With 46% of white-collar workers saying that they’re more productive at home and only 16% reporting that they achieve more in the office, it’s safe to say that remote work, in some shape or form, is here to stay for many businesses across various sectors.
However, many organizations are feeling the pressure of managing a fully remote or hybrid workforce that relies on a digital workplace. They know that a poorly managed IT infrastructure can lead to major productivity and financial challenges. With employees using multiple devices from different locations, many managers worry about creating data silos and exposing their systems to security vulnerabilities.
With the proper resources in place, you can avoid these outcomes! In this article, you’ll learn how to run your technology smoothly across diverse work environments and steps to help your team thrive. with reliable, all-encompassing remote IT support.
The common issues businesses face when shifting to hybrid
Many organizations worry about how efficient their teams are when working remotely – even though over 80% of hybrid employees report being highly engaged at work, outpacing the 72% of on-site employees.
Despite the tangible benefits, this hesitation toward remote work makes sense – it is a lot to manage when you’re trying to keep all the pieces of a digital workspace running smoothly.
- Maintaining clear, consistent communication between their employees and avoiding misunderstandings or information slipping through the cracks.
- Administering company resources, including important files and systems, as well as keeping their employees’ performance on track without direct supervision
- Preventing data loss and complying with any relevant regulations or industry standards for data use
- Procuring the right tools and systems to set up a remote workforce in a cost-effective way that aligns with their budget
This balancing act can lead to significant issues if not approached with intention and proactivity: inefficient workflows, missed deadlines, strains on financial resources, and even threats to their organization’s ongoing viability.
The Core Components of Effective Remote IT Support
Having a secure and accessible digital environment will come down to one thing: responsive IT support.
When you work with experts, you can simplify the work involved in both addressing mundane day-to-day tech troubles and overseeing larger projects, whether it’s integrating AI into your organization or addressing your endpoint security. Organizations may want to outsource to a managed service provider if they do not have in-house technical staff or if they want to augment their existing internal IT team.
Whoever you work with, they’ll need to follow the right recipe for success:
Remote support and troubleshooting
Your employees need to be able to contact someone when they are struggling with their digital workspace, regardless of where they work from. Ideally, this assistance would come in the form of a well-organized IT helpdesk solution with a straightforward, intuitive support ticketing system, pre-established service level objectives, and the capacity to offer real-time support solutions for simple problems. At every stage, your employees should be able to easily report issues, track the status of their requests, and communicate with IT staff.
A managed IT provider has perfected this process. They offer a team of experts on call who work together to ensure no issues are overlooked, and that your employees, regardless of their location, receive equitable access to IT support and experience minimal disruptions to their work. With the opportunity to receive multi-device support from home without friction, your employees will be able to work confidently, knowing support is just a click away.
Advanced, Best-Practice Technology
Imagine your team starting their day, logging in from various locations—some from their home offices, others from coffee shops, and a few from co-working spaces. They open a single platform, a digital hub that greets them with everything they need, neatly organized in one place. No more jumping between multiple apps or wasting time searching for files!
Cloud-based tools enable frictionless remote access. Microsoft 365, for instance, offers collaborative software like Teams and SharePoint that allows your team to access the same data and files across multiple devices and locations because they are stored online and aren’t tied to physical hardware. With the right hybrid cloud infrastructure, every team member has the most up-to-date information at their fingertips, which means it’s easier for everyone to stay on the same page.
And since your organization will be virtualizing its computing resources, you can cost-effectively adjust your IT investments as you go. For example, you can quickly scale your storage to match the demand of your current projects or your budget. These tools also typically come built with security features and access controls, making securing your data a lot simpler.
Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance
To succeed when working remotely, you need a robust digital headquarters. But even a well-designed environment comprised of the most sophisticated technology can’t function without continuous tweaks to keep it aligned with your evolving needs. That’s why your remote IT support needs to focus on integrating proactive monitoring solutions that resolve issues before they impact productivity.
A managed IT provider can help with tackling various tasks, such as:
- DNS filtering and AI-powered endpoint detection and response to identify and filter out malicious activity before a bad actor can wreak havoc on your system.
- Ongoing network performance monitoring to find and address any slowdowns, disruptions, or bandwidth issues early before they create connectivity challenges for your remote employees, and
- Automated data backups, software patches, and system updates to eliminate any vulnerabilities in your setup.
Relevant, industry-specific knowledge
Equipping your employees with the right tools, platforms, and systems is necessary, but pairing that with proper IT training will be equally important. You don’t want them to struggle with unfamiliar technology or use your resources in a way that puts your organization at risk!
To avoid frustration, downtime, or poor workplace performance, prioritize educating your employees with hands-on workshops and thorough documentation. This is especially helpful when migrating to a new platform and navigating new software. You will also want to specifically provide security awareness training to help them internalize cybersecurity best practices, whether it’s avoiding falling victim to social engineering attempts like call-back phishing attempts or understanding the importance of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Providing high-quality training will require working with the right IT support specialist. Experienced IT professionals bring in-depth knowledge of your organization’s tools and systems, which will help make training more relevant and actionable in a hybrid work setup.
Empower your hybrid workforce with PC Corp
Responsive IT assistance can make all the difference in a hybrid workplace, helping employees tackle challenges without losing momentum.
When a remote employee’s connection stalls during a client call or a critical file is inaccessible, swift action from their IT team will get them back to business quickly. The right partner will also treat IT support as a proactive project, working hard to create a protected and efficient digital workspace by procuring the appropriate tools and engaging in preventative monitoring, maintenance, and training.
When you partner with PC Corp for our managed IT support in Calgary, Edmonton and remotely to where ever you may be located, you’ll get access to well-versed specialists who are dedicated to fostering a long-term, supportive working relationship with your organization. We’ll be here to guide your employees to success, wherever they work.
Contact us and let’s build a stronger, more resilient workspace for your remote or hybrid team.
