Getting to Grips with the Modern Workplace

Posted on 26 January 2020

The way we work is evolving at lightning speed – but is your business keeping up?

Moving your enterprise into the 21st century means embracing the concept of ‘the modern workplace’ – the first step of which is to understand exactly what a modern workplace is. 

What is it?

The modern workplace is as individual as the businesses adopting it, but it also represents a set concept of cloud-based working that allows employees to work together securely, from anywhere in the world. It makes use of co-working spaces and remote working, affording employees flexibility that is uncommon in a traditional office-based 9-to-5 environment. A modern workplace can be physical and/or digital, as long as it meets the needs of your business and your employees.

 

How is it Possible?

Now more than ever, IT underpins the idea of the modern workplace. Many workplace changes are due to employees looking for a more flexible way to work, but that demand could not be met without the help of new tech. Users are looking for more freedom, more variety, more choice, and a better work/life balance, and these expectations are being met by savvy companies that know what it takes to secure top talent and have the tech at their disposal to make it a reality.

 

A Modern Workplace Embraces the Following Key Features:

A Mobile Workforce

Once upon a time, the workday traditionally consisted of a rigid 9-5 shift spent exclusively at the office, but things are changing. Employees want flexibility and organisations are adapting their management structures and IT capability in order to accommodate that. Working from home provides a better work/life balance and the chance to avoid busy commutes – offering this results in raised employee satisfaction, increased productivity, and better staff retention.

Find out why we’re in love with remote working here. 

BYOD

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a key feature of the mobile workplace as it allows companies to enjoy the productivity benefits of a flexible mobile workforce without the cost of having to purchase the devices that each employee prefers. While obvious security issues could arise, thankfully innovative security tools now exist to allow both users and IT departments to rest easy knowing that their privacy and sensitive data is secure.

To learn more about BYOD, check out our blog post here.

A Collaborative Environment

Open communication is the lifeblood of the modern workplace and it’s important that employees can collaborate remotely as if they were working side by side. Modern organisations make use of SaaS apps such as Asana to schedule tasks and keep an eye on progress. Additionally, Microsoft Teams is a great way to keep employees engaged – allowing them to communicate via calls, webcam, and chat wherever they are.

Find out more about Teams here.

Utilising the Cloud

As organisations are collecting more and more data than ever, the most economical place to store it is the cloud. Getting rid of physical servers and making the switch to the cloud is a typical feature of a modern workplace. Cyber criminals know the value of confidential corporate information and are developing more sophisticated ways to access it, but modern workplaces are prepared for modern threats. By utilising cloud service systems like Microsoft Azure and implementing Zero Trust policies, companies can protect their data, no-matter where it is.

We talked with Will Lambert of ZeroDayLab about how Zero Trust can help protect your data while using cloud-based systems. Check out his advice here.

 

In short, the modern workplace is a concept as unique and fluid as the needs of the organisations adopting it. From BYOD to cloud-based working, the modern workplace is picking up the pace of a 21st century job profession – to the benefit of both people and their employers.

 

For more information on how you can work with us to modernise your workplace, please contact a member of our dedicated team.

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