Remote work has been on the rise in recent years, due in no small part to a worldwide Pandemic. We’d argue that these changes were coming anyway, but were greatly accelerated by Covid.
With advances in technology, there’s no need to be in the same physical location as your co-workers or boss. As long as you have a strong internet connection, you can participate in video calls, share files, and do your work from anywhere. Some companies have even started to embrace full-time remote work, allowing their employees to live and work wherever they want. This genie isn’t going easily back in the bottle.
Looking into the future, it’s likely that even more companies will allow their employees to work remotely. With the right tools and infrastructure in place, there’s no reason why work needs to be tied to a specific location.
What Does Remote Work Mean For Your Business?
Security is always a top concern for business, whether your employees are working in the office or remotely. When employees are working remotely, you need to be extra vigilant about data security. Ensuring that sensitive information is properly protected and that your remote employees have access to the tools and resources they need to do their jobs safely.
Additionally, the risk of cyber attacks is greater when employees are working remotely because now you have to worry about not just your business network, but their remote network as well. To help mitigate these risks invest in robust security measures, such as data encryption and multi-factor authentication. By taking these steps, businesses can help ensure that their remote employees are productive and safe.
A More Expectant Workforce
While the above measures might seem like a pain for business, it’s not something that will be easily avoided. As the world of work continues to evolve, so too do the expectations of employees. In the past, workers were willing to sacrifice their personal lives in order to advance their careers. However, today’s employees are increasingly interested in finding roles that offer a healthy work-life balance. As a result, companies that offer remote work options are far more likely to to attract and retain top talent. Workers who have experienced the flexibility and freedom that comes with working remotely are likely to build those expectations into their search for fulfilling career roles.
What First Steps Should Your Business Take?
Review your setup. Check for holes.
If you’re not sure exactly how your IT Systems are set up to work remotely, you need to find out. Are you using a Secure VPN? Do you have open ports on your Firewall? Are your backups good? When was the last time you ran a test restore? Are your passwords hackable or do you have a second level of authentication like 2FA on your key services?
Now is the time to get ahead of problems. It’s time for an IT Inventory.