The trend of remote working is not going away anytime soon.
Remote work is becoming increasingly popular, with many companies having remote or hybrid work policies. It has provided freedom and flexibility for employees.
Technology has made remote work possible, allowing people to maintain a connection through video chats, group chats, and collaborative editing tools.
However, many managers are unsure how to make the transition into remote or hybrid work. Some worry about a potential lack of productivity.
This could be offset by providing the right resources and training of those resources to employees.
Updating tech for remote work
There are certain requirements for companies that want to make the switch to remote working. They need to update their IT infrastructure in order for employees in different locations to work remotely in an efficient manner.
In a recent survey, 56% of HR leaders indicated that poor technology or IT infrastructure was the biggest barrier to effective remote working in their organisation. There a number of IT tools that have been developed specifically with remote work in mind, to help workers stay connected while working remotely, improve communication between employees and managers, and allow remote teams to collaborate easily on projects.
The most common types of remote working technologies are web chat programs, video conferencing, screen sharing, and collaborative editing tools like Microsoft 365 and Teams, or Google Docs.
Keeping in touch
Working remotely can be isolating or lonely; employees can feel out-of-touch from their co-workers, which can in turn affect their performance or company loyalty.
It’s vital to implement a communication tool which is reliable and simple to be use for video conferencing, audio calls, messaging, and document sharing.
Microsoft Teams, Skype, and Zoom are the most common and effective remote working communication tools currently utilised globally. They allow for video conferencing with multiple people, chat groups, and screen sharing.
This way, employees can keep up-to-date with projects, collaborate easily, and simply chat privately or in a group, which boosts morale and the feeling of company culture.
Efficient and easy collaboration
Collaboration tools should be selected according to what is needed for the specific work that will be conducted. Different tools may be more appropriate for different workflows that require specific tasks such as video conferencing, data sharing, or even just email.
Microsoft 365 and Google Docs are among the most effective collaboration tools, allowing multiple people to work together on a single document in real time and mark changes. All information can be accessed in one place and with one click of a button. With the help of machine learning, Teams is able to provide useful information to users about their work environment.
The importance of cyber security
As more and more people work from home, the need to protect your business’ private data becomes even greater. With so much information available on the internet, it is not always easy to keep your data safe.
Some of the most important security rules for remote working are:
- A strong password policy
- Making use of two-factor authentication where possible
- Encrypting all communication using end to end encryption
- End-to-end network monitoring across all user devices
- Strong antivirus software
Some remote work collaborative tools like the Microsoft 365 suite include cyber security defences like threat protection, identity and access management, and security and risk management within the application subscription.
Storage in the cloud
Cloud platforms are more accessible than ever before. They provide the infrastructure and tools necessary to run your business from any location, and on any device. This removes the need for expensive, bulky storage hardware that either limits working locations, or can be misplaced.
Two of the most popular cloud platforms, Azure and AWS, offer everything that employees need to be productive, including network speeds, virtual desktops, and disaster recovery that enables remote workers to do their jobs no matter where they are.
Microsoft Azure has a lot of tools that help with development and deployment, as well as security. Its remote access feature enables users to remotely connect from one device to another device without requiring a VPN.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) allows users to set up their systems remotely even on shared servers, making it easier to scale as needs grow.
Workers can run an application on their personal device and then connect it to the cloud. All data is encrypted before being transferred from one device to another, so it’s secure from prying eyes.