The inside sales industry has been an early adopter of the work-from-home model, and salespeople can effectively use VanillaSoft from anywhere. Along with the advantages of working from home, the wide variety of equipment and Internet connections also present challenges. This article will help you prepare your home system and network for using VanillaSoft with our VoIP service.
Jump to a specific area of this article by selecting one of the sections here:
Computer Recommendations
If possible, we recommend having a separate computer for work and personal use. Keeping your work system free from excess software, media, downloading, etc., will drastically reduce the potential for malware, spyware, and any other kinds of viruses. Ensuring your computer is running as smoothly and fast as possible will increase your productivity. Another way to keep your system running as fast as possible is by installing all available updates. VanillaSoft does not support or troubleshoot computer systems, so please reach out to your local I.T. personnel if any issues arise. If you would like to know more about hardware requirements, please visit our VanillaSoft VoIP System Requirements article.
Network Setup
For our VanillaSoft VoIP lines to work correctly, you should make sure your Internet connection meets our VanillaSoft VoIP System Requirements. If your network does not meet the requirements listed, you may experience significant quality issues. Running a ping test is an excellent way to tell if the quality of your connection is good or not. More information on running a ping test can be found in our How To Run a Ping Test article.
Note: Wireless connection types will likely experience degraded or nonexistent performance, as the underlying architecture they use generally does not support true VoIP systems. VanillaSoft VoIP will not work on any cellular network-based Internet connection.
Headset Recommendations
We strongly recommend using a wired headset when using VS Connect. Wired headsets will lower the risk of potential drops in connection and should improve the audio quality. VanillaSoft does not support headset troubleshooting. If you are experiencing audio issues caused by your headset, please reach out to your headset manufacturer to troubleshoot. For a list of recommended headsets, please refer to our Recommended Headsets for VanillaSoft VoIP article.
Antivirus (Network Security)
Any troubleshooting or configuration of your computer should be handled by a professional such as an I.T. person. VanillaSoft does not support troubleshooting of your local machine.
To ensure your system is running as best as possible, we recommend keeping your operating system up-to-date and run an antivirus program to prevent viruses and malware. Although VanillaSoft cannot recommend or endorse specific software to scan your system, commonly used programs include:
- Malwarebytes
- SUPERAntiSpyware
- Microsoft Security Essentials
Please make sure to read and understand each company’s terms and conditions before installation. If you are uncomfortable running scans on your system, please take it to a professional. VanillaSoft is not affiliated with and cannot provide support for other companies’ products. If your system is already infected, the virus/malware may mask itself from security utilities or corrupt them to no longer work correctly. In these cases, you will need to have it professionally serviced.
How Can I Tell if my System is Already Infected?
The presence of a virus or malware on your system can manifest itself in many ways. If you notice that your browser crashes or freezes at random or gets a lot of popups and ads, that can indicate an infection. If your homepage or search engine keeps getting changed to something you did not set, or if you notice bookmarks that you didn’t create, that is also an indication. If you suspect your system is infected, please contact a professional for servicing.