As companies adapt to the new normal, remote work is on the rise. In fact, a recent survey from Gartner found that 74% of CFOs said that they plan to move on-site employees to remote positions after the effects of the pandemic. As companies attempt to cut costs and increase profitability, fewer office spaces might be rented.
With a growing remote workforce, companies should consider adopting policies in relation to internet speed and cybersecurity. In a previous article, Justin Vendette wrote about how mesh networks can boost connectivity signals around your home, making remote work more convenient. In addition to this, transitioning to a cloud system and shifting to online storage options will help keep your team organized.
Reduces overall costs
When it comes to cloud computing, it increases flexibility for businesses. The Business Journals explains how the vast majority of cloud programs and software solutions tend to use a subscription-based model. This means that they can cater to a range of businesses, from smaller startups to larger, multi-level organizations. Depending on their budget, they can scale up or scale down to adjust with the times. This reduces major expenses, such as rent, hardware, and on-site utilities that businesses typically have to pay. Especially in today’s current climate, businesses should be as money-conscious as possible when it comes to ensuring their future survival.
Promotes collaboration between teams
With cloud solutions, teams can now securely access data on a shared platform no matter their location. Box details how cloud content management systems can help streamline workflows through seamless app integration. Statistics show that the average company uses over 1,000 different apps and 50 file-sharing services, so integrating these into a centralized system should be a major concern. Tools such as Slack, DocuSign, and G Suite boost collaboration between remote teams, and ensuring that data from these systems is regularly backed up will prevent the loss of important data.
Increases agility and decision-making
Nowadays, quickly adapting to new trends is key, and investing in cloud technology is a great way to do this. According to an article from Information Age, agility can be boosted by enabling employees more autonomy to make important business decisions. For remote workers, cloud-based solutions give them greater access to updated data, which leads to better analysis and more informed decision-making. This enables them to move faster and more effectively as a team, especially when it comes to decentralized decision making. Depending on consumer needs, they can expand applications and services on-demand instead of waiting for IT support.
Finally, while online data storage has clear benefits in terms of accessibility and convenience, these advantages can also make data more vulnerable to malicious parties. To prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing confidential data, Forbes recommends integrating identity and access management tools into their cloud system. In addition to traditional firewall systems, this will help ensure that specific individuals in the workforce will be able to access the tools and resources they need. For larger organizations, it can be a challenging task to tailor identities for each worker, but with proper solutions in place, cybercriminals can be dissuaded from accessing private systems. Moving forward, companies should do their best to integrate apps and software to support their workforce both in and out of the office. Considering the potential challenges that come with this, it will help ease their transition to the cloud.