The pandemic may have subsided to a degree, but there are still a lot of people working from home. Now that so many people have seen how convenient it is, many do not want to go back. Whether you are one of those people or one of those who worked from home already, it is essential to have the right tech for the job. You obviously don’t need the same kind of resources that an office building has, but there is a certain bare minimum. So, let’s look at six of the best WFH hardware upgrades.
A More Secure Router
The average person does need to beware of hackers and scammers, but not to the same extent as a business. When a private individual gets “hacked,” the most likely result is identity theft. In other words, they will steal your identity/credentials in some way and use them to impersonate you as they rob someone who has more money.
Here’s the thing, though: When you are working from home, you will probably be accessing a company network to one extent or another. If your home internet security is not good enough, it can present a weak point for both you and your company. Thus, it is a good idea to invest in a high-end router with built-in security. If you want to get serious, switch the firmware on your router with an alternative called DD-WRT.
Consider A Desktop Hosting Service
Virtualization is the creation of “systems within systems.” It works by creating a virtual hard drive and installing a particular operating system. If that virtual drive is hosted online, it gives you a way to access the same operating system and desktop from any device.
This sort of thing is usually called DaaS or Desktop as a Service. So, instead of taking your work laptop everywhere, you might want to get a hosted desktop that allows you to access all your work resources on the go.
Ergonomic Improvements
Not all of this hardware is digital. You might also invest in some things that will make your work-from-home experience a bit more pleasant. For instance, if you are going to be spending a lot of time in front of a desk, you might want to get a more comfortable chair.
If you are going to be doing a lot of typing, you might want to get a wrist pad so that the bottoms of your wrists don’t get rubbed raw. A better mouse or a better keyboard will also help a lot. Anything that makes you more comfortable while working is likely to improve your productivity.
A Whiteboard
This is another non-digital hardware improvement that can make a big difference. When you work from home, you will not have someone standing over your shoulder and telling you what to do.
Thus, you must be self-motivated and keep track of all your necessary tasks. Depending on the complexity of your job, though, this can get difficult. That is why you might find it helpful to invest in a simple old-fashioned whiteboard and some dry-erase markers.
Video Communication Services
When you are working from home, you must maintain good communication with the company and with other employees with whom you may be collaborating. Doing this with standard text messaging is a little bit of a pain, so it makes sense to invest in a video conference service such as this one.
The purpose of this software is to cut down on the need for meetings. With the better ones like Loom, you can record your face and also your screen, allowing you to show people various things and point out important details. You should go for an app that has these features, and a text-based chat should also be considered essential.
A Wi-Fi Range Extender
This is a simple device that connects to your router and extends the range of your WiFi signal. You may or may not need one of these, but they can be very helpful. If nothing else, it will give you a greater degree of flexibility when you choose your work area.
Conclusion
There are all kinds of other things that can help you to improve your work-from-home productivity, but all of these are good places to begin. No matter what you choose, we wish you luck and a great career.
