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Two years ago, the world shut down. We all lived through the start of the pandemic, when the world’s white-collar workforce was sent home en masse. Remote work became the only option for employees in many positions across many companies. This working environment was isolating, and staff required entirely new workflows just to keep business processes functional—but we survived it.
Now, as the world is starting to figure out how to live with COVID-19 long-term, companies are evaluating how to safely bring office workers back on-premises. They want to revive the efficiencies and insights that are possible when staff work face-to-face. At the same time, they want to respect employees’ desire, and need, to continue working remotely at least part-time.
Where all these factors converge, there is an inescapable truth: hybrid work is here to stay. The “new normal” at most organizations as a result of the pandemic will involve a combination of remote and in-person work. Some businesses may require their entire staff to work on-premises three days a week, with two days at home (or elsewhere). Others may offer employees four days a week remote, with one in-person and others will require workers to be on-premises as needed. Obviously, myriad other possibilities may also take root across the corporate world
These are primarily HR and business strategy decisions, no doubt. But they have a big impact on IT and security teams, who need to make sure the company’s technology infrastructure provides the secure and high-performing connectivity every employee needs to get their job done. That is why networking and security leaders should work with senior management to ensure the company’s technologies support whatever hybrid work configurations are under consideration. As the risk of these technologies and the new work location models become strategic, these risks and mit