Published: 11 March 2024
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Remote work in 2024 and how your IT support should adapt

Remote and hybrid working is not new. In fact, it’s become the norm since the pandemic. However, many businesses still haven’t worked out how to make it work for them – or how to get the business IT support they need to make it as seamless and efficient as possible.  

Working from home offers many advantages: 

That said, it also brings a number of risks and potential obstacles, particularly surrounding your business’ IT. From communication blockers to cyber security concerns and productivity inhibitors – there are a number of factors you need to consider to ensure your business’ IT is well-equipped to support hybrid and remote workers. 

Here are just a few things you ought to keep on your radar: 

Remote onboarding 

Poor onboarding experiences have a greater impact than you might realise. Numerous studies have found that the risk of employee turnover is highest early on in an employee’s tenure, meaning if businesses fail to provide the right tools and training from the start, they are more likely to lose valuable talent to competitors. 

Recruitment firm Hays also found that 51% of employees would go “above and beyond” in their work if they had a good onboarding experience.  

The evidence is clear – onboarding matters. However, the need for effective, engaging onboarding is all the more critical for businesses with hybrid or remote teams. Where employees could once learn on the go and absorb information from a bustling office environment, now they are reliant on your remote onboarding process to lead the way – which means it needs to be as watertight as possible. 

That’s where the right managed IT services can help. It’s going to take a lot more than a Zoom call and PowerPoint presentation to equip new team members with the knowledge and expertise they need to thrive in their new role. 

So what should you consider to ensure your remote onboarding process is as smooth and seamless as possible? 

Communications 

Without in-person office interactions, communications can become disjointed, unreliable and infrequent – and that not only impacts your company culture, but also your productivity, business growth and overall performance. 

Ensuring you have reliable, stable, and integrated communications systems in place is of paramount importance. 

You need to know your communications tools are fully integrated with your existing software, they have a seamless user experience, and they are accessible for all your employees. For many businesses, this might mean replacing legacy or unnecessarily complicated systems for more streamlined, user-friendly alternatives. 

For example, if your business uses Microsoft 365, apps like Teams and Teams Voice are designed to make communications easier – especially for employees working from home.  

The right IT partner can help you find the right communications tools for your business, integrate them fully with your existing IT infrastructure, and help you maximise value from your investment.  

Inclusion 

While it may prove to be more convenient for both employers and employees alike, hybrid and remote working can come with the risk of your teams feeling siloed, isolated or disconnected. If ignored, the shift in working lifestyle can seriously affect your business’ company culture. 

Your technology will play a pivotal role in maintaining a collaborative, inclusive and positive team culture. From real-time messaging platforms like Slack or Teams, to scheduling regular video calls for face-to-face interaction – remote employees will require an extra level of communication and support to feel like a valued member of the team. 

Relying on emails alone will not protect your culture. An IT partner can help guide you towards the right remote working solutions that are designed to maximise connectivity and communication, and support your business throughout the transition, so every team member feels included. 

Security 

Maintaining a secure IT environment is fairly straightforward when every device is connected to the same protected network, with the same defence systems, in the same building. With remote working, however, cyber security becomes considerably more complex. 

How do you ensure your systems are secure when they are using different, potentially public networks, working from home, cafes, local libraries, and anywhere and everywhere in between? 

Suddenly, it becomes all the more important that: 

Educating employees is the first port of call. While you might have IT experts that already know the ins and outs of cyber security, a large proportion of your team will be unaware of the risks, and the best practices to avoid them.  

Certifications such as Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus are a great way to increase the level of cyber awareness in your organisation, as well as gain much-needed assurance that your systems are fully protected. Your IT partner will be able to help you identify vulnerabilities, patch any weaknesses, and bolster your defences so your employees can work remotely, securely. 

Finding the right remote IT support for remote workers 

The remote and hybrid working model isn’t going anywhere any time soon. So, businesses should take stock now to ensure their IT infrastructure is properly equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities remote working presents – from cyber security to collaboration, productivity, team culture and more. 

At Arc Systems, we have been providing secure and reliable remote working IT support for many years. From our Firewall range for remote access to our on-demand SSLVPN connection – we offer the software, hardware and guidance needed to ensure your business gets the most out of hybrid and remote working, and secures business continuity. 

Get in touch with our team to find out more: https://www.arcsystems.co.uk/contact-arc-systems/