Preparing your business for remote working.
The current global pandemic, as well as other factors, are causing many businesses to send their workforces home and to work remotely. Some businesses are ready for this, many are adapting quickly, but an equal number are unable to comply and are falling by the wayside.
So how do you adapt and create the right IT infrastructure to support the demands of a remote workforce? Companies need to refine their office and security policies, provide additional equipment, and provide remote access to company resources. Here we provide a few guidelines as to how to move forward, and get up and running with a remote workforce.
IT Backbone
Obviously, moving your workforce from the office to remote locations will increase the usage and reliance on network and security hardware. This includes security systems, servers, network routers, firewalls, and storage devices; these need to be scaled appropriately, likely beyond their expected usage. For many, this will mean moving their data storage to a more forward position in their company network, rather than at the center as in traditional IT infrastructure, and then boosting your security systems to protect it.
Communication & Collaboration
From a worker’s perspective, they will rely heavily on communication and collaboration tools to maintain productivity and engagement, so you need to scale your network and routers to be able to cope with a vastly-increased demand for these services. Tools like Zoom, Slack, and Trello are perfect for online meetings, communication and engagement, and organizing work and projects.
The Cloud
To avoid overloading your systems and VPNs, you might start using cloud-based technology for some or all of your remotely accessed storage and services, with their own set of cloud-based security systems. Security is especially important in this environment, because without the right systems in place, your company is completely exposed.
Future-proofing your business
Could this be the way forward from now on? The pandemic has forced businesses to find other ways to work; ways that only a few years ago would be considered difficult at best. But now, with a shift in business thinking, the world is opening up to a new type of business. The internet already has a massive amount of infrastructure, so it’s simply a matter of adapting that infrastructure to your core business activities, rather than supporting them in-house.
With the support and engagement of business owners, managers, and staff, there’s no reason why modern companies cannot continue to grow, be productive and be profitable in a world where the remote office is king.
TechPoint Can Help
For more help and advice and developing your IT infrastructure , call us today: 1-888-801-1777, email us at sales@tech-point.ca, or use the form on this page.