The "status quo" is no longer an option. As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread aggressively across the globe, we are all trying to adjust and adapt to an ever-changing situation. As schools and workplaces close and self-isolation becomes the preferred, if not mandatory framework, continued operations are difficult but absolutely necessary to deal with the pandemic. We need to prepare for the here and now, but also look to the future, on the other hand, where organizations of all sizes and from all sectors can continue to work remotely.
About the author Spencer Pitts, VMware Lead Digital Workspace Technologist. For many companies, the last two weeks have been chaotic. Continuing to meet the needs of customers, while fulfilling their duty of care to staff, many have agreed to work remotely en masse. But even that is not enough for some companies that must completely rethink their business operating model to survive. It can seem overwhelming. And even more so when businesses and their IT management have to make decisions in hours, days and weeks, which in other circumstances could take a year of planning.
Day one: the basics of the new normal.
Each organization will have its own starting point, but the safety and well-being of staff will and should be the priority. For those who are used to and appreciate conventional office life and a constant rate of social interaction in the office, switching to remote work due to social distance could have a surprising impact, even if relatively minor, on mental well-being. Communication is essential, so encouraging “virtual breaks” during work hours to encourage collaboration and create a more comfortable work environment or a specific “water cooler” channel to encourage chat during breaks will be vital. from time to time the next few months So, it's all about access to your work tools. Being able to provide a completely simple means of providing access to business applications and services and ensuring that users can do so on any computer they own; safely. That means choosing an approach that ensures secure and simple access to the tools employees need, regardless of device. This must be able to evolve as the global situation does; In technology terms, this means no lock-in, with the ability to evolve as the first fortnight turns into the first month and beyond. Simply put, this is only possible through software. The companies that can adapt quickly are the ones that will continue to operate efficiently, which means they don't have to be perfect. It's more important that once you have your digital workspace, you identify your critical people and the tools they need as quickly as possible. Once in place, the rest of the business and less critical services can be integrated into the platform as it evolves.
Week One: Five Priorities to Set Now
The quick and safe installation of your employees, when the office is no longer an option, is a matter of priority. We can summarize this in five key steps that we believe companies can take to establish a foundation to safely ensure operational continuity, both immediately and as the situation evolves. First, employers must define policies and boundaries, with HR and IT teams working collaboratively to create processes that protect people and businesses. Few IT teams will have the time or resources to think about who needs access to which application or files they want the user to request. This self-service model can help determine if each user has the right level of security to access the tools and applications they need. Having the right remote service access is a starting point – great for some workers, but others will need their laptop and continue working like in the office with an internet connection. This requires a level of government. In the rush for transitioning workers, there may be pressure to deploy new tools without due consideration of the implications, which could present security risks, either early on or in the coming months. If security is not at heart, the rest becomes zero. Security threats will not go away during this time. Collaboration and communication skills are also essential, both from the point of view of operational continuity and maintaining the corporate culture. Finally, simplicity reigns. You need to have a single point of access for all jobs – minimal effort and technical knowledge so employees get what they need to get their jobs done, regardless of device or location. With immediate access to a full suite of business applications with a single transparent connection to all applications as needed, depending on job functions. Intrinsic Zero Trust Security ensures that compliance and risk are considered before granting access to applications, thereby protecting your IT infrastructure and data. A digital workspace software solution can enable employees to be productive from day one on the devices of their choice.
From the first weeks to the following months
Having these priorities inform the deployment of a digital workspace solution means that organizations will have laid the foundation from which they can continue to deliver. This means that in the coming weeks, the immediate requirement for remote work will be replaced by the need to formalize the provisions. As employees become more familiar with their new normal, companies will have the opportunity to see what used to be a challenