Secure Network Solutions cautions organisations - “Don’t forget the security aspects in your rapid journey to Digital”

N K Mehta
CEO & MD, Secure Network Solutions

Remote work – Key trends & challenges

Organizations have seen significant cost savings during the pandemic phase in terms of electricity, water, consumables, travel allowances, and maintenance. Therefore, organisations would like to continue to benefit from the remote work model provided it does not impact the business and productivity.

Key drivers are the ability to deliver customer service, improve sales without a need of expensive real estate and infrastructure. Measuring employee productivity, ensuring work from home does not become work for home, keep the employees motivated, smoothly replace face-to-face interaction and guidance using digital collaboration tools and yet show consistent year-on-year growth in business revenues are the key challenges.

While most of these are business and human resource related challenges, the significant technology challenge is “Information Security”. 

Delivering paperless systems

ERP online, Cloud based Email and Office Productivity Suites, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Meetings & Collaboration Suites, and Human Resource Management System (HRMS) are the business tools that will help to reach over 90% paperless systems. To ensure this works securely, Information Security layer to be added at every stage. Strong Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), End-point Detection & Response (EDR), Information Rights Management (IRM), and Zero Trust Network are the key elements.

Strategies for business profitability

Online Learning Management System (LMS) plays a crucial role in regularly enhancing the skills of employees.

Regular video meetings intra and inter teams ensure continuity from physical to virtual world.

Employees should be educated to understand that three to four hours of travel time is saved from their daily routines. Help them to convert this time-saving into a healthy lifestyle (exercises, meditation, yoga) and increase productivity. Clear targets (both revenue and non-revenue) to be given to the team members and managers have to periodically monitor and guide to maintain consistent growth.

Future of work and workforce

There are certain industry verticals that can go 100% remote, while others may have to settle with a well-structured hybrid model. Of course, manufacturing will continue to remain 100% on-premise for obvious reasons.

Consistent enhancement of employee skills (digital or otherwise) and sound performance monitoring systems are required to empower the future workforce. We believe all customer facing activities will remain in-person and all back-office will go remote.

As a Cyber Security company, we must say “Don’t forget the security aspects in your rapid journey to Digital”.