Top 5 Software and Services for Working Remotely from Home
Stefany Anderson
Remote working has surged worldwide from the widespread effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. As a byproduct, more organizations have transitioned to working remotely, leading to an explosive search for software and tech tools that can help operations better visual, organize, and control workflow. Today, our tech analysts have compiled the following five types of must-have programs for remote work.
The Must Have Software to Work from Home
#1. ExpressVPN - No activity logs VPN, all-access pass to global content. 30-day money-back guarantee. 3 Months Special Deal (save up to 49%)
#2. NordVPN - The Most Stable VPN. Protects all your devices, private DNS on every server. Best value deal: save 59% (2 year-Deal)
#3. PureVPN - AES-256 encryption, 6500+ servers in 140+ Countries, 7-day VPN trial. Browsers Extensions available. 31 Days Money-Back Guarantee
#4. Surfshark - Deal of the Day: 59$ for 24 months. Tested on Windows PC - Android - macOS. Split tunneling, Free Trial available
#5. CyberGhost - Ultra Fast Servers, up to 7 devices, no Logs Policy, Special streaming servers, 45-day money back (Incorporated in USA)
What to Consider
The user needs to take care of:
- Persona Data Protection - With the growth of "couch potatoes," the number of phishing, fake sites, malware, and spyware has increased. VPNs and antiviruses help combat these misleading offers.
- Secured Communication - Ensure your communication is secured with VoIP telephones and encrypted instant messengers.
- Exchange & Information Storage - Through cloud drives or office suites?
- Time Control & Work Organization - Are organizers, interactive whiteboards, and calendar integration available?
According to research by GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, teleworking reduces company overhead costs along with employee productivity - the latter drops by 6-10% compared to office employment.
Our Top Product Picks
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Fastest streaming speeds
- Unblocks China geoblocks
- IP leak protection
- Over 5,400 servers worldwide
- Automatic kill switch
- DNS/IPS leak protection
- Unblocks Netflix
- Up to 256-bit encryption
- Breaks Chinese firewall
- IPS Leak protection
- Internet kill switch
- HackLock protection
- MultiHop mode with an extra layer of encryption
- BlindSearch for private and ad-free
- Camouflage Mode
- Country: Romania
- Founded: 2011
- Connections: 5
- Refund policy: 30 days
Encrypted Connection
The first thing remote workers need is a VPN. Why you need it:
- A private virtual network encrypts traffic. The transmitted information cannot be intercepted or tracked by third parties like providers, special services, or hackers.
- If the connection is broken, the Kill Switch function is triggered. This feature blocks access to the Internet until the secure connection is reconnected (preventing data leakages).
- Ignore geo-restrictions to work worldwide, including China and the UAE, or watch streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus) during your downtime.
Do not use free solutions due to limited traffic and bandwidth. Some free services collect information about their users and sell them to other companies (so you’ve been warned).
The best premium providers include:
- ExpressVPN;
- NordVPN;
- PureVPN;
- Surfshark;
- PrivatVPN;
- CyberGhost.
Paid VPN providers run promotions that give 1, 3 months of free use for subscribing.
Virus protection
Accidentally tapping an ad or clicking an unfamiliar link can initiate a download of malware or spyware, which may threaten:
- theft of personal data and credit card numbers;
- installing a hidden miner, which slows down the PC;
- access to device functions - the remote launching of a webcam or conversation eavesdropping.
Some VPNs can block ads and harmful software, but their core functionality is not comparable to antivirus programs. The latter offer real-time system scans and daily or weekly virus database updates. Some projects are supplemented by GPS search for stolen phones/tablets and parental control mode.
Pay attention to the paid or shareware options:
- ESET;
- McAfee;
- Malwarebytes;
- Kaspersky Lab.
Similar to a free VPN, free antivirus software can be dangerous for users. Among the premium services, Avast and AVG damaged their brands by becoming implicated in the scandal involving user data.
Workflow Organization
With an emphasis on personal time management and global project management, we note:
- RescueTime is an automated time tracker that monitors the time spent at work, idle, or solving specific tasks. Access to these analytics helps project managers better manage workflows and automate upcoming tasks.
- WorldTimeBuddy is an online service for those collaborating with clients from other countries or continents. It indicates the difference in time zones and the selected region’s current time, helping to schedule calls or meetings more smoothly.
- Any Calendar - Mark important events and turn on reminders. For example, a Google calendar works online, and other users can view it (it is easy to differentiate work from free time with flexible marking features). Also, you can set up project delivery estimates.
In parallel, use the alarm clock, determining the time for work and rest.
When you need to monitor the progress of the team and the project as a whole, special services are better:
- Trello helps to build a roadmap, prioritize employees, and keep track of who is doing what.
- Taskworld is an analog of the previous project, but with performance statistics for each employee, a built-in time tracker, a file manager, and a mandatory installation on a working PC. Employees tied to a work PC for their profession will benefit from TeamViewer, a program for remote access to a computer.
1. ExpressVPN
Price Range: $6.67 - $12.95. Special offer: $99.95 for 15 months
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices: up to 5 |
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Devices: Apple TV, Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux |
Express is the de facto leader in the VPN app sector. It has over 3000 servers spread across 94 countries, providing you truly global coverage. The customer support at Express is better than its counterparts. It can stream Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and provide you the fastest browsing speeds among its peers. It is easy to use, and download and installation take less than 4 minutes. It breaks the toughest geoblocks, including China, with ease and provides quick browsing, streaming, and downloading as well.
