Navigating IT Challenges In the Age Of Hybrid Workplaces

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses of all shapes and sizes to reevaluate the way they operate. For many, this has meant a shift to hybrid workplaces, with employees working both remotely and on-site. This new model comes with a whole host of challenges, not the least of which is ensuring that your IT infrastructure can support a hybrid workforce. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the ways your IT can help you make the most of a hybrid workplace.

Enabling Remote Work

One of the biggest challenges of a hybrid workplace is ensuring that remote employees have the same access to company resources as those who are working on-site. This means giving them access to the same applications, data, and collaboration tools as their colleagues.

One way to do this is through virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). VDI allows remote employees to access a virtual version of their desktops from anywhere with an internet connection. This gives them full access to all the applications and data they need to do their jobs, without having to worry about VPNs or other security risks.

Another way to enable remote work is through application virtualization. This allows employees to access apps from a remote server, rather than having them installed locally on their computers. This can be a great way to save space on laptops and ensure that everyone is using the same version of an app.

Securing Data in a Hybrid Workplace

Another important consideration for businesses making the shift to hybrid workplaces is data security. When employees are working remotely, there's an increased risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks. To combat this, businesses need to implement strong security measures, both for on-site and remote workers.

One way to secure data in a hybrid workplace is through two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA requires users to provide two pieces of information before they're able to access company resources. This could be something like a password and a code that's sent to their phone, or a fingerprint and a passcode. 2FA makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to company data, as they would need both pieces of information in order to login.

Another way to secure data is through encryption. Encryption scrambles data so that it's unreadable without a key. This means that even if hackers are able to gain access to company data, they won't be able to make sense of it without the encryption key. Businesses should encrypt all sensitive data, both at rest and in transit, in order to keep it safe from cyber attacks.

A business can also protect data through the use of access control lists (ACLs). ACLs are used to restrict access to data based on user roles and permissions. This means that only authorized users will be able to view or modify data. By using ACLs, businesses can make sure that only the people who need to have access to data actually have access to it.

Finally, businesses should consider using a security information and event management (SIEM) system. SIEM systems collect and aggregate data from various security devices across an organisation. This data is then analyzed to look for patterns or anomalies that could indicate a security breach. SIEM systems can help businesses detect attacks early and take steps to mitigate the damage.

The shift to hybrid workplaces has brought with it a whole host of challenges for businesses—not the least of which is ensuring that their IT infrastructure can support a remote workforce. By working with a leading IT provider such as Modena360, you can be sure that your IT is up to the task of supporting a hybrid workplace.

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