How to Plan an Infrastructure for Successful Remote Working

85% of remote workers now want a hybrid approach to working, with both home and office based methods, recent data has revealed. With this rise in the popularity of home-working over the last year, there is a mounting pressure for businesses to keep up with these demands and seamlessly introduce a stable infrastructure for remote working. To allow businesses to rise to these new challenges and demands, a secure and accessible remote work infrastructure is absolutely vital.

Throughout this article we will talk you through the basics of remote working structures plus how to plan a remote working infrastructure for your own business. As experts in the IT industry, we are here to help. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are the Benefits of Remote Working?

With the spike in popularity of remote working among workers, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. There are a number of benefits for both companies and remote employees. Here are a few of our top benefits to remote working:

• Better work/life balance for employees and employers
• Higher productivity levels and better outcomes
• Promotes employee wellbeing and offers employees more freedom

What is a Remote Working Infrastructure?

An IT infrastructure is the group of components needed to manage and operate enterprise IT environments. IT infrastructure can be used within a cloud system, or an organization’s own facilities. IT infrastructures are made up of software, hardware, network components, data storage, and an operating system (OS).

A remote working infrastructure is an IT infrastructure that is optimised to work just as well with all team members working separately.

Because of the huge changes in how people can access files and networks, communicate and collaborate when working from home, remote working arrangements need to effectively manage this. This is why every remote company (or hybrid company that sometimes utilises remote working opportunities) needs a strong and reliable remote working model to ensure the smooth running of business operations.

What Makes a Successful Remote Working Infrastructure?

A successful remote work environment can be defined by two key traits:

• Reliability to ensure smooth business operations, efficient working, stable network traffic and productive results.
• Security to ensure data protection laws and guidelines are firmly established and adhered to, all sensitive information and systems are protected and networks are optimised for best protection.

Cloud Integration is Vital

Cloud computing is one part of a remote working infrastructure that is vital for security. A remote working environment won’t really work without cloud integration, as physical limitations don’t allow for the closed internal networks you will find in the office.

With cloud computing, it doesn’t matter where employees work, or whether they’re connecting on desktop or mobile devices, since they’ll stay connected to all of their key files, maintain communication with colleagues and access essential data in a secure cloud environment.

Another benefit of a cloud infrastructure is that it is much less likely to be successfully attacked by malware or ransomware than your own singular device, as the big companies providing the cloud services are likely to utilise high-quality cybersecurity measures.

Some further advantages of integrating cloud computing into your IT infrastructure are:

• It is cost-effective as you don’t need to invest in building your own remote working infrastructure from scratch or the equipment to do so. 
• It helps to relieve the burden on your IT team
• It is scalable, so you only pay for the services you require and can add or remove services as needed.
• It ensures a secure connection when remote employees need to gain access to confidential information, or store documents on company servers.

Ensure an Effective Communication Strategy

As we all know, communication is key. This especially applies within the working environment, where effective communication is the difference between quality collaboration and failure. In an office environment healthy and consistent communication is easy to come by, but what about when it comes to remote working environments and infrastructures? 

Ensuring an effective communication strategy means making sure remote workers stay connected in a way that adequately replaces the in-person contact of an office. This usually means utilising a live chat software such as Slack, Skype or Google Chat to harness a sense of support, communication and community.

The benefits to a great communication system are endless, including improved relationship building, improved job satisfaction, improved collaboration and conflict resolution, which is why we recommend a great communication strategy is high on your list for a remote working environment.

Video Conferencing Solutions are Key

Similarly to ensuring an effective communication system, every great remote company will utilise video conferencing solutions throughout their week. Whether it’s for daily check ins, weekly brainstorming sessions or international meetings you need to attend, great video conferencing software is a must when it comes to remote working! 

We know that everyone is probably sick of hearing about Zoom meetings after 2020, but software like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams are great places to start. Some things just can’t be said over chat! Plus, if you are an employer, being able to check in more professionally and thoroughly with your employees can be extra helpful for smooth business operations.

Choose Your Hardware Wisely

Just as you would expect to set up a working office, be prepared to set up the hardware for an infrastructure for your remote workforce to ensure a successful transition from in-person to virtual. Ensure tech of an acceptable standard is implemented so that your employees can work as efficiently and effectively as they would in office. We recommend speaking to an expert to figure out what hardware and software would be right for you and your specific business needs.

Use Expert Remote Working Infrastructure

With something as integral to your business as the IT infrastructure, don’t leave it to chance. One small mistake could be extremely costly, especially when it comes to data protection and GDPR laws. With expert services available to build your remote working infrastructure for you to the high-quality standards that your business needs and deserves. When it comes to IT, the years of training and experience experts bring are priceless and absolutely necessary in the current data protection and remote working climate.

Let the Experts Create a Successful Remote Working Infrastructure For You Today With Binary Blue Work From Home IT Solutions

At Binary Blue, our expert work from home IT solutions will support all of your remote work infrastructure needs, developing a successful infrastructure for you and your business, while you relax, safe in the knowledge that your data and business have the utmost effectiveness and protection. Contact us today to find out more!