A business laptop is great for office and home working!
We’re so accustomed to using our own laptops for remote working…
have you considered the possible risks in doing so?
Risks of not using a business laptop can include:
Increased security threats.
GDPR and compliance considerations.
Slow laptops (meaning unproductive staff).
Staff working on own equipment.
How can a business laptop help my team whilst they work at home and in the office?
1. Personal laptops won’t have business features:
Most people who shop for a laptop want something stylish, portable, and cheap so they can run basic apps such as social media or Netflix. Unless it’s necessary, people don’t pay out for Office 365, or a professional version of Windows 10 operating systems which is built for business networks.
However, it’s features like these that make completing business tasks easier. For example, Office 365 comes with everything you need from Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams. At CapNet, we use all the Office 365 features to complete our projects and collaborate with team members.
Teams have been a great addition to the Office 365 package. It allows us to stay in touch with each other now that most of our staff are working remotely.
Though Office 365 is a monthly subscription, it’s fundamental in empowering employees to work effectively from any location whilst collaborating with customers, suppliers, and colleagues alike.
Without useful features like these, it might be costing your company more money. This is because completing tasks could become difficult and time-consuming. Our expertise will maximise your investment with everything you need to make day-to-day tasks quick and straightforward to finish.
2. They won’t have the latest software or business-grade security:
It’s probably no secret that cybercrime has increased during the last few months. It’s been all over the news.
Hackers have very little sympathy when it comes to a major pandemic. It’s times like this that they thrive and prey on the vulnerable.
Without realising it, many home workers are easy targets for these hackers. This is because before Covid-19 most people used a business laptop and desktop. Office devices tend to have the most up-to-date security. They are also connected to the work server which provides an extra layer of security.
However, as many remote workers are using their laptops they might not have enough knowledge on which security monitoring software to install or how to even look out for security threats. To make matters worse, they’re likely connected to their home network which makes them even more susceptible to security threats.
It’s a huge liability for everyone. Business and customer data, as well as their staff members’ data, is at risk of being obtained.
For example, despite having good security software on my laptop, I still receive daily popups or scam emails. Whereas on my work laptop I'll connect to my work environment, even when I'm working from home. I feel a lot safer working on my work laptop and handling customer information because a business network is effectively a controlled secure environment.
Our engineers will always recommend RMM (Remote management and monitoring software) which also comes with business-grade security, so users have the same protection as if they were office-based. This reduces the risk of viruses or hackers.
(If you want to take cybersecurity one step further, we also offer a cyber essentials training service for you and all your team… give us a call today to find out more).
3. Personal laptops don’t meet the same specification requirements:
Generally, when people buy a personal laptop, they won’t consider specifications such as RAM or the type of processor.
However, these are just a few of the important things a company needs to consider when choosing the right laptop. Other things to consider include:
Battery life.
Hard drive technologies.
Screen resolution and size.
Did you know that business laptops tend to come with increased battery life compared to personal ones? Or that they also come with higher, quicker storage? You don’t want to be maxing out your disk space with large files or documents which will likely happen if you’re using your laptop.
The laptops and options we recommend will empower your workforce. So, you can be safe and productive, without having to worry about unnecessary issues.
4. Personal laptops can be frustratingly slow:
There’s nothing worse than turning your laptop on 5 minutes before you’re about to start your shift, only to find that it’s hit 8 am and it’s still loading. We’ve all been there. Even after deciding, we’d make our morning coffee whilst the laptop’s still waking itself up, only to return… and it’s still not come on.
Not only does this burden you and your team, but it also hinders your business by taking up essential business hours! You might end up switching the laptop off in the hope it’ll reload, only for it to repeat the same process… and before you know it, you’re starting your typical 8 am shift at 8:30 am instead. To add to that, you could have the annoyance of lagging throughout the day.
By the time it’s reached 9 am, you’re only just getting started with your actual work (depending on whether the laptops decided to lag and run slow throughout the day). It’s typically the older and outdated models that are prone to technical faults.
At CapNet, we recommend hardware that matches the user’s job role so we can use our time effectively and stay productive. We supply customers with the same models that we use, so we know you’re getting the best experience because we’ve tried and tested them personally within our businesses.
5. Business laptops provide support to your staff:
Since lockdown, the demand for laptops has grown, especially as it’s not just adults working from home, but children as well.
Laptops are expensive. Specifically, ones that need to meet your business needs. A sharp rise in remote working has created a supply and demand issue as well as a production problem therefore prices have increased, and stock levels are at a minimum.
Before lockdown, many parents might have only required one laptop. However, trying to share one laptop between a child who’s taking online math lessons, a teenager finishing year 11, as well as a teenager completing university work, can be extremely stressful when you’ve got your work to get on with as well.
This is extremely stressful and upsetting for parents who want to prioritise their children’s education but equally, they have loads of work to do themselves.
By providing your staff with a work laptop, not only are you providing them with additional, amazing features, but it’ll also support them financially as it saves them paying out for another home laptop for their family.
When I started working at CapNet, I was given a work laptop. It came with all the specifications I needed, plus Office 365. A laptop like this would have been way out of my budget. However, working on the business laptop not only makes me feel safe when I’m working at home, but it also makes my job ten times easier as it keeps up with the demanding workload.
Providing business laptops can help to boost morale and keep you and your staff happy and productive.
6. We offer a service to repair and upgrade business laptops:
Whether it’s ones we’ve provided or personal ones, we’ll always try and get your laptop back up and running.
We know that during this time, everyone is relying on technology more than ever. Even one day without a laptop can set you back Costing you time and money. We will do all we can to repair or update your laptop and get it back to you as soon as possible.
7. You don’t need to be paying thousands for a business laptop:
People often believe that going for expensive models like a MacBook, with a price range between £1000-£2500, is essential for a business laptop. It’s a decent laptop, but you can find business-friendly laptops for a lot less.
For example, our popular Dell laptops, with a price range, starting from around £700, include everything you need to be productive.
Research is vital when picking a laptop to meet your budget as you don’t want to find yourself under or overspending on something that is not compatible or suitable.
If you require any more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 03454 705 704. In the meantime, keep a lookout on our social media channels for any additional information, updates, or laptop deals.