General advice for remote working
This guide provides general tips for working remotely while looking after your mental health and wellbeing.
Health and Safety
Your health and safety is as important at home as it is in the office. The following guides give you advice on your physical safety and mental wellbeing.
Keeping safe online
Advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at this time is to strengthen cyber defences rather than weaken them for operational needs. On 17 March the NCSC issued the following guidance to assist organisations to prepare for and implement home working
The advice provides some best practice guidance on how risks can be mitigated.
Department of Finance’s Digital Shared Services have established security processes and will continue to monitor closely the security of our environment. NCSC has highlighted that cyber criminals are preying on fears of the coronovirus and sending 'phishing' emails that try and trick users into accessing illegitimate links.
IT and Remote Access
To help with remote working, IT Assist have a range of help to get the best out of your new working routine.
Additional service improvements
Digital Shared Services are urgently investigating other collaboration tools and technologies to deliver improved on-line working capability and communications in support our staff working remotely.
Information Management advice
Please read the important information below from DoF Information Management Unit & Data Services. IMU&DS have also provided guidance on remote working which you can find below.
- Guidance for staff working remotely
- HPRM and Records Management advice - April 2020
- Tips for protecting information while working remotely
What happens if something goes wrong?
If you encounter problems with your IT, you should call the Service Desk on 0300 123 4155 (operational hours are from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday). However, in the event of requiring support on laptops/mobile devices, it is worth noting that not all ‘fixes’ are possible remotely. If not urgent it is advised that staff who are working away from the office on their designated days should:
- email: itassist@nigov.net or access the IT Assist service desk web access service
- If you find yourself in a situation where you think your material has been lost or stolen then it is vital that you contact IT assist as quickly as possible. This will allow us to remotely disable phones and laptops and identify what potential security compromises may have occurred.