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The coronavirus crisis is affecting different sectors, not just the health sector. With the global stock markets resenting and impaired business growth forecasts, many companies begin to view telecommuting as a safe option for their employees. In addition, in this way, they avoid paralyzing the total activity of the company.

Companies like Google have urged their workers to work from home. For example, the company's headquarters in Dublin, which usually house 8,000 workers , is empty since one of its employees had flu-like symptoms, according to The Guardian newspaper. Other companies such as Twitter are also taking similar measures, "As of today, we strongly encourage all employees around the world to work from home if they can," it could be read on the social network blog since Monday.

In the first instance, for the employee, telecommuting may seem a comfortable option: naps, breaks assaulting the fridge, more freedom for parenting; But it is not without challenges. Both the company and the workers must adopt new practices and dynamics, rely on cloud-based applications or other technologies, which, for example, allow a remote connection to the office computer to ensure efficient work.

Company Programs

The most important of all is to ensure that you have access to the company's programs (editing, management or layout, among others). Sometimes it is enough to enter a specific address in the browser, enter some keys and start working. On other occasions, this access is not possible without using a VPN connection or having a remote connection directly with the workstation's computer.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

This type of connection allows the creation of a local network without the need for its members to be physically connected to each other (as is the case in local networks within an office). It has the advantages of a local network in terms of security and the flexibility it offers to operate over the Internet.

There are different applications that allow you to connect your home computer to the corporate network, as if you were in the workplace. There are free ones, but obviously these have limited functions. Another thing to keep in mind is that since it is not a direct connection as in the office, the speed suffers from connection suffers .

You can use the VPN service that the company has (as Tensor), or create your own with platforms such as OpenVPN, although it is normal for the company to provide this service. Connecting to a VPN network is relatively easy.

No connection is required to connect from Windows. From the 'network and shared resources center' press ' create a new connection '. Click on 'choose to connect to a work network' and fill in the server information, type of VPN and your user credentials.

If you are a Mac user, open ' system preferences, click on network ' and press 'add' (+) at the bottom of the list of network services. Select VPN in the drop-down and fill in the connection type and authentication settings.

To access from an Android mobile, simply go to 'settings', press 'wireless networks, network connections or similar' and look for VPN connections in 'other' or 'more networks'. In the VPN menu press 'more' (+) to configure the connection. Finally, fill in name, type, address and encryption.

With an iPhone iOS the process is even simpler: in 'settings' press 'general', search for VPN and press 'add VPN settings'. Choose the type, fill in the server information and username.

Internal communication tools

There are services that allow you to dispense with email to coordinate teams or communicate with colleagues. One of the most used is Slack, which allows maintaining contact with the rest of the office workers through real-time messages, as well as having constant communication between various groups.

Thanks to this service, in addition to dispensing with mail, third-party applications will not be required to send files . Also, another of its advantages is the possibility of integration with various tools such as Google Drive, HubSpot, Twitter, Dropbox or Skype.

Remote meetings

Taking into account that companies that have not yet taken measures such as having the majority of the workforce working from home, are restricting business trips and canceling public events, finding solutions to hold remote work meetings becomes a priority .

The most used tool for meetings and remote job interviews is Skype . This Microsoft video call platform allows you to connect up to 10 people at once for free.

You can also share screen, documents, access conversations through your app on different devices and even has a virtual whiteboard, to which all video call attendees have access, to make presentations. In addition, Skype can be integrated with home automation devices such as the Amazon Echo Show 5.

Time control

One of the difficulties involved in teleworking is the time control. There are rudimentary options such as sending an email at the beginning and end of the day , carrying out a control of the switching on and off of the devices or directly recording these movements in an Excel sheet.

Currently there are applications that facilitate this task. Some such as Time Control or Cucorentde, in addition to registering the working day at a distance, also serve to reflect the specific tasks that are being worked on and manage both vacations and absences.

Google Tools

Being aware of the problems that teleworking can present and to contribute a grain of sand in the management of this health crisis, the Silicon Valley giant has announced its plan to help businesses and educational institutions that are being affected by the coronavirus .

Google grants free access (until July 1) to its remote work tools Hangouts Meet and Google Classroom, so far available in the business and education editions of its G Suite.

These applications allow you to work remotely and broadcast live training with video calls of up to 250 participants and retransmissions of up to 100,000 viewers, with the possibility of storing these direct in the cloud.

In addition to these two tools, Google has permanently free other cloud office applications that allow cooperative work and from home. For example, you can work in common spreadsheets and text files ( Google Docs ). In the documents the changes made by each user will be indicated, in addition to marking with a cursor of different color the place where each one is editing.

In addition, thanks to Google Drive, folders can be created in common to share files, with the possibility of sending them (with or without the possibility of modification) to third parties through a link.

Another of the indispensable tools offered by the company is Google Calendar, a common calendar that also integrates with other services of the company such as Google Keep and Task, which are used to create annotations and reminders.

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