Bondgate IT reveals demand spike as workers switch to home operations

An IT company has reported a major spike in demand after thousands of people switched to home working amid the coronavirus crisis.

Bondgate IT says it has installed hundreds of remote working tools and seen telephone enquires double as companies seek ways to combat COVID-19.

Bosses say the firm has been particularly busy installing VPN connections – which allow employees to connect remotely to business networks – and the cloud-based communication platform Microsoft Teams.

Garry Brown, managing director of the Darlington company, whose staff are working remotely or from home, said he is “incredibly proud of the huge effort our team have made”.

He added: “The IT industry as a whole, from small companies like ours to global giants such as Microsoft and Google, are working together to help businesses achieve office working from home, keeping staff, customers and clients connected.

“There is no doubt that IT is playing a pivotal role in helping businesses overcome the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic in an accessible and affordable manner, which will offer huge advantages going forward.

“I’d urge any business in the region experiencing IT difficulties to seek specialist advice or support.

“After all, it’s in everyone’s interest to work together to ensure the North East’s business community emerges unscathed from this crisis.”

Last month, Bondgate IT revealed it had worked with car parts maker Nifco UK on a £160,000 project to improve the manufacturer’s digital infrastructure.