Remote administration is a reality for many in the networking field.
This may be because you’ve taken a work-from-home position or because you work for a company with multiple locations spread across a large area.
Remote administration can be a cost-saver for your company, and a more convenient way for you to get your job done.
However, there are additional things to think about when managing a network from a distance. Today, we share a few tips to make your remote networking job more successful.
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Communicate enough to overcome the lack of face time. The work of an IT professional can seem invisible as it is, even when you are on site. Much of what you do is going on in the background, making users unaware of how much you’re responsible for. You may rarely receive feedback or acknowledgement, except when things go wrong, unfortunately.
That means that if you’re working remotely, it’s all the more important to establish regular communication with your stakeholders. Make sure the decision-makers who affect your budget and operations get the kinds of reporting and information they need.
If network updates and changes will affect end-user experience, give them as much warning and as many reminders as you can. Even if co-workers and users don’t see your face every day, make sure they know you’re there and they’re in the loop about what you’re doing.
Understand security implications. Managing security on a distributed network can be a challenge. Role-based access control, data logging, and multi-factor authentication are always important security tools; they can become even more critical if you don’t have full physical control of systems and users.
You may need to utilize data encryption more often if sensitive data is frequently traveling between separate geographical locations.
Many of the same best security practices that you’re accustomed to when administering on-site can become a bit more challenging or time-consuming if you’re implementing them from a distance.
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Implement the right management tools. Not all remote administration tools will be right for your needs. If you have the opportunity to weigh in on what your company uses, some additional research will be to your benefit.
For instance, if you work in an industry in which compliance is important, you may need to invest in tools made for your sector. Security features, ease of use, and reporting capabilities will all be factors you’ll want to look at as you weigh costs and benefits of remote management tools.
As companies expand and change their business models, there will continue to be more network admin roles that involve remote work. Frequent communication, security awareness, and careful selection of management tools will all contribute to your success as a remote network administrator.
