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:
- Increase the maximum machine account password age and ensure the policy applies to all machines. (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/domain-member-maximum-machine-account-password-age)
- Ensure the machine has connectivity to the domain (Always on VPN/Direct Access, traditional VPN, etc)
- Joining devices to Azure Active Directory instead of Windows Active directory
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:
- Next Gen VPN solutions – contact us for a VPN remote Teleworker solution
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:
- CyberAware Remote online security training and secondly a review of your security posture, policies and technologies including advanced malware protection, multi-factor authentication and cloud delivered security protection such as Umbrella. Contact our team to see which option is best for your situation.
4. Enhance the employee collaboration experience
Collaboration tools
Does everyone have access to the tools they need to connect and collaborate?
TDL recommend:
- The use of a full collaboration suite such as Office 365, this allows for reduced requirements to on-premises connectivity, scalability, and clear messaging paths for all types of communication collateral.
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:
- Looking at the people, process and technology aspects of remote collaboration. Our webinar with TDL people, process and change specialist is a good place to start, TDL also offer consulting and training packages for leaders tailored to your organisation.
- TDL also recommend a Teams consultation on configuring Teams to work as effectively as possible in your organisation, mapping teams to business units, groups and allowing cross-collaboration.
Teams Governance
With the ability for simplified sharing, a business risk exists which allows users to share confidential data maliciously or unknowingly.
TDL recommend:
- TDL can assist your organisation to configure governance and compliance policies and processes to ensure sharing, external chat and email is configured to mitigate against data leakage.