As lockdown continues to ease, some of you might have ventured back into the office for the first time in a while and, whilst being back at your desk might be more common for some, many businesses, large and small, have been looking at how to better use their office space in the new “hybrid” working model. Indeed, HSBC is just one big business that has reacted, scrapping its executive offices floor and recognising that many of its staff will be working part-time from home in the future. Now seems a good time to review whether your office and work processes are doing what you now need them to do. Below, we take a look at some key aspects of your IT infrastructure.
Desks and Devices
As working practices have evolved, some of your team could be spending more time working remotely and less at their desks. This provides the opportunity to rethink your office set up, perhaps shifting from static to hot desking, underpinned by strong remote-working policies. Making sure they have the right equipment, both in and out of the office, can be incorporated into your hardware planning. You might also consider repurposing your existing space to reflect the “blended” working environment. With virtual meetings a key part of the working day, creating a professional space with a large screen for video conferencing enables efficient client meetings (no wasted travel time), as well as facilitating inclusive team collaborations internally. Want to know more? Do get in touch by email at [email protected] or phone 020 8078 0810.
Data Storage and Access
In previous newsletters we have focused on secure data storage, especially in the context of Business Continuity, making sure you can access your data in the event of a disaster. How your data is stored is part of the story, however, how that data is accessed for normal business functioning is perhaps more relevant given that “hybrid working” looks set to stay. Storing on a server predates today’s cloud solutions but, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Deciding on what is right for you will be a combination of factors including data type, access needs, cost and flexibility. Whatever solution you decide upon (it might well be a hybrid), needs to be able to give your team secure access whether they are in or out of the office. To find out more, do give us a call.
Security
Hybrid working naturally means that people will be moving more between at least two locations – home and office – if not more. In previous newsletters, we have provided tips on maintaining strong cyber security with good password management and awareness of how to avoid potential hacking attacks. However, as we become more mobile again, the physical security of your devices becomes yet another factor to consider – have you ever left your laptop on a train or in a coffee shop? Whilst ideally you want to avoid misplacing an item in the first place, this underlines the importance of making sure that your devices are encrypted and always secured with a password or passcode.