Switching to remote working: tools and best practices

Programmers, web designers, copywriters, accountants do not have to be physically present in the office to cope with their duties. Recently, more and more companies are transferring their specialists to online work. And there are a lot of positive aspects to this.

Remote work: tools to make it productive

The modern Internet provides unique opportunities to establish an efficient production process without driving IT employees to offices. That is why remote work in Moldova is becoming an increasingly popular mechanism for organising the work of IT specialists and not only.

• Email. We recommend using Gmail. First of all, here you will be guaranteed maximum security and safety of information. You can set up two-factor authentication and connect a variety of services that allow you to work with files and documents of any format. Better yet, install and configure Google Authenticator. This application generates a special code every time you log in to your account from a new device.

On Gmail, you can create a corporate inbox that multiple employees and management can access. You can also use Gmail to create a corporate email account with access for multiple employees and management.

• Messengers and chats. With regard to this tool for remote work, we would recommend installing the corporate messenger Slack. Unlike other popular analogues (Telegram, Viber, Skype, etc.), only members of a particular team can connect to it and exchange messages. It is in no way connected to extraneous channels and correspondence.

There is no information noise that is irrelevant to the overall business. In addition, you will almost never send a message to someone it was not intended for. There is an option to customise your RSS feed. Slack's functionality is completely free.

• Video chats and conferences. It is not always possible to clearly communicate a task solely in printed form. It is often necessary to quickly discuss important issues with several people at the same time. Video chats and conferences provide this opportunity. For a small number of participants Jitsi Meet is perfect. This service is free and does not require installation on the company's server. It functions without registrations and pre-settings, from any browser. The main thing is the availability of the Internet.

If the team has more global tasks and there are a lot of participants, Zoom is the best option, of course. It can be used for large-scale negotiations, conferences, webinars, etc. G Suite supports teleconferences for up to 250 people. Google Meet, which guarantees secure video calls and meetings, is also very popular.

• Google Drive. This service offers full functionality for collaborative editing of documents of various formats, which increases the efficiency of remote work. Thanks to cloud storage of information there is a real opportunity to set up a full-fledged workplace.

There is another service for this purpose - Dropbox Paper. It functions on a similar principle. Here you can work with pictures, video files, and much more. However, the entire team involved in the project will have to register.

• YouTube. A tool that lies on the surface, but when it comes to organising remote collaboration, many people simply forget about it. Access is very simple - you only need an account or Gmail email. For live streaming, you need to apply for it in advance. Approval comes within 24 hours.

Digital security

You've transitioned yourself or moved your office to remote working, you've picked effective tools, but it's important not to forget about digital security. When selecting services, keep track:

• Developer's country.
• Is there an indispensable link to a phone number.
• Whether encryption is supported.

Many other subtleties and points are also important.

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