Before March 2020, the option to work remotely was a privilege—something to entice the cream of the crop in the job market.
Two years after the workplace shifted to remote, employees don't want to return to the office. Remote work increases productivity, improves employee satisfaction, and lowers business costs.
The future of the office is remote work. Organizations are shifting to accommodate work-from-home (WFH), work-from-anywhere (WFA), and hybrid workforces permanently. But according to the 2022 Future of Work Study, 72% of business lack a hybrid work strategy.
What will the office look like?
The shift will look different for each organization. Some organizations may adopt an in-person structure first, with the option for employees to work remotely under specific circumstances, such as specific days of the week or particular teams. Other organizations may shift entirely to a WFH or WFA structure. Then some will find a happy medium, creating a hybrid option for their employees while emphasizing collaboration.
Most organizations will shift to some form of remote work, and it's essential to have the technology in place to support those workforces.
Supporting WFA and Hybrid Workforces Through Technology
There are a variety of things to keep in mind when planning for a remote or hybrid workforce.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity looks different for a remote workforce. Gone are the days when a simple firewall or VPN provided adequate protection. With employees working outside the brick and mortar building, cybersecurity plans will need to meet new demands and shift to remote and hybrid work following the pandemic.
Organizations have had to address the uptick in cyberattacks. Limiting downtime is even more imperative when your workforce is partially or entirely remote. Limiting downtime is done, in part, by more robust security protocols to prevent breaches and respond quickly should a breach occur.
With employees choosing to bring-your-own-device (BYOD), a singular approach is rarely the solution. Simply putting anti-virus on a company-issued laptop won't address the more complex threats companies are vulnerable to when unknown devices are trying to access the network. Cybersecurity protocols need to be holistic.
Collaboration & Communication
Video capabilities through tools like Zoom are now a staple in remote work. Enhancing communication through virtual communication tools such as Microsoft Teams allows your employees to remain connected and collaborative, even though their offices may be hundreds of miles away instead of a few feet.
These tools also integrate with project management tools, such as ClickUp and Trello for general project management, or those specific to different business areas, such as GitHub for software development projects.
Cloud computing is becoming increasingly important in the business world, and remote work is no exception. Cloud computing offers scalability, convenience, and collaboration.
Budgeting for remote work
Because employees aren't necessarily in the office, you may save on office space expenses.
Some expenses come with a remote workforce. These could be the inclusion of collaboration tools or employer-issued hardware.
Another expense can also include bringing on an IT management company. There are many benefits to working with an IT provider, but IT providers specific to remote employees have robust security infrastructure, 24/7/365 support, and the experience to adjust your IT as your workforce changes.
How Anteris can help
Whether you have remote employees or a hybrid workforce, an MSP should be part of your remote work policy.
One of the benefits of having an MSP like Anteris is that you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. A strategic provider can help you anticipate and react to those changes and remain agile, no matter what happens.
Let us make your technology freeing, not frustrating.
