A people-centred digital strategy for hybrid working

Hybrid working is now the expectation, not the exception

Though some employers appear keen to draw their workforce back into the office, many potential employees now expect flexible working as a standard benefit. One report suggests nearly 98% of workers would like to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their career. The question for businesses is how to ensure they have the right set-up and culture to support a successful hybrid working model.

Although hybrid working is sometimes viewed as employees simply taking their laptops home, the model brings countless new considerations and practices that must be introduced to ensure it helps, rather than hinders, both employee and business performance.

Cybersecurity training and policy for a dispersed workforce

Increased time spent using devices remotely can lead to heightened cybersecurity risks. One significant risk that business leaders should not overlook is how employees working remotely handle data: while working in a public setting, an employee might accidentally leave sensitive or confidential information visible to members of the public, as one embarrassing example involving a UK Cabinet Minister illustrated. Employees working remotely are also more susceptible to phishing scams, which may take the form of requests from colleagues or customers for passwords, file access or other sensitive data.

Robust data security arrangements are a legal obligation, and dedicated time spent training employees should inform organisational priorities. Understanding sector-specific requirements shapes how that training is pursued, since statutory requirements for education organisations, for example, may differ from those for hospitality businesses. Sector bodies, business networks and even technology solution providers run webinars and accredited cybersecurity training tailored to an organisation's needs.

• Train staff on how to handle sensitive information visible on screens in public settings
• Cover phishing recognition specifically for remote-working scenarios
• Align training content with sector-specific statutory requirements
• Consider that some business insurers offer enhanced benefits to policyholders who invest in this training

Effective remote IT support and access

Hybrid working can often mean employees need to access servers or devices remotely to collaborate effectively or to provide support to colleagues by taking control of their device. Secure remote access is extremely helpful, particularly for troubleshooting when IT issues arise: technicians can take control of devices remotely, facilitating faster diagnoses and quick resolutions. For a remote employee, an outage or device issue can be truly debilitating, so reducing the amount of time lost to such incidents is critical both for balancing workloads and for optimising efficiency across the organisation.

A hybrid working model relies on efficient and smooth-running infrastructure and networks. This is a constant challenge that all hybrid employers must face, working continuously to improve efficiency and allow employees to keep working together no matter where they are.

Using IT asset management to keep infrastructure fit for purpose

Constantly auditing and keeping track of the status of devices and networks, particularly for larger companies, can be a mammoth task. An IT asset management solution can automate this process by monitoring device locations, usage and life cycles, as well as measuring what solutions or processes work well or could be improved. These solutions can collect data on inventory, applications, user behaviours and even energy usage.

From this informed perspective, companies can set out on a path to improvement and efficiency by introducing policies that help maximise their technology investment and ensure infrastructure remains fit for purpose and meets all employees' needs. Supporting employees to work efficiently and easily, regardless of location, means building an IT infrastructure that flexes to the organisation's needs and supports staff when issues arise.

• Monitor device location, usage and lifecycle centrally rather than relying on manual audits
• Track inventory, applications and user behaviour to spot underused or overburdened assets
• Feed findings back into policy so the infrastructure keeps matching real employee needs

Putting people at the centre of the model

Security and the safety of data, whether belonging to customers, colleagues or the company more generally, will need to be considered in a new way to ensure new threats are mitigated as the hybrid model matures. Placing employees' needs at the core of hybrid working policies and infrastructure is critical to ensuring the model works for everyone, while also future-proofing the business against the next shift in working practices.