For an IT department to run effectively in-house, it will need various things to operate at full capacity. As you can imagine, a remote IT department will still need these tools to reach the same output levels, no matter where they are based across the country. If you have just started a new business or you’re looking to move your physical business to a remote setting, this article will help explain some of the things your IT department will need to run effectively.
Software
In order for your remote-based IT department to run as efficiently as possible, you will need to ensure that you have quality software to accompany your hardware (which we will cover later!). In fact, it’s safe to say that your IT department would be completely useless without software to support the company as a whole.
It will be in your best interest to work with your IT department so that you can fully understand their needs. This can be difficult to do remotely, but if you have spoken to them plenty of times in person, perhaps from your previous physical office space, this could be easier.
There will be some essential software needed. Your IT staff will use applications such as email to communicate directly with your staff or even your clients, so they can figure out the issue early and get it sorted. Without this key piece of software, it’s hard to imagine how your IT department could function remotely.
Of course, there will also be pieces of software that can enhance the output, rather than be a basic requirement. Remote support tools that can take control of some hardware from far away, and even screen-sharing, are tools that will help your IT department do its job more effectively. The TSplus Remote Support tool can help your IT team see the problem directly, and even take control so that they can fix it remotely. Such tools enhance your IT department and allow them to work better with the whole team, getting more value for your team.
Other pieces of key software that can enhance your IT department include video software. This refers to your team using applications that allow them to share their faces and speak to people more face-to-face. This allows workers to connect and communicate remotely through a traditional method. This can be key for your IT department to connect together and actually work through any problems together.
Partnered with some of the remote support tools mentioned above, your IT department can work with other departments to easily complete tasks. Your IT department will also be able to work with team members internally better through such software. As mentioned at the start of this section, you should communicate with your team directly to discuss what sort of software will be best for them.
Hardware
How will your IT department be able to work without any hardware? They would hardly be best placed to work with IT if they don’t even have any IT pieces of hardware. The first thing they need, and perhaps something you should give to them directly, is a computer/laptop. This could be the primary piece of tech that your IT department workers need, especially if they don’t have any hardware at home that they can use.
Other pieces of hardware include computing accessories. You will have the essentials, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Of course, you won’t need these additional pieces of hardware if you already have a laptop, as these will be built in.
Some hardware that your IT department needs may depend on the industry you are operating in. They may have specific needs that other types of businesses won’t need to adhere to and, therefore won’t need certain tools. Generally speaking, you should understand what your IT department does, as this could help you know what sort of hardware is required.
Support
Lastly, while your team will need hardware and software to be able to work effectively, that won’t be the only thing they need. They will also need support from you and the company in general. This will be especially true for a business transitioning to a remote set-up for the first time. You will likely have team members who have never worked remotely before, so you will need to provide support to them however you can.
This may come down to how you communicate or help them with their new set-up. Not everyone will have a home office ready to go and may need help setting up their new remote workspace. This means ensuring the team has the hardware and software that they need, as mentioned above, as well as ensuring that they have adequate space.
You can send out anonymous surveys to your IT department workers so that you can find out what they would want to feel supported. You will want to do all you can to help your workers feel more accepted and supported. Only they will be able to tell you how that can be achieved. Guessing could lead you to do the completely wrong thing.
