The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way companies do business. Beyond the countless human toll is endless business disruptions – from coffee shop to corporate America.

In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, millions of employees were sent home and the sudden shift to telecommuting took many by surprise. For employees lucky enough to remain unemployed, the way they work and where they work from has changed immensely.

Today, many businesses are pausing to take note of how Covid-19 has impacted their business. They are evaluating their processes and technology to ensure that they will be better prepared for the unexpected in the future – no matter what form it may take.

Industry Changes in the Wake of the Pandemic

While virtually every business has been impacted by Covid-19 in a variety of ways, some industries have been more affected than others.

• Many companies operating in the healthcare sector have returned to the office, as have government workers and those in manufacturing. A number of municipal organizations continue to test their remote work capabilities, building on what they already have while developing additional capabilities.
• The legal industry has seen increases in remote workers, with capabilities for virtual meetings, electronic signatures and other Covid-19 accommodations.
• Real estate is another industry that is highly conducive to remote operations and telecommuting. Real estate industries have replaced their traditional open houses with virtual property tours, and would-be homeowners are browsing, and even buying, from the comfort of their couches.
• The hybrid model continues to gain traction, with employees working in shifts. A typical worker might work Monday and Tuesday at home then return to the office for the remainder of the week.

Trending IT Solutions and Services

The shift from the traditional office cubicle model to a new way of working has created enormous challenges and exciting new opportunities for businesses everywhere. Since the beginning of the pandemic and the resulting lock down, IT infrastructure has been a major stumbling block, but businesses are adapting in new and interesting ways.

In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, a number of IT trends have already emerged, while others are still in their infancy:

• Growth in Remote Capabilities – Remote capabilities are in high demand. When workers were sent home in droves, many IT departments were left scrambling. Now that the dust has settled, the need for a more robust remote work infrastructure is clearer than ever.
• Software Conflicts While Working Remotely – Many businesses have encountered issues accessing their primary software program while working remotely. Whether this is due to a weak home wireless network or a software conflict, Ontech can help you troubleshoot the issue and strategize a solution.
• Greater Interest in Cloud Computing – A peak interest in cloud computing goes hand in hand with remote work. Many businesses are moving away from local storage in favor of adopting the increased speed and security of the cloud.
• Increase in Laptop vs. Desktop Sales – Laptop sales are through the roof while desktop sales are falling. As cubicle dwellers become telecommuters, laptop sales have increased at a rapid pace, forcing many computer manufacturers to retool their operations and shift their supply chains.
• More Emphasis on IT Security – Protection from hackers has taken center stage, but businesses are also looking at the level of access their own employees have been given. The concept of least possible access has taken center stage in light of the shift to a largely remote workforce.
• Rising Interest in Managed Security Services – Interest in managed security services has increased as businesses look to secure their internal and remote workforce. Ontech Systems is proud to provide comprehensive managed security services – contact us to request a quote!
• Dramatic Spike in Microsoft Teams Use – Microsoft Teams is huge right now. Virtual meetings are essential for a newly remote workforce and tools like Microsoft Teams have promoted communication and collaboration for a wide spectrum of businesses.

Rising Cyber Security Concerns

The shift toward remote work has not gone unnoticed by cyber criminals – they’ve simply shifted their focus toward telecommuters and at-home workers.

Ransomware in particular has increased significantly as hackers target the weak security of many home Wi-Fi networks.

Why target remote workers?

• Local network security is inherently weaker than corporate networks.
• Newly remote workers may take their laptops on the road, connecting to public Wi-Fi, which is notorious for its lack of security and vulnerability to hackers.

What Does the Future Look Like?

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have had to make some tough decisions. From laying off loyal workers to postponing long-planned product launches, the short and long-term effects have run the gamut.

Some companies have come to realize they can’t function the way they did before the crisis, forcing them to adopt a new normal, with smart changes designed to improve productivity while lowering their fixed costs.

As you continue to face new challenges and look for new ways to support your remote workforce, you’ll likely have a lot of questions.

We invite you to contact Ontech Systems today by phone at 262-522-8560 or reach out to us online to learn about our remote work support services and how they can help you minimize disruption and maintain productivity no matter what challenges you face in the future.

In today’s workplace, a solid wireless infrastructure is almost a requirement for any business. With increasingly more mobile devices, applications, and employees, having a good wireless network to deliver services is extremely important to maintain functionality, minimize frustration, and provide your company with a competitive edge over your competition.

Business Wi-Fi solutions can provide your company with the access necessary to streamline operations and increase productivity.

Meet Ubiquiti

Ontech partnered with Ubiquiti to offer clients another way to resolve ongoing wireless access issues. Our technicians offer expert wireless knowledge with 5 years of experience as certified Ubiquiti Enterprise Wireless Architects.

To put it simply, Ubiquiti is a saucer shaped piece of hardware that is mounted to the wall and projects a wireless signal. In other words, it is a wireless access point.

