Organizations are slowly embracing the changing work arrangements for different industries. Gone are the days when every single worker needs to be physically at the production floor to “produce” outputs. Many organizations are now a mix of physical and digital operations. Digital operations need not be confined to a physical space. But, if workers and organizations are to be encouraged to work remotely, they need to be assured that all systems are in place to help them access and utilize the resources they need in order to deliver, despite being off site. To reassure staff that the organization is ready for such arrangements, they must also be fully aware of the measures being taken by the organization such as having externally managed IT services with providers remotely overseeing operations, and providing training the staff on how to access and use the systems available to them.
There are some IT systems that particularly enable organizations to function without fail even if workers are not physically together in a certain office or location.
- Single Sign On (SSO)
A single worker needs access to at least three work systems nowadays. With Single Sign On, users can securely authenticate with multiple applications and websites (at least the most essential systems determined by the organization) by logging in only once and with just one set of username and password. If a user is remotely working, SSO gives the individual quick access to the most essential tools without having to dig through his passwords across several systems.
- Multi-factor authentication
While SSO gives easy access to essential tools with a single set of credentials, multi-factor authentication, on the other hand, ensure security of access. This authentication method grants access to users only after successfully providing two or more proofs that the user is authorized to access these systems. This is especially critical for systems handling highly sensitive data such as financial disclosures and disbursements which should only allow access to select and authorized personnel.
- Cloud-based systems
Having operations in the cloud is essential for achieving productivity even when staff are remotely working. Office 365 with its suite of cloud-based services is a solid example of a system that enables worker to work independent of a physical space.
There are many other systems enabling organizations to offer more flexible working solutions for their staff. Asked your IT solutions provider today to learn more about these systems and how you can maximize them for efficiency and productivity.
