For IT leaders who make it a point of emphasis to drive workplace modernization, these last few years have been challenging, to say the least. The “workplace” as we know it has been dramatically upended, and the road that lies ahead is uncertain. At many places of business, there’s been an abrupt shift from the old paradigm, with almost everyone working out of one common office space, to an entirely new one. Remote and hybrid work are taking over the world.
For most workers, this has largely been a good thing. Consider these facts: According to a recent study from Cisco, 83.3% of all workers say they have “learned, grown, and succeeded” in their roles over the last two years as work has evolved. Furthermore, about three out of four people say their roles can now be performed remotely, a sharp increase from just a few years ago. For the most part, people are happy with the way their jobs have evolved.
So, for organizations, the challenge then becomes this: What’s the best way to foster effective hybrid work? After all, the objective in business is still the same as ever - you’re trying to drive communication, collaboration, and productive work throughout the entire workforce. What does that effort look like in 2023 and beyond?
What follows is a look at five key characteristics of effective hybrid work today.
It’s flexible.
Smart organizations these days know they need to accommodate a wide range of people, work styles and technology choices. Today’s workers demand the flexibility to work in whatever ways make them most comfortable, so it’s incumbent upon IT leaders to give it to them.
It’s inclusive.
Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever. The typical “office” team now includes people from all over the world, working in a wide variety of work arrangements. It’s important that corporate IT teams provide the necessary technology to make everyone feel included, no matter who they are or where they work.
It’s supportive.
Whether it’s meeting people’s basic needs like a laptop and an internet connection, or providing 24/7 help desk assistance, everyone has different demands when it comes to support from their IT team. Your organization should do its best to meet them.
It’s managed.
Properly managing corporate IT means having a handle on everything - people’s devices, their data, their productivity, their collaboration, and their security. Especially these days, as remote and hybrid work reshape the world, IT management requires a holistic approach.
It’s secure.
Work is constantly evolving - and unfortunately, so too are cyberthreats. It’s more important now than ever for your organization to have a comprehensive suite of security tools that protects your people and their data at every level.
At Cisco, the security game plan is simple: Zero Trust. With Cisco hybrid work tools in your toolbox, you’ll have everything you need to verify every single user and every device that accesses your network. Trust no one; authenticate everyone. That’s what it takes to guarantee safe and secure hybrid work today.
As your business moves forward in this era of remote work, you can trust Cisco to deliver remote work solutions that are adaptable to meet the needs of your business. Cisco solutions will bolster your network infrastructure, improve your data management, and drive greater collaboration across your entire business.
And at Zones, we are a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, which means we have achieved the highest possible level of partnership with Cisco. We know their solutions better than anyone, and we’re ready to help you use them to drive results for your hybrid workforce.
To discover more, connect with a Zones Account Manager today.
Zones : Feb 28, 2023 12:00:00 PM
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