Hybrid working has become part of everyday business life for many organisations. What started as a necessity has turned into something most employees now expect — and in many cases, prefer. The ability to get things done regardless of time spent at home and in the office is great for productivity, well-being, and talent retention, but for it all to run smoothly it doesn’t take just a laptop and a good broadband connection, but a solid IT infrastructure behind it. When IT is set and managed appropriately, hybrid working becomes less of a logistical nightmare and more of something businesses can build upon.
Access Systems and Data Reliably
One of the biggest things that hybrid working relies upon is access to systems and data across the board at all times — no matter where employees are or when they work. While this sounds easy from a technological perspective, it’s not as easy as it seems without the proper forethought and infrastructure in place to make this happen.
Cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365 have made this significantly easier, giving teams access to shared files, communication tools, and applications from any device. But technology alone isn’t enough. Without proper configuration, monitoring, and ongoing management, even the best platforms can create security gaps or performance issues that disrupt the working day. Businesses looking to get this right should consider working with a managed IT provider in their area — organisations such as Solutions 4 IT offer this kind of fully managed support, though it’s worth exploring what’s available locally to find the right fit for your business and the way your teams actually work.
Cybersecurity Awareness
Cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought when employees work in various locations accessing business systems. The more points of entry into business systems there are, the higher the chance of things going wrong; different networks are less secure, home offices are not as locked down as physical offices, and the more systems (devices) that connect to business solutions, the easier it is for cyberattacks to occur.
Therefore good IT support will recognize this as a foundational best practice approach. Endpoint security and protection, secure remote access software (for companies with extensive offerings), multi-factor authentication tools and email protection are all part of creating a conducive network security solution no matter where employees connect from. However this must be embedded into the systems from inception rather than adding systems once something happens, making cybersecurity awareness even more important when it comes to training employees. Phishing attempts and social engineering attacks have been known to attack remote employees, so regardless of good technical solutions, employees must know how to advocate for themselves and dismiss any attacks. Regular training makes ongoing awareness possible.
Maintain Connectivity Without Hassle
Hybrid working works only when employees are seamlessly connected together — meaning they have the right solutions available to them for easy communication with no challenges. Video conferencing tools, instant messaging features, shared calendars and collaborative editing must work seamlessly whether at a desk or at home.
Yet this only works if actively managed software solutions allow this to occur. Upgrades, licensing management, accessibility settings and troubleshooting are consistently sought out when IT services have support in place so that things don’t have to be fixed when they go wrong — but done proactively from day 1.
In addition, phone systems should be considered. Cloud-based phone solutions allow employees’ calls to be spread across their accesses so clients and customers only experience professionalism on their end without knowing where employees are sitting for the day.
Support New Starters
In addition, one area that people do not recognize will impede good hybrid working business is hybrid new starter support. Remote setup for new employees requires device configuration, accessibility permissions, system solutions settings prior to the start date to get everyone off on the right foot. The better this is done, the better new starters will hit the ground running; if poorly administered, the first impressions will lack equity and it will take longer for businesses to reach optimal productivity levels.
The same goes when employees leave businesses. Access must be secured in a timely fashion for ethical cybersecurity implications instead of waiting weeks once HR fulfills paperwork obligations.
Build The Future
Ultimately those businesses who deem hybrid work policies as successful have one thing in common: they’ve successfully partnered with IT solutions to ensure a long-term approach rather than playing catch-up whenever issues arise. There’s constant monitoring, possibilities for growth and checks made along with scaling possibilities for companies to ensure their solutions work as they continue expanding.
Hybrid work is not going anywhere — especially for those businesses who recognize it as positive — and when IT infrastructure accepts the solution from day 1 and thereafter, employees can feel confident that they will succeed in hybrid working just the same as any other professional environment if cybersecurity comes first. Getting the IT right is what turns hybrid working from a compromise into a genuine advantage.
