Having lived through the changes to working models induced by the pandemic, many companies and employees have discovered the benefits that such changes have brought about. Increased collaboration, efficiency, and security – all while catering to individual working habits and circumstances have led to a more accessible and, ultimately, productive working environment. However, this can only be the case if you make best use of the tools available and, crucially, choose the right ones.
Collaboration is often accepted to be at the nexus of this new professional ecosystem, and finding appropriate tools for your business can be really important. One of the most important considerations for such collaborative tools is their security – increased productivity, flexibility, and efficiency are only as good as the security that also comes with them. As mentioned in other posts on the Corona IT blog, security threats have the potential to completely derail small businesses, and can cost them over twenty thousand pounds.
Some of the options now available to businesses include improved encryption and password protection for specifically cloud based business systems, state-of-the-art 3D technology in video conferencing which enables improved collaboration, and advanced virtual reality technologies which allow video calls to be a more realistic and interpersonal experience, whilst also improving visual and audio quality for more accessibility. This being said, all of these options come with a cost – costs which often pay for themselves however. Rather than paying for higher quality and more secure options, many companies continue to practice ostensibly simpler (and often less expensive) proxy alternatives which can put their data at risk. This includes:
– Sharing video licenses
– Forwarding and insecurely sharing employee/employer data from company hardware to personal hardware
– Using a collection of different collaborative services which may not work well together
Instead, taking the step to completely migrate to comprehensive solutions often saves time and costs in the long run, and such tools can prove themselves to be a shortcut of their own to better, more collaborative working.
- Use one cloud-based platform/ecosystem such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite)
- Make full use of and constantly review security features that come with such services
- For business newer to collaborative working, have clearly explained and readily accessible training or advice so that the each user within a business is able to take full advantage of the software on offer.
So, having explained why such collaborative services are a good idea (and why you should commit fully to them for both security and efficiency within your business), what options are out there?
Microsoft 365
The most famous and well-established of the cloud based work office platforms, Microsoft’s Office 365 is an obvious and reliable option. Having committed more fully to different ubscription and pricing levels in recent years, Microsoft’s industry leading collaborative tools are now more accessible than ever before. Read more from the Corona IT blog on Office 365 here.
Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite)
Formerly known as G-Suite, Google’s answer to Office 365 is similarly well established and is known for its clearly set out and aesthetic user interface, and how well other add-ins can be integrated into its services. Currently Microsoft’s largest competitor and offering all the same services with a recognisably ‘Google’ approach, you can read a fuller comparison of the two services here.
WPS Office
A less well-known competitor of both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, WPS Office has more than 1.2 billion installed users and is recognised as a considerably more accessible option in comparison to both Microsoft and Google’s cloud-based platforms. Despite the difference in price, many users argue that WPS Office is a worthy competitor, and rate it highly on user experience, customer support, and set-up.
Open Office
Open Office is a free alternative to Microsoft and Google working solutions, and offers a considerable amount of similar services, from word processing, to spreadsheets and presentations. However, users note that it cannot match most services collaborative abilities, and it’s worth noting that the service simply cannot keep up with the constant security updates of its more established (and costly) competitors.
If you’re considering a move to more collaborative, cloud based solutions and would like to find out more, you can discuss your situation with one of our team and contact us here. And if you’re still not sure? Why not read more advice, tips, and tricks on the Corona IT blog.
