Many businesses that shifted to a work-from-home model during the COVID-19 pandemic are now trying to determine the best work model for the future. While employee productivity has been surprisingly high among remote workers, the need for in-person teamwork, customer interaction, and human bonding makes a return to the office both desirable and necessary for many companies.

A hybrid-remote work arrangement, in which employees work at the office or from home (or elsewhere), has become common for many organizations today. A hybrid work environment has proven to maximize productivity and increase job satisfaction for many team members.

Some software applications are more critical to the function of a business than others. For example, if video conferencing via Zoom is not possible, alternatives such as RingCentral or Microsoft Teams can be utilized. However, some applications are critical tools that keep a company running – that keep the business in business.

Remote workers using personal smartphones and tablets to perform business tasks has become commonplace. Businesses should implement policies to reduce exposure to cybersecurity risks resulting from unprotected personal devices. A bring your own device (BYOD) policy allows workers to be flexible and productive, whether working from home or at the office.

Team members use smart mobile devices for a variety of work activities, and the sharp increase in employees working remotely has only expanded the utilization of personal devices such as phones and computers. However, without rules regarding the use of personal devices, business data could be exposed to significant security risk.

Outsourcing business cybersecurity to experts is prudent because cybercrime is at an all-time high and threats are becoming increasingly complex. With reliable cybersecurity experts managing IT system security, businesses are able to focus on core goals and projects, knowing critical business data is safe.

Most organizations know the importance of implementing a security awareness training program, but not all know how to implement effective programs. An effective security awareness training program is equally important to the myriad of cybersecurity tools chosen to fend off threat actors, or more commonly known as hackers.

For many businesses, a hybrid cloud environment is essential to successful digital transformation. A hybrid cloud is composed of a combination of on-premises infrastructures plus private and/or public clouds. Businesses that use a hybrid cloud environment enjoy numerous benefits such as lower capital expenditure, unlimited scalability, and reliable distributed services across multiple platforms.

Cybersecurity threats are most often expected from outside a business – such as from ransomware attack. Primary cyber defenses, including firewalls, antivirus software, and security patches, have been designed to protect against outsider threats. However, a company may unknowingly be exposed to attack via insider threats.

Computer users are familiar with notifications that appear and prompt installation of updates. While users may be tempted to ignore these messages, especially during busy times, software upgrades are important and should not be underestimated. These prompts signal continuing support provided by software developers for software products, which can be critical to ongoing security of software as well as data and network systems.