Tech Infrastructure & Supporting Remote Staff

In a rapidly evolving work landscape, the traditional notion of an office as the primary hub of business operations is being challenged. Remote work has emerged as a powerful paradigm, transforming how organizations operate and employees engage in their roles. Many remote organizations are considering “return to work” initiatives while employees are responding with clear feedback: “I want to stay remote!”

At the core of this transformative shift lies the essential combination of technology infrastructure and organizational commitment, which enables seamless connectivity, communication, and collaboration for organizations supporting remote or hybrid workers. From the virtual backbone that underpins remote operations to the strategic tools and training initiatives aimed at bridging the physical divide, technology infrastructure has emerged as the fundamental cornerstone of successful remote work.

To Stay Remote or Return to the Office, That is the Question

What is technology infrastructure?

Technology infrastructure for a remote organization refers to the underlying technological components, systems, and resources that enable remote work operations and support the connectivity, communication, and collaboration needs of remote employees. It encompasses a range of hardware, software, networks, and security measures designed to facilitate remote work and ensure seamless operations.

What is organizational comittment to remote?

Organizational commitment to remote work entails a comprehensive and dedicated approach to embracing remote work as a core component of the organization’s operations. It involves establishing policies and practices that support remote work arrangements, providing the necessary technology infrastructure and resources for remote employees to perform their roles effectively, and fostering a culture that values and promotes remote work.

Perhaps your organization took the necessary steps in 2020 to support your remote workforce, but now it’s time to assess the scalability of sustaining remote work moving forward. Don’t be overwhelmed! There is always hope. Join us as we take the initial steps on a transformative journey, evaluating the complex tapestry of technology infrastructure, processes, and policies that empower remote organizations and unlock the boundless potential of their distributed workforce.

Our first stop will be exploring the basic elements to consider when considering an organization’s technology infrastructure. Next, we will evaluate the organizational commitment to remote by examining remote work processes and preparedness through our Remote Workplace Analyzer.

Remote Technology Infrastructure Elements

In the event that your organization is considering the continuation of remote work or a shift towards a hybrid structure, it becomes imperative to evaluate your existing technology infrastructure. This evaluation aims to determine the support necessary for a remote or hybrid workforce. By taking into account these fundamental elements of technology infrastructure and asking these vital questions, organizations can assess their current setup, identify areas in need of improvement or attention, and lay the foundation for a technology infrastructure that fully supports remote work, thereby fostering the success of the organization’s remote workforce.

Following are some basic elements to consider when evaluating your organization’s technology infrastructure to support remote or hybrid staff:

Hardware

This includes laptops, desktop computers, mobile devices, peripherals (e.g., webcams, headsets), and other necessary equipment provided to remote employees to perform their work effectively.

Do remote employees have access to suitable devices (laptops, desktops, mobile devices) that meet their job requirements?
Are necessary peripherals such as webcams and headsets provided to enable efficient communication and collaboration?

Software

Remote organizations rely on various software applications and tools to support remote work activities. This may include productivity suites, project management software, collaboration tools, video conferencing software, communication platforms, and cloud-based applications.

Are the required software applications and tools available to remote employees to perform their work effectively?
Is there a standardized set of productivity suites, collaboration tools, and project management software in place?

Connectivity

A reliable and high-speed internet connection is essential for remote work. Remote organizations ensure that employees have access to robust internet connectivity, whether through wired or wireless connections, to enable efficient communication, access to company systems, and collaboration.

Do remote employees have reliable and high-speed internet connectivity?
Have wired or wireless connection options been provided to ensure efficient communication and access to company systems?

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection over the internet, allowing remote employees to access company resources and systems securely. VPNs are commonly used to protect sensitive data and ensure secure remote access to internal networks.

Is a secure VPN connection available for remote employees to access company resources and systems?
Are VPN protocols in place to protect sensitive data during remote access?

Cloud Computing

Remote organizations leverage cloud computing services to store and access data, applications, and resources remotely. Cloud platforms provide scalable storage, computing power, and collaboration capabilities, enabling remote employees to work on shared documents, access company resources, and collaborate seamlessly.

Have cloud computing services been implemented to facilitate remote storage, data access, and collaboration?
Are scalable storage and computing resources available to remote employees through cloud platforms?

Security Measures

Remote organizations implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure secure remote access. This includes measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection systems, multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and regular security updates.

Are robust security measures in place to protect sensitive data and ensure secure remote access?
Have firewalls, antivirus software, and data encryption protocols been implemented?