The Struggle with Ongoing Wi-Fi Issues

Quite often, corporate Wi-Fi issues are a headache for internal IT. This is especially true in larger organizations with multiple buildings or in manufacturers with welding machines that put up interference.

Organizations in many industries suffer from weak or inconsistent Wi-Fi; distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, and education to name a few. Whenever possible it is ideal to use a hard line connection over wireless.

A strong enterprise Wi-Fi network often comes down to the placement of wireless access points. To strengthen the signal, access points are placed in areas where a signal is required.

Quite often when Ontech evaluates commercial Wi-Fi issues, one of the most common scenarios we encounter is cabling that is 15-20 years old which begs the question: do we spend $20-30,000 rewiring the facility, or do we invest in wireless?

Centralized Management is a Must

When wireless networks came out over 20 years ago, the devices (called wireless access points) were standalone devices – each one was configured independently.

This is still used in many consumer grade access points or smaller deployments which works fine for single device situations. However, any business with more than one access point should be using modern enterprise Wi-Fi solutions with centralized management.

Not only does it reduce effort (and therefore cost) in the installation and maintenance of the devices, it facilitates advanced wireless functionality to make a company’s network more resilient, more functional, and less prone to coverage gaps and problems.

The first step begins with evaluating your wireless network to determine what enhancements you need. Once you’ve made the decision to improve your wireless footprint and evaluate managed Wi-Fi solutions, here are some things to consider in order to make the most of your investment. A site survey and heat map assessment are a great place to start.

Wireless Heat Map Assessment

During a heat map assessment, you can click your mouse to load a floor plan into the software and it will show you any obstacles that might be deterring your wireless signal along with how far the signal travels.

You might find that you need less access points or you may need them in other places.

From here, Ontech takes a look at the big picture:

• How is wireless access used in your business?
• How many people access it during the busiest times?
• Are users going to be moving and require a consistent connection?
• Is there anything that needs to be filtered if you have public spaces?
• What does your wireless network need to provide right away?
• Are you providing network and Internet access to laptops, mobile phones, tablets?
• Are you going to be using wireless voice over IP phones?
• Are there specialized applications or devices that need to be supported?
• Do you need to provide wireless connectivity to other buildings that are otherwise disconnected?
• Do you need to provide guest access for visitors?

With these questions in mind, we put together a thorough and accurate estimate to address your business Wi-Fi issues.

Business Wi-Fi Solutions

Let’s look at your options

There are a variety of business Wi-Fi solutions available. Consider what you need today, as well as what you may need in the future. Think about these things in the planning stages, because they will affect your design.

Also think about what you may need in 5 years – make sure the solution you design supports this right away, or can be easily extended to support it in the future.

Wi-Fi Equipment

Unless you have specific requirements around your systems that only come with the more expensive solutions, you don’t need to get top of the line equipment in order to get good, functional wireless connectivity. You do, however, need to go with a solid, proven solution that can provide the functionality you want and need.

Vendor management

In the event that new cabling is needed, Ontech does offer vendor management. Your account manager can gather quotes on re-cabling or going wireless based on your budget and the level of performance required. After all, not every piece of technology is recommended to work over wireless.

Wireless activity reports

With some wireless solution models, detailed information can be provided to track activity at a certain time. This includes some nice reporting to help you better manage your wireless performance and security.

Based on the wireless options you choose, some wireless solutions can provide even greater visibility into the types of traffic, the users, and even prevent access to websites such as gambling, porn, social media, etc.

Wireless Security and Policy Considerations

There are many ways to implement strong network security with a wireless network. Passwords (sometimes called pre-shared keys) are the most common method, but you can also use usernames and passwords tied to the users’ computer accounts, security certificates stored on their computers, or other methods.

Each one has their advantages and disadvantages and should be discussed with your consultant prior to implementation.

You should also consider your wireless network policies at this time – what devices should connect, which people need to connect, are people allowed to bring personal devices, and if so, what networks can they connect to.

Wireless has a security feature to prevent visitors’ cell phones from hitting your network.

This is especially important in the medical, financial, or legal fields where security is paramount.

Without a special guest network defined, a guest could visit your organization with malware on their device that could infiltrate your network.

If the proper wireless restrictions are not in place, a visitor could access sensitive data like human resource files or client/patient details.

Being aware of your need to comply with regulatory and legal requirements such as PCI, CJIS, FINRA, HIPAA, etc., is very important when having these design and policy discussions with your IT team.

These are just a few of the things that go into the planning, design, implementation, and support of a corporate wireless infrastructure.

It may seem daunting at first, but by working with a knowledgeable IT partner, you can cut down on the confusion and create a wireless network that will support all your current and future needs.

A good wireless network consultant (like Ontech) can look at your needs and provide you with solid options that won’t break your budget. This also extends to your network switches and wiring!

The best wireless equipment in the world won’t function well if the network and/or power wiring it’s plugged into isn’t up to the task. Look at your network as a whole entity, we’ll show you how.

Give Ontech’s support team a call with all your wireless questions at 262-522-8560 or send us a request online.