AdvantEdge Workspaces Blog

Working from home has lots of perks: getting to stay in your sweatpants, more time with pets, no need to pack lunch, and the list goes on! However, there are some very practical elements of working in an office that get lost in the shuffle when you work from home. Is your wifi secure? Do you need to give out your personal address to vendors and clients? While a home office can be a dream, it can also lead to security concerns and logistical challenges. If you are not looking to head back into an office anytime soon, read on to learn how to secure your home workspace and keep work (and yourself) safe.

When thinking about safety, you must not leave out tech security. Invest in a secure home internet system. Ensure you have two-factor authentication on devices and a strong password on your home networks. Back up your devices regularly, and perform routine security updates. Being diligent about the technology in your office can help avoid a catastrophe further down the road.

If you hesitate to give away your address to others, worry about packages being stolen, or keep mixing up important documents with holiday cards, then it is time to consider a different mail solution. A professional business mailing address helps keep a divide between work and personal life. At AdvantEdge Workspaces, you get more than just a safe space for mail and package collection. Here, client services coordinators date-stamp and file mail, sign for items, and send notifications. You can even select to have pieces forwarded or have someone scan time-sensitive documents directly to your inbox on a busy day.

A mailing address also provides credibility to your business. It connects your work to an established workspace location, protecting your privacy while adding an extra layer of professionalism.

Home offices are great, but sometimes you may miss the amenities of a larger office. Reception, for example, is an important service for many businesses. Just because you work from home, does not mean that you cannot outsource help from a shared workspace. Phone answering services are available to you even if you do not have a physical office location. With a dedicated phone line, a professional can answer your calls with a customized message. State-of-the-art technology enables them to relay messages and field inquiries, all while maintaining a high degree of efficiency and personalization.

In a home office, you will want to keep the right items on hand. Invest in a separate work laptop and phone (if needed). Ensure your devices are free of less-secure personal information. Put a lock on your door or use a safe if you live with roommates. If you are not sure about your security, hire a professional to audit your workspace and make recommendations that are the right fit for your business.

Working from home is not going anywhere. An investment in safety and security is an investment in your future. With the right support services, you can sit down in your home office worry-free.

Call answering is the amenity you didn’t know you needed! Phone calls can be an endless distraction during the day. Every time you hear a ring, you need to stop what you are doing. Once on the phone, you can be wrapped up in long conversations or derailed by a simple junk call.

With call answering services, take back your time and leave the screening and initial handling to administrative professionals. Create a plan that works for you. Customize a greeting and voicemail recording, and draft up a forwarding plan. Your recordings serve to direct callers to the correct extension or provide important information. For forwarding, put a process in place so you never have to worry about missing an important call. While on vacation or out of the office, only certain numbers can be transferred to you while others are directed to voicemail or can provide a message. A forwarding plan can also include priority callers, times when you will be unavailable to pick up… really, whatever guidelines you need to make the service work for you. And if you truly want to disconnect, it is not a problem as staff members will communicate a personalized message to callers.

The AdvantEdge team operates under a three-step process: answer, screen, and transfer. Whenever anyone calls your number, we will pick up the phone first. From there, we screen the call. No more need to be bothered with spam messages asking about car warranties! For transfers, you will be notified about who is on the line before being connected. With this process, there is always room for adjustment, too. Every client has access to an on-site team that can modify service on a weekly to an hourly basis. Leave the office or sit down and focus with ease!