Changing technology is one of the many ways COVID-19 has impacted our lives. Recently, the Governor of Virginia lifted our state’s mask mandate. He also announced that Virginia will end COVID-19 mitigation measures on May 28. Looking back from this end of the tunnel, it’s hard to remember where we were just over a year ago. The global pandemic wreaked havoc on our lives. It also brought massive changes to the way we work and how we use technology.
Closed Offices and Changing Technology
The pandemic spawned widespread mandates to close offices and quarantine at home. This seemingly overnight requirement to work from anywhere meant we had to accelerate our technology roadmaps and rapidly embrace mobile computing. Businesses adopted change at a pace far faster than normal. Many companies are still reeling.
The way I see it, snow days are now a thing of the past. When work or school can happen from anywhere, there is no longer a need to shut down if we can’t get to a particular location. Even as offices reopen, I expect that flexible schedules and remote work options will continue to be a key part of most corporate cultures.
Collaboration Tools Reach the Next Level
The need to collaborate while working away from the office also drove advancements in video conferencing and collaboration tools. As we adapted to our changing environments, the pace of innovation around products like Zoom and Microsoft Teams accelerated to ludicrous speed. Personalized backgrounds and breakout rooms that were once astounding are now commonplace. As of April, Microsoft Teams even has its own Instagram account.
At Invario we’ve seen a widespread move away from desktop computers to portable laptops equipped with cameras and microphones. However, supply chain issues continue to impact delivery dates. Give yourself plenty of lead time when ordering new computers.
Growing Cyber Security Threats
Unfortunately, not all of the technology changes were beneficial. Verizon’s latest Mobile Security Index shows that the rapid move to remote work often took place without proper security measures in place. In the rush to ensure their workforce could operate remotely, many businesses left themselves vulnerable to cyber criminals. According to the report, “even though 40 percent of businesses surveyed recognized that mobile devices are their company’s biggest IT security threat, 45 percent of them knowingly sacrificed the security of mobile devices to get the job done.”
Highly publicized incidents like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware fiasco should be a cautionary warning to all businesses. Cyber security must be top of mind. Very few small or mid-sized businesses would be able to keep operating after paying a $4.4M ransom. If you don’t have security measures like employee awareness training or advanced endpoint protection in place, you’re putting your company at risk. Reach out to me directly to learn more about implementing these cyber security tools at your organization.
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Referral$
If you know of a company that would be interested in the services of Invario, please email me the company name along with the phone number and email for the person we should contact.
That is all you have to do! Upon completion of the onboarding of a new customer, Invario will pay the equivalent of one month of Invario service to that customer. Recipients that cannot or do not wish to receive a referral payment may elect to have the referral fee donated to a charity of their choice or put into a company entertainment fund.
Referral$
If you know of a company that would be interested in the services of Invario, please email me the company name along with the phone number and email for the person we should contact.
That is all you have to do! Upon completion of the onboarding of a new customer, Invario will pay the equivalent of one month of Invario service to that customer. Recipients that cannot or do not wish to receive a referral payment may elect to have the referral fee donated to a charity of their choice or put into a company entertainment fund.