Remote work has effortlessly become the new norm in the post-pandemic period, and it is likely to have its secure place in the future. For many people, remote working is a solution to challenges like long commutes, fixed schedules, and poor work-life balance.
Remote work always made sense, but it wasn’t possible before due to the lack of technology. Now, that we’ve reached a technological level that allows us to make remote work as effective as in-office models, we can benefit from the tools that create a full-pledged work experience remotely.
In this article, we will look at remote work technologies and how they will show up in the future.
Essential Technology for Remote Work
Remote work would be difficult if not impossible without technology. It plays a key role in maintaining the work environment, productivity, and work-life balance for workers.
The technology for remote work must fulfill certain needs to upkeep its long-term efficiency, including providing a platform for:
- Communication
- Task management
- Remote access
- Cybersecurity
When it comes to technology itself, it requires a powerful server infrastructure to operate properly. Finding a trustworthy hosting provider can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be. HostZealot is a reliable vendor that offers affordable hosting packages, tailored to different needs. For example, you can purchase cheap Ubuntu VPS if you enjoy using Ubuntu or want to migrate an existing environment that’s linked to Ubuntu specifically. In any way, using a hosting solution that is maximally tailored to your situation and needs is crucial for it to perform at its peak capacity.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
Tools for communication are important when it comes to remote work. Two main categories of tools are relevant here, for messaging and video conferencing; however, most tools for remote communication have features for both.
Various means of communication are important for sustaining productivity because they can mimic an in-office environment, allowing employees to feel like a part of the team even if they are remotely based.
This type of technology allows for conducting various team meetings, interviews, and communication through messages. The most popular tools for communication and collaboration are Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Notion.
Task Management Tools
Task and project management tools are necessary components of remote work. Team leads, and project managers require these tools to keep track of the work progress as much as workers themselves do. They are also essential for organizing the schedule and optimizing the schedule of every worker.
The concept of organization is something many employers are skeptical about when considering remote employment. Many fear that employees won’t be as productive when allowed to work from home. Task and project management tools eliminate the worry in this aspect. They allow us to see how well the performance of employees is, make it possible to evaluate the accountability within the team, and help determine whether the estimate for task or project completion needs to be extended.
The commonly used tools for task management are Trello, Jira, Asana, and Monday.com, each of which have intuitive interfaces, and are extremely user-friendly.
Remote Access Tools
The ability to access your work computer remotely is indisputable when it comes to working from home. With remote access technology, people can pick up work where they’ve left it off, access needed files or software, and collaborate with the team similarly to how they would if they were in an office.
Software like TeamViewer, Splashtop, RemotePC, and RealVNC offers remote access possibilities in a fast and secure way, where connectivity is uninterrupted and data is protected.
There are various scenarios, for which remote access tools are invaluable, for example collaborating on the project with someone from another country or offering support services remotely.
Cybersecurity Tools
Every organization that hires remote workers should develop and implement a cybersecurity policy, which employees must adhere to.
When it comes to technology used for securing the data remote workers frequently deal with VPNs and firewalls are the most common. Virtual Private Networks secure the internet connection, while firewalls don’t allow malicious traffic through. If it just so happens that the workers use a connection outside a corporate network, VPN and firewalls will be able to protect the data on the individual’s computer.
The Future of Remote Work Technology
In the future, technology designed for remote work is expected to evolve and transform in various directions.
Here’s how remote work technology could evolve in the future:
- Collaboration tools are here to stay. Platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom will undoubtedly be used in the future; their range of features might expand, however. Some of the platforms alike are expected to incorporate VR technologies for a more immersive user experience.
- More processes will be automated with AI. AI automation is nothing new, however, it is not yet fully integrated and accepted in the field of remote work. AI can be used for scheduling meetings or data entries; AI-based virtual assistants might also be used.
- AI will be more integrated into the cybersecurity sector. Remote work depends on cyber protection, and it is not surprising that AI is entering this field as well. AI-based mechanisms of threat detection, encryption strengthening, and various mitigation strategies can help keep the cybersecurity of organizations that maintain remote work environments solid.
