Since 2019, the number of companies that have adopted a remote work environment has more than tripled, according to the United States Census Bureau. There are countless benefits of hybrid or remote work culture, for the employers and employees. Employees value the work life balance that remote work allows while employers can save on costs like rent and amenities for workers. However, the IT infrastructure needed to support a secure remote work environment is not the simplest to implement. There are risks associated with it. If your company is considering remote work, consider these risks and make sure you bring in the right IT team to help keep your company secure.

Should you allow employees to conduct remote work on their own devices?

Based on a study conducted by Samsung and Frost & Sullivan, The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend is widespread (84 percent) across all industries, with most companies allowing employees and even partners to access the corporate network via their own devices. But as a result, data security is a top concern for 52 percent of respondents, especially in regulated industries, and more than two-thirds view the security risks posed by employees and partners with smartphones as very or somewhat significant. Are SMBs doing enough to ensure that networks aren’t threatened by the risk of malware being spread from personal mobile phones? According to the Gartner Group, only 6% of small businesses survive a major data loss. Any small or medium sized business without a data back-up and recovery plan must act now before it’s too late!

Employee time management tracking

Many managers have a misconception that allowing employees to work from home will decrease productivity. According to Apollo Technical, several studies show that productivity actually increases with remote work. The way you approach employee time management depends greatly on the line of business you’re in and the culture you’re hoping to establish. However, most companies need systems that allow employees to clock in and out. Remote work can complicate how this is implemented, especially if employees are using their own computers. AdvanTech can help your company correctly apply this technology, which often holds confidential employee data. 

Does your IT framework support it?

There are technologies out there such as VPN connections that allow employees to access the “secure” network of the company when working from home. This is often easier when you have trained technicians who can set up company equipment to connect and recognize the company network. Depending on the type of VPN connection, there are sometimes limits on how many employees can connect to the network, so you’ll need to make sure you choose a VPN that fits your company needs. Again, allowing employees to use their own devices is possible, but you’ll want to ensure your IT framework cybersecurity efforts are up to industry standards, for the sake of your company, clients, and employees. 

Is your network secure, even on company provided equipment?

This brings us to the 4th consideration, which is ensuring your network is secure on all devices. When allowing employees to work from home, there are many factors to consider. It’s difficult to determine if your network has the proper managed and cybersecurity features in place to support a remote work framework. However, data breaches can happen in the office as well, so don’t wait until you decide to take on work from home culture. Call us today to make sure your network is secure now and can support remote work. 

AdvanTech has been helping companies establish a remote work environment for over a decade. We’ve seen the threats increase and the technology to combat these threats advance. We have the knowledge and tools to help you save money by establishing a remote work environment for your company, securely.