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Remote organizations establish backup and disaster recovery strategies to protect data and ensure business continuity. This includes regular data backups, redundant storage systems, and disaster recovery plans to minimize data loss and downtime in case of unforeseen events.

Has a backup and disaster recovery strategy been established to safeguard data and ensure business continuity?
Are regular data backups performed, and are redundant storage systems in place?

Compliance and Data Privacy

Remote organizations adhere to regulatory compliance requirements and data privacy standards to protect sensitive data and maintain legal and ethical obligations. They implement measures to ensure data security, privacy, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Are remote work practices aligned with regulatory compliance requirements and data privacy standards?
Are measures in place to ensure data security, privacy, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations?

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Remote organizations utilize various communication and collaboration tools to facilitate real-time communication and collaboration among remote employees. This may include video conferencing platforms, instant messaging tools, VoIP phone system, file-sharing platforms, and virtual meeting solutions.

Are remote employees provided with appropriate communication and collaboration tools?
Are video conferencing platforms, instant messaging tools, and project management software accessible for seamless remote collaboration?

Remote Support and Helpdesk

Remote organizations provide remote technical support and helpdesk services to assist remote employees with any technology-related issues or inquiries. Helpdesk teams are responsible for troubleshooting technical problems, providing guidance, and resolving remote employees’ IT-related concerns.

Is there a dedicated remote support and helpdesk system in place to assist remote employees with technology-related issues?
Are remote employees able to receive timely and effective technical support?

Training and Support

Offer training and support resources to help remote and hybrid workers effectively use the organization’s technology infrastructure. This can include virtual training sessions, documentation, tutorials, and a help desk or IT support for technical assistance. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your organization’s training initiatives for a remote and/or hybrid workforce.

Have remote employees been educated on best practices for data security, privacy, and compliance to mitigate potential risks?
Are there clear channels of communication and escalation for remote employees to seek assistance when facing technology issues?
Have you reached out to sign your remote workforce up for our online training: Certified Remote Professional.

Continuous Improvement

Regularly evaluate and optimize the technology infrastructure based on feedback and evolving needs. Stay updated with advancements in remote work technology to leverage new tools and solutions that can enhance productivity and collaboration.

How is feedback from remote employees utilized to drive enhancements and updates to the technology infrastructure?
Is there a culture of continuous learning and improvement established within the organization to adapt to evolving technology needs and opportunities?

Finally, as you evaluate your current set up, ensure that the technology infrastructure can scale and adapt to accommodate the changing needs of remote and hybrid work. This includes considering factors like increased bandwidth and network capacity, additional software licenses, equipment needs, and the ability to handle a distributed workforce.

Organizational Commitment to Remote

Recognizing the fundamental elements of technology infrastructure is merely the initial step towards formulating a holistic approach to successfully supporting a remote and/or hybrid workforce.

As the next step, it is crucial to evaluate an organization’s dedication to remote/hybrid policies, processes, and training and support expectations for your remote workforce. Our Remote Workplace Analyzer tool serves as a valuable resource to assess the causes of potential skill gaps among remote employees, stemming from insufficient organizational preparedness and support. Note: this is an abbreviated version of our comprehensive Analyzer.

Remote Workplace Analyzer

Learn More

Based on your Remote Workplace Analyzer results (RQR score), request a free initial consultation to discover how we can help your organization and remote/hybrid workforce go remote and work on!

Summary

The specific technology infrastructure will vary based on the organization’s needs, budget, and industry requirements. It’s crucial to assess the unique needs of your organization and choose the appropriate tools and systems to support seamless collaboration and productivity among remote, hybrid, and on-site employees. Such an assessment, at the organizational level, can allow companies to identify specific areas that need improvement to provide effective support for their remote workforce.

By committing to the journey of a sustainable remote workforce, organizations can establish a robust and supportive technology infrastructure, processes, and strategies that empowers remote and hybrid workers to carry out their roles with efficiency, collaborate seamlessly, and maintain a secure and productive work environment.

Get Started

Take your organization’s remote journey to the next level by enrolling in our Remote Workplace Certification program. Through this certification track, you will gain invaluable insights into your organization’s remote readiness in crucial areas including factors related to: Productivity, Access, Communication, and Engagement.

With access to the comprehensive version of our Remote Workplace Analyzer, along with valuable resources and personalized consultations with our experts, you’ll receive expert guidance to evaluate and enhance your remote readiness. Prepare your organization for success as you embark on this transformative path towards remote excellence.