How to Secure a Mobile Workforce through Crisis

The virus that started spreading in the human population of Wuhan in late 2019, has made its way into more than 153 countries and territories across the globe. Spreading rapidly from one host to another, the novel strain of Coronavirus has put many countries on the verge of a lockdown. Large public gatherings have been canceled, sports events are happening in empty stadiums, schools have shut down and employees are being encouraged to work from home. From stock market crashes to widespread panic and fear, COVID-19 has impacted the world in more ways than one. WHO has already issued warnings about the gravity of the situation by declaring it a pandemic (an epidemic that is spreading across countries and continents).

As the number of affected people grows, a lot of countries are contemplating complete or partial lockdown. While this may contain the extremely contagious SARS-CoV-2, better known as the Coronavirus, it is definitely not a sustainable solution. 

The True Effect of COVID-19

The fact is, COVID-19 is not half as deadly as it is contagious. In fact, for those facing some mild symptoms only, health care professionals agree that self-managing and self-isolation may be the best course of action. 

Unlike what the frenzy going on suggests, most of the people affected by the novel Coronavirus show only mild symptoms of a cold that can be overcome by OTC flu aids. Panicking at every cough and sneeze and rushing to the hospital will only create chaos and may keep someone who is actually in a critical condition from getting the help and care they need. However, as soon as the symptoms appear, the infected patient along with those that have been around him/her should self-isolate to avoid infecting others. Having said that, some symptoms warrant an immediate visit to the local ER. Shortness of breath, high fever, fatigue and lethargy can be indicative of pneumonia caused by the Coronavirus and require immediate medical attention.

For everyone that is still safe and healthy, social distancing, repeated hand sanitization, not touching the face and following the etiquettes of coughing and sneezing are the only precautions they can take to avoid contracting the disease and spreading it unknowingly. 

COVID-19 Statistics

To date, 171,105 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide out of which 77,791 have recovered while 6,526 affectees did not make it. The worst-hit country, so far, is China where the COVID-19 disease initially made its appearance. The virus has also affected an alarming number of people in Italy, Iran and South Korea. Several other countries, including the USA, have imposed a state of emergency while some are on the verge of complete lockdown. 

Ensuring Business Continuity Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis

WHO has declared Coronavirus a pandemic and has stressed on implementing strict containment strategies to slow down the spread of the virus until researchers can figure out a way to mitigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2. As the virus spreads further, an increasing number of organizations are exploring the remote-work option to keep their employees safe while ensuring business continuity during this global crisis. Companies are not only encouraging their employees to work from home, but they are also investing in technologies that can make this transition easier. 

Citrix solutions address the challenges of security and scalability that come with such a rapid transition to a remote working environment under the current circumstances. Through virtualization and workspace solutions, companies can mobilize their entire workforce within a matter of hours. Citrix Digital Workspace allows employees to access everything they need to work in a more flexible and secure environment. They can remotely access the corporate apps and documents hosted on Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. Employees that need to access office PCs with local applications and internal resources can also do so through the Remote PC Access feature that comes with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops without having to enable VPN access from unreliable personal PCs at home. Citrix Access Control and Citrix ADC can enable companies to deploy business critical apps rapidly without compromising on speed or security. 

As the COVID-19 crisis unfolds, those that have embedded Citrix technologies in their work environments will be at a slight advantage because they already have what it takes to make the transition. For others, it’s high time that they invest in a digital workspace solution that enables employees to work in a safe, intuitive and flexible environment.