Whether you’re looking to start your own home business, or you’ve found yourself in quarantine, a suitable home network set up will ensure you stay on top of your work. Working from home can have many benefits including reduced stress, no more peak hour morning commutes and enjoying the comfort of being in your own familiar space.
Setting up an appropriate home office can be different for everyone depending on your jobs specific needs and requirements. For most, a simple set up with a computer, telephone and printer may be enough to get by. However other people may want more whether to help with the job or your own comfort, such as a dual monitor set up or ergonomic equipment.
You need to take the time to assess your needs and requirements so you can invest in the appropriate software, hardware, storage and more.
In the past, home desktop PCs were the computer of choice especially if working from home, however as technology, the market and requirements have shifted, smartphones and tablets have begun to take over as the device of choice in some cases.
Mobility is important, which is evident by the popularity of laptops, however you will find that you can get an equal or greater performance from a PC desktop for a reduced price. Many people will choose to add mobile devices such as tablets to supplement their main computer as a means of flexibility.
It is also worth noting which operating system you need to use. Some professions such as photographers or designers may use an apple device over Windows due to more suitable programs and software.
If your workload increases and you find you need your technology upgraded, a PC provides more options for improvements. For example, a PC can easily have its RAM upgraded as well as the graphics and storage, whereas in laptops some of these features could be fixed.
In terms of repairs it is also easier to opening the console of a PC and replace or repair the part in question. With a laptop it can require more effort and can be more difficult to repair at times as parts could be specific to the laptops model.
Wireless
Wireless offers you the mobility and flexibility to conveniently access the internet without the need for ethernet cables. If you have portable devices such as a laptop, tablet or mobile, this connection is required for these devices.
Wired
If you are using a stationary desktop PC or if your set up is in a fixed location, then you may want to consider using a wired connection instead. While you won’t have the ability to move around, you will generally get better speeds and more reliability using a wired connection. Be sure to do your research when choosing your Internet Service Provider to make sure they have reliable coverage and good customer service. A loss in your internet connection can result in a loss of income.
Internet Connectivity
As Australia continues its NBN installation program, soon all homes and businesses will be fitted with the new fibre optic network. You will need to make sure you are on a suitable data plan so you don’t run into any disruptions during your work.
You will need a high-speed internet connection if you are considering VoIP. VoIP is a telephone communication that is transmitted over the internet. It is common for people working from home to use this technology as it is cost-effective when compared to landline phones.
VoIP plans will generally be generous in terms of calling rates and call forwarding services and other advanced calling functions. Many of the plans are inexpensive and offer unlimited free calling for international and long-distance calls. Some Internet service providers (ISPs) offer VoIP plans with your broadband Internet connection subscription.
If you know you are going to spend a lot of time in your home office, take note of your inventory and decide what peripherals you will need. Peripherals include printers, scanners, ergonomic equipment, keyboard, mouse, external hard drives etc.
When choosing peripherals if you have the budget you should avoid going for the cheapest options. Keep in mind you are using these devices daily, so you need to be sure these are reliable and provide comfort. For example, using a high-quality ergonomic keyboard and mouse will provide hours of productivity and improved comfort.
For printing options, its recommended to use a multifunction printer so can save space by having your prints, copies and scans all done from one device. If you’re worried about the ongoing costs of printer cartridges, you can now buy EcoTank technology printers which use bottles instead of cartridges. These not only help the environment but also come with two years’ worth of ink in the box!
Depending on your occupation, the software requirements you need will vary. However, you can be sure that the two basic needs of any business are to require an office productivity suite and email system.
Many users will go with the Microsoft Office 365 for Business program as it provides you access to all essential Microsoft programs without the high price tag. Using this system allows you to pay a subscription fee instead.
The Premium Office 365 subscription gives you access to the following:
Data storage will be critical to your business, not only for file access but for archiving purposes as well. Fortunately, there are many options when it comes back up and data storage. The first step is to assess exactly what your storage needs are. You can then use one or a combination of options to ensure you always have access to your data.
Some questions to ask:
For modern peripherals, such as flash memory and cloud storage devices, home office users now have more opportunities to back up and store data than ever before. The variety of choices makes storage very accessible and varies from small thumb drives to cloud storage, network-attached storage, and more.
An external hard drive connects to your computer via a USB port. Modern hard drives can offer substantial storage space and if portable can be small in size as well. An external hard drive is a cost-effective way to implement one of your storage options.
Cloud Storage
This is a great option to be able to remotely access backed up data on multiple devices. Cloud storage is a back up solution that is transmitted over the internet to a secure location. The cloud storage company is responsible for using encryption and security techniques to protect the technology of its data centres. Using a high-speed broadband Internet connection, you can share and access files through your web browser. Data recovery is quick and easy when a disaster occurs.
Flash memory is a common type of storage used in USB sticks, SD cards and Compact Flashcards. These devices allow you to easy transport data from one device to another as they are portable and do not require external power. These devices hold smaller amounts of data, usually up to 256GB, but can be found up to 1TB.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network-attached storage provides easy and reliable access to your files and documents on network infrastructure. This type of storage can be as simple as a hard drive connected with an Ethernet cable.
NAS solutions can also offer more advanced storage by providing multiple FireWire or USB ports. This allows you to connect multiple hard drives to expand your storage capacity.
![[ OPEN BOX ] Arlo Pro 5 2K Spotlight Wire-Free Camera, 1 Pack - VMC4060P - New](/assets/thumb/VMC4060P-OpenBox.jpg?20230315090149)
![[ OPEN BOX ] Eufy S3 Pro Add On Security Camera](/assets/thumb/T8162TW1-OP.png?20241219100207)