When I worked at Exxon, I had the good fortune to travel a bit both domestically and overseas.  I am amazed at how much travel has changed since those days.  Back then, I had to be sure to print at least two copies of my itineraries, emergency phone numbers, and calling card, to actually make a phone call.  Laptops didn’t exist; so, I had to make sure my destination had a machine available for my use.  Fast forward to today… now, I just print one hard copy in the event my phone is not working or worse, lost.

Speaking of lost phones… I have actually experienced this, and I was absolutely amazed at the accuracy of the “Find My” feature in the Apple phone.  After 5 days and several trips to Newark Airport (it’s a long story), I retrieved my iPhone without missing a beat.  While it was inconvenient, I rested easy because I knew that I had the appropriate level of security on not only my phone but all our systems to prevent unauthorized access.

As for working remotely… I enjoy easy but secure access to our systems from anywhere in the world that has internet access.  I hope everyone is enjoying some rest and relaxation this summer; and if you must work remotely, be sure to use the tips included in this edition to stay safe online.

First published in our August 2024 IT Radix Resource newsletter