If you’re working remotely or managing remote teams, high latency can be a frustrating issue to deal with. High latency, also known as lag, is the delay between when a user inputs a command and when the server responds. High latency can make remote work slow and inefficient, making it difficult to get work done.

Here are some things you can try to fix high latency for a remote user:

1. Check the user’s internet connection

The first thing to check when dealing with high latency is the user’s internet connection. Ask the user to run a speed test to determine their internet speed. If their internet speed is slow, recommend that they contact their internet service provider (ISP) to troubleshoot the issue.

2. Use a wired connection

If the user is using a wireless connection, recommend that they switch to a wired connection to reduce latency. A wired connection can help to stabilize the connection and reduce packet loss.

3. Check the network

If the user is connecting to a network or server, check the network for any issues that may be causing high latency. This can include network congestion or router issues. You can use network monitoring tools to diagnose network problems.

4. Use a VPN

If the user is connecting to a remote server, consider using a VPN to encrypt the connection and reduce latency. A VPN can also help to improve security and privacy when accessing remote resources.

5. Adjust the user’s network settings

There are several network settings that can be adjusted to reduce latency. These include the network adapter settings, TCP/IP settings, and DNS settings. You can use the Command Prompt or PowerShell to modify these settings.

6. Upgrade the user’s hardware

If the user’s hardware is outdated or not powerful enough, it may be causing high latency. Consider upgrading the user’s hardware to improve their connection speed. This can include upgrading their router, network card, or computer hardware.

7. Use a different remote connection method

If the user is experiencing high latency when using a certain remote connection method, try using a different method, such as a different remote desktop software or a web-based remote connection tool. Different connection methods can have different performance characteristics, so it’s worth experimenting to find the one that works best for your users.

It’s important to note that fixing high latency can be a complex process, and may require help from a troubleshooting software like Goliath Technologies’ Performance Monitor.

In conclusion, high latency can be a frustrating issue when working remotely. However, by following the steps above, you can help to reduce latency and improve the remote work experience for your team. Remember to always prioritize the security and privacy of your remote connections, and seek professional assistance when necessary.

by Theresa Miller, Citrix CTP

So why is this continuing to occur?

In my opinion, organizations are used to the cloud adoption strategy, but in 2021/2022 when the great resignation was in full gear, people were rapidly changing jobs for higher paying roles elsewhere and especially in the tech space.  The effect on organizations was a skills gap in technology roles because many people quit their jobs without new ones, leaving the teams that were left to do all the extra work in addition to their own.

What can be done to cope?

I have a few key takeaways for coping with this shift on your teams. It requires looking out for the employees that you do have on your teams and finding strategies that can automate and ease the intense workloads they were left with. Let’s break down some of the keyways for Citrix workloads, and for all IT applications as well:

• Deploying tools that ensure the Citrix team and infrastructure team can function more agile, with more automation. Leveraging intelligent software for this use case not only provides the necessary data but can help correlate and interpret them as well. This likely means continuing to leverage cloud or hybrid deployment models for Citrix workloads and others as well.
• Looking for out-of-the box ways to automate workflows and only leverage scripting where it makes sense, then removing the manual one. Scripting can be a great option, but the extra time to complete the work needs to be considered.
• Leaders and their teams need to rethink and redevelop processes where possible, even between IT and the business. When bottlenecks occur because a process that is simple becomes overcomplicated, time can be lost.  For example, an organization that has a process that takes 8-10 weeks to evaluate and approve a new software vendor before a project can kick off is a process that should be re-evaluated.

While these are some critical ways to get the necessary shift in workload to ease the burden on our teams and avoid burnout, there are more.

Concluding thoughts

As we have made a pivot to fewer IT specialists (Citrix included) and more generalists, leaders should be looking for ways to support their teams with the right tools to automate their workloads and refine their processes. Augmenting the team with tools can help fill gaps due to fewer specialists.  Also, continue to deploy workloads through the cloud where it makes sense for your business needs, looking to consolidate tools so there is less to manage, and lastly, be sure to redevelop processes where IT and the business need to work together in a more expedited way.