How To Switch Up Your Work From Home Experience

For many switching over to working from home has been a pretty big transition. When you are working remotely your day make look different than how it was when you worked in the office. There can be a lot involved in order to feel comfortable working from home. Sometimes you may need to change up your routine in order to find your groove and find what works for you when you are at home. To help keep productive while working from home sometimes it’s useful to try out a few new things. Here are some helpful tips on how to switch up your work from home experience.

Freshen Up Your Space… Decorate It!

Sometimes we need a change of scenery. Making some changes to the space you are working from at home could help inspire and motivate you during your work day. Take some time to think about how you’d like to freshen up your workspace at home. Maybe purchase a new chair for your desk. Frame some photos and add them to your space. Decorate your space with plants – succulents are a great choice, they are low maintenance and can help liven up a room. Take it a step further and repurpose an old piece of furniture and turn it into something new to help organize papers and office supplies.

Try Journaling

As you start your day, in the morning – have a journal handy and write down your thoughts and feelings about a project or task your need to complete that day. Or write about your goals for the next day or for the week, or both! You can also journal about life goals or what you are grateful for each day. Journaling can help keep you motivated and focused on projects and daily tasks.

Chat With Your Co-Workers

Keep communication going with your co-workers by starting a chat that is designated only for off-topic chatting. Kind of like how you would have small chats with your team members at the office. This would be separate online chat where co-workers can share about what is happening in their life, share about their pets, food, cooking, tv shows etc.

Listen To Music

Put together a few different playlists that each have a different theme of music. You can match the music to the type of project you are working on. Create your own soundtrack. Maybe share your playlist with a co-worker too!

Try A Standing Desk

When you are at home and sitting all day, you’re not getting much activity. With a standing desk you can work while standing and keep your body moving. Some standing desks give you the opportunity to do both; sit at a desk and stand at it. Moreover, you can alternate through out the day with sitting and standing while you work.

Get Dressed

Treat the day like how you will be at the office. Even though you are at home and it is so tempting to work all day in your pajamas – there really is something to getting dressed for the day even if you are going to be at home. Getting dressed may give you a mental boost and help keep you on track for the rest of the day. It can help you feel mentally and physically prepared as you get ready to take on the day.

Make Time For Stretching

When you are working from home it is easy to keep working at your computer and before you know it hours upon hours have gone by and you still have not gotten up from your desk. It’s important to make time to stand up and stretch. Sitting at your desk for a long period time can cause your body to feel stiff. Take the time to do some stretches through out the day. Your body will thank you for this.

 

We hope you find these tips helpful and that they provide you with some inspiration on how to be productive while working from home. Switching things up and making a few small changes to your day can help create a successful work from home routine.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.