7 Technological Issues Remote Workers Have to Deal With
According to Forbes, roughly 13 percent of people work from home. The growing presence of remote and hybrid work models increased even more during the pandemic.
Still, despite the shift in how people prefer to work, there are notable challenges that present themselves for remote workers.
One such example is tech issues. Not everyone is tech-savvy enough to figure out a solution on their own. Working in an office usually comes with a dedicated IT support team that is available on the spot.
Meanwhile, if you are stuck at home alone, getting to the bottom of the problem and fixing it might take a while. In some cases, you will have no option but to seek professional help.
The purpose of this article is to cover some of the most common tech problems faced by remote workers and to provide solutions to these problems.
1. Blocked Access to Company Tools
Remote work would be difficult to imagine without cloud storage, instant messaging tools, emails, and other tools.
It’s all fine and good if you have no trouble accessing these tools via your profile. But what happens when you enter your login credentials and the tools deny you access? The first step is to check whether you entered your login information correctly.
If the problem persists, you will need to reach out to the administrator or whoever is in charge of managing a specific tool and ask them what is happening. Sometimes, the tool itself might be down due to maintenance.
Other times, it could be a missing update, which you have to download and install manually. Then, there are instances when resetting your password is enough.
2. Password Management
Speaking of passwords, they are another pain point for some people. Not everyone is willing to go through the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their accounts.
For starters, a password should not be a simple word that is easy to crack or a number combination that represents your birthday.
No, passwords need to be difficult, with lowercase and capital letters, special characters, and numbers. The more difficult the password, the harder it is to crack.
Another rule of thumb is to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. If one account gets compromised, you risk exposing yourself to other profiles, too. People stick to a single password because it’s easier to memorize.
Which brings us to another point. If remembering different passwords is so difficult, there is bound to be a solution, right? There is, and it comes in the form of password managers that let you store login credentials and allows access only with a master password or 2-factor authentication.
3. Internet Connection Woes
An unstable internet connection is one of the worst technological nightmares remote workers have to face. Working without an internet connection is more or less impossible.
It can be tricky to figure out what the issue is. If the connection is usually fine and shows signs of weakness for a bit, it might be a temporary problem that will solve itself.
Alternatively, if the issue persists, you need to take action. The first step is to restart the router. The second is to disconnect from the network and reconnect.
If you are using Wi-Fi instead of an Ethernet connection, check for third-party interference. Peripherals like wireless printers could be jamming the signal, weakening the connection to your device.
Once you exhaust all the available options, reach out to your internet service provider. They might see something on their end and can solve the problem by working it out internally or sending a service representative to your home.
4. Cybersecurity Challenges
Cybersecurity problems might start out small and snowball out of control. Not everyone is aware of the dangers on the internet, and they open shady email attachments or URLs without realising what is waiting for them.
One might think that having reliable antivirus software is enough to fend off malware and other threats. To an extent, it is true, but anti-malware software is hardly enough nowadays, given how smart malicious software developers are.
Identifying potential dangers is a must. Companies ought to educate employees and let them know how to identify online threats.
Another valuable tip is to use virtual private networks. VPNs are quite cheap, but they offer a lot of value. In addition to giving you access to geo-restricted content, virtual private networks also encrypt your internet data and work as a wall between you and a potential attack.
Finally, employees need to keep an eye on available operating system updates. A new OS update brings not just performance improvements but also new features. More often than not, new operating system versions get pushed by developers to improve security against the latest cybersecurity threats.
5. Insufficient Storage
Some people are notorious for hoarding digital clutter on their devices. And it’s not just about keeping as many documents as a computer’s desktop allows, for instance.
Over time, files from internet downloads, app installations, and so on accumulate. One should know how to uninstall app from MacBook or another device once they no longer need an application.
After all, there is always an option to download and install an application later if you need it. Not to mention temporary junk, such as cache and app extensions, that increase virtually every day.
Other than keeping a close eye on files you no longer need and deleting them, you can also take another approach, which is utilizing external storage.
For that, there are two notable options. The first is cloud storage. It is a digital solution that lets you transfer files between your device and the cloud account. The downside of this solution is that it costs money to have efficient storage. Basic plans offer a few gigabytes of space, which is hardly enough.
The second option is an external storage accessory. A USB flash stick or a hard drive is a one-time investment that ought to provide a plethora of storage. You can store files for safekeeping and even back up the data, which is a precaution against hardware breakdown, cybersecurity threats, and other potential problems that lead to data loss.
6. Overheating
Hearing your computer throttle up and make loud noises gives a sense of anxiety. Overheating and a notable change in the temperature are reasons for worry, too.
The problem with overheating is that it can be tricky to solve the issue on your own. More often than not, it is the dust inside the device. If you have no prior experience taking a computer apart to clean it, you risk damaging the device.
It is less risky with desktop computers, but if you were to try to take a laptop apart, the odds of making things worse are much higher.
The pro tip here is to find a professional who can clean the dust inside your computer. A local computer service store ought to offer such services.
One other suggestion to minimize overheating is a cooling pad. If you are on a laptop, you can invest in an accessory that provides cool air to the laptop. Of course, a cooling pad is not the same as cleaning the dust inside the laptop, but it still offers value.
Lastly, check what background applications are running while you are using your computer. Some redundant apps might consume more memory and other resources than you expect, causing the device and the cooling unit to work extra to keep up with the hardware demands.
For MS Windows, you can check the Task Manager to sort the processes. On macOS, use the Activity Monitor.
7. Sluggish Device Performance
If you are unhappy with the overall performance of your device, consider how old it is. Outdated hardware is something you might be able to replace.
On the other hand, if you bought your computer recently and it struggles to carry out even the simplest tasks, then the issue lies somewhere else.
One possibility is that your device is infected with malware. Run a scan using antivirus software and check for corrupted files. If the scan reveals malware, remove it from the device.
If the sluggishness appears when you run a specific application, it might be that the app itself is missing an update. Check for an update, and if there is one, download and install it.
A device might also perform sluggishly if it has too little free space. We already mentioned how some people struggle to avoid digital clutter.
As a final solution, you can also consider reinstalling the operating system to give the computer a clean slate. Before you do, however, make sure to back up the data.
Wrapping Up
All in all, there are a fair few tech issues that present obstacles to remote workers. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to panic. Be smart and take it step by step to reach a conclusion.
And if you cannot solve the problem on your own, there should always be someone who can help you out, particularly if you work in a big company with a dedicated IT support department.