It is based in a privacy-friendly location and has a strict no-logs policy that keeps your browsing data and history safe from prying eyes. The VPN works best for global streaming services and makes torrenting speeds faster. It provides DNS on each server and follows 256-bit AES encryption as well. Combined with an AES 256-bit cipher that comes with SHA-512 HMAC authentication and 4096-bit RSA key. Plans start at $6.67 per month.
Try ExpressVPN now and get our special offer!
2. NordVPN
Price Range: $3.49 - $11.95. Special offer: 2-year deal with 68% off
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:6 |
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Devices: Firestick, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, Chromecast |
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS |
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. You can get this free VPN on your Android, iPhone, and desktop. It has 5,400 servers across the world and comes with the best in class security features as well. It provides an automatic kill switch that shuts your access to the internet as soon as the VPN shield is down. The Panama-based firm keeps you away from prying eyes and helps you get great streaming and download speeds. It bypasses IP throttling and provides access to Netflix and Amazon Prime from almost any country of your choice.
It follows a no-logs policy which provides you better security than a free VPN. It has dedicated P2P servers providing better security and privacy. It allows you to get extra protection with double IP and Onion over a VPN. It can support six devices at once and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. Plans start at $3.39 per month.
3. PureVPN
Price Range: $1.32 - $10.95. Special offer: 7-day trial for only $0.99
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Money-Back: 31-day free trial |
Devices: 10 |
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Devices: Routers, Android TV, Amazon FireStick, Microsoft Surface |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox |
If you like accessing streaming platforms from different counties, then PureVPN is the right choice for you. Though this app is not the fastest among its peers, it could easily stream Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, and BBC iPlayer in HD. The encryption protocol of the service is also not as strong as its peers, and the customer service is not as good as others. However, it is a relatively cheap option with plans starting at $1.99 per month.
Increasing your encryption will be detrimental to your speed. However, when it comes to streaming, PureVPN works well because of its specialized servers for popular websites. You can select a specialized server for a specific website from the app. The Hong Kong-based firm focuses extensively on privacy protection and lies outside the 14-Eyes jurisdiction. It also claims to have a strict no-logs policy for the users. It can also break the Chinese internet firewall.
Now work, binge & stay secure online with PureVPN
4. Surfshark
Price Range: $1.99 - $11.95. Special offer: Get 81% discount
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:Unlimited |
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Devices:Android TV, FireTV |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome |
SurfShark is another reliable and high-speed VPN service provider. It is also one of the cheapest products on the market. If you are unhappy with a free VPN but don’t want to spend a fortune on a paid VPN product, then SurfShark should be the app of your choice. It provides you high-speed servers that allow you to stream in high definition. It also comes with a CleanWeb adblocker, which helps people in avoiding midroll ads in video streaming platforms like YouTube.
It comes with high-speed connections as well, which can go up to 14.52 Mbps upload and 40.92 Mbps download. SurfShark provides P2P sharing, which makes torrenting very speedy. It has industry-standard 256-bit encryption as well and follows a strict no-logs policy. It also provides IP and DNS leak protection. It also works well with P2P clients. It also provides you double VPN protection, which keeps your browsing data safe.
5. CyberGhost
Price Range: $2.75- $12.99. Special offer: 3 extra months for FREE
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Money-Back: 45-day free trial |
Devices: 7 |
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Devices: Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
CyberGhost is a reliable provider with strong encryption and extra features that come with a fair price.It allows access to popular social networks and streaming services even in the countries with active censorship. Technical documentation is quite helpful, and the first line support is responsive and friendly. Overall, CyberGhost is a good choice for beginner and intermediate users.
Enjoy a fast and reliable VPN
Working with files
Office software completely replaces the free online package Google Docks for working with text files, spreadsheets, presentations, or forms. Documents are shared and stored in Google Drive.
Cloud storage provides access to a secured shared workplace. Out of all the options, Dropbox is an industry leader. In addition to the total storage volume of up to 2 TB, the service uses 256-bit AES data encryption, supports full backup of the computer system, and provides access from mobile devices.
Cloud storage from Yandex and Google offers free 10-15 GB of free space without a Premium subscription.
Communication
A few reliable messengers with support for group chats for text or voice tools:
- Skype
- Telegram
- Hongoust
All of the communication mediums above are free; there is support for file transfer, emoji exchange, and video calls. Only Telegram has a security setting with deleting old messages.
When you need to host a group meeting with screen sharing, the following is the best choice:
- Zoom
- Linkchat
- MyOwnConference
Stay connected, use eSIM
eSIM can provide travelers/remote workers with greater flexibility, convenience, reliability, and cost savings, making it an ideal solution for those who are constantly on the move.
The main benefit: With an eSIM, travelers can switch between different mobile networks and plans as they move from one country to another, without having to physically swap out SIM cards. Find out more here esimanythere.com
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Written by: Stefany Anderson
Technical Writer, Visit My WebSite Techno-copywriter, Privacy, Internet Security