivity or be overly complicated to use; Some VPN solutions may send all traffic via the VPN (no split-tunnel), this will include system updates, security updates and non-business updates (YouTube, social media, etc).
Microsoft recommends the use of VPN split tunnelling to remove pressure from corporate network links where possible (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/Office365/Enterprise/office-365-vpn-split-tunnel).
TDL recommend:
3. Secure your remote workers
Security training and tools
In this new work mode, employees are not focussed on security which can compromise your business security. It’s important to consider the security toolsets in place and incorporate training for your staff.
TDL recommend:
4. Enhance the employee collaboration experience
Collaboration tools
Does everyone have access to the tools they need to connect and collaborate?
TDL recommend:
Managing a team in times of change
Do front line leaders understand how to manage remote teams and use collaboration tools effectively? Effective communication across disparate locations can be challenging, especially where training hasn’t been provided from the onset.
TDL recommend:
Teams Governance
With the ability for simplified sharing, a business risk exists which allows users to share confidential data maliciously or unknowingly.
TDL recommend: