Tag: Remote Collaboration

Meeting the Challenge of Mentoring in a Hybrid Work Environment

We recently attended an AEC conference in California. One of the top-of-mind concerns was handling the prevailing trend to work from home, specifically how to overcome the challenge of mentoring junior architects and engineers with senior-level staff. On the one hand, if you force employees to return to the office, you risk losing out on potential talent at the hiring stage or risk people leaving to work somewhere else.

Mentoring is a crucial component of career development, but it can be challenging to establish a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship when working remotely. As remote work continues to become more prevalent, the challenge of mentoring employees in a virtual setting has become increasingly important. However, with the right tools and strategies, it’s possible to overcome these challenges and ensure that employees receive the guidance they need to succeed.

The Right Strategy

In a February 6, 2023 article for Forbes magazine, Dr.Gelb Tsiprusky recommended pairing senior staff with a junior talent for ongoing virtual mentoring sessions lasting between 20 to 30 minutes. Dr. Tsiprusky presents evidence showing the effectiveness of connecting junior teams working remotely with senior staff members. Dr. Tsiprusky recommends that these monthly 20-30 minute meetings have a checklist to address individual and collaborative tasks, obstacles, resources, and professional growth. Mentors should also co-work with mentees for at least an hour each week via videoconference, working on their assignments while being able to ask questions and receive on-the-job training.

During the co-working session, mentors and mentees can share what they plan to work on, turn microphones off but leave speakers on with video optional, and ask questions as needed. This speaker on approach replicates the benefit of a shared cubicle space and helps build bonds and integrate junior staff into the company culture. Use virtual whiteboards and screen sharing to demonstrate tasks graphically or visually. The goal is to facilitate on-the-job learning and contribute to professional growth in a remote work environment.

Two are Better than One

Studies also indicated that having one person from the junior staff’s business unit and another from a different team gave cross-functional connections. This broad perspective gave the junior staff a better understanding of organizational culture and how the company addresses needs in the industry.

The Right Tools

At IronOrbit, we believe technology can play a vital role in helping to bridge the gap between remote workers and their mentors. Our cutting-edge computing solutions, including faster GPUs and more powerful SKUs, provide the computing power needed to support remote mentoring. At the same time, our highly scalable and modular systems make it easy to tailor the technology to your specific needs. In addition to providing top-of-the-line technology, IronOrbit is also committed to the highest standards in security and compliance. Our daily offsite backups to a dedicated Disaster Recovery facility protect your data. At the same time, our collaboration-ready virtual desktops make it easy for mentors and mentees to work together from anywhere.

Our virtual desktops are also tailored specifically to your needs, making it easy to provide the resources and software necessary for successful mentoring. And with our 24/7/365 US-based support, you can rest assured that you always have access to the help and resources you need to ensure your mentoring program succeeds. Regarding remote mentoring, technology can be both a challenge and a solution. With IronOrbit’s advanced computing solutions and commitment to security and compliance, you can ensure that your mentoring program is effective, efficient, and successful, no matter where your employees work.

If you’re struggling with your hybrid work model, please call us. We’re here to help.

 

Call us today at 714-777-3222

 

 

 

The building blocks of a fence
Difference between VPN and Desktop-as-a-Service

 

VPN and hosted desktops Desktop-as-a-Solution (DaaS) are the two most popular remote workflow access solutions currently in use. One has been around for a while, and the other is comparatively new but quickly building momentum.

According to Future Market Insights, the DaaS market will grow at a CAGR of 18% from 2019 to 2029, while the global VPN market will reach over $107.5 billion by 2027. As more organizations look to these solutions, you must understand the differences between VPN and Desktop-as-a-Service —which is precisely what this post will help you do. You’ll learn the difference between VPN and DaaS, plus tips on how to where each might fit.

What are VPNs?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) enable you to connect to networks across the internet securely. VPNs leverage advanced encryption, tunneling, and masking systems to create a secure internet connection between users and a network. As a result, make it extremely difficult for cybercriminals and prying eyes to access your data as it is transmitted across the internet, making them a popular choice for cybersecurity and privacy-focused businesses.

There are many benefits to using a VPN, including:

  • Obscurity – VPNs use encryption to conceal the destination of your data packets and prevent tracking.
  • Flexibility – VPNs are compatible across multiple platforms, and a single provider can offer the service to numerous devices and platforms, all from the same user account.
  • Getting past restrictions – VPNs are an excellent tool for accessing location-specific content or bypassing internet censorship.

While VPNs are cost-effective and with several attractive benefits, they aren’t without their drawbacks. Common VPN flaws include:

  • Performance – VPNs can slow down internet speeds due to encryption requiring significant amounts of bandwidth. This latency can impact the performance of databases and business software applications.
  • Risk – VPNs aren’t an all-in-one security solution and often provide a window of vulnerability.
  • Scope – Printing and scanning via VPN can be problematic depending on the type, size, and volume of your printing and scanning. VPNs also limit business assessing and monitoring capabilities.
What is Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)?

Desktops-as-a-Service or DaaS is a cloud-based service that securely delivers virtual apps and desktops to business devices or locations. DaaS delivers virtualization of desktops on high-performance servers packaged in a predictable and straightforward pay-as-a-go subscription model, making it easy to scale up or down on-demand.

Why DaaS?

In today’s business standards, teams expect to access and do their work from anywhere on any device. Business leaders look for affordable, simple solutions to deliver apps and desktops to their workforce securely. DaaS provides a practical managed solution for organizations like security and centralization on a pay-as-you-go pricing model. It simplifies operations by delivering desktops and apps securely to your workforce.

The top benefits of DaaS are:

  • Flexibility – Teams can securely access applications, remote desktops, and data from anywhere on cost-effective devices, enhancing productivity.
  • Scalability – DaaS further advocates for quick scalability for business applications and desktops when needed.
  • Business continuity– DaaS ensures safety and security for all business needs by offering a disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity plan. You get rapid recovery in the event of cyber-attacks
  • Cost savings – Only pay for what you use through monthly or yearly subscription allowing for predictable operational costs.
  • Security – DaaS provides a secure access point for users in the cloud. It ensures that data is securely stored and protected against data loss or theft.
  • Integration – DaaS provides seamless integration with modern-day mobile and desktop apps such as Office 365 and more.
  • Collaboration – Some DaaS offer the benefit of collaboration where users can manage their cloud services or choose a provider to manage it on their behalf, promoting productivity.
VPN Vs. Desktop-as-a-Service

VPNs and DaaS are both excellent remote support tools. Comparing them head-on doesn’t do any of them justice, as each operates differently with a few similarities. There are several reasons to choose DaaS over VPNs. VPNs are ideal for security and privacy. DaaS goes a step further to provide better remote support, more security, reducing costs, scalability, flexibility, and more benefits.

Next Step?

Discover more about IronOrbit DaaS Infinity Workspace solutions. From core to cloud to edge, we deliver hosted desktops services that enable nearly 20,000 global customers, including the Fortune 500 companies, to thrive in their ongoing quest to work remotely.

If you found this review helpful and want to adopt DaaS designed to support your agile organization, get in touch and book a demo today.

Call us today at 888-753-5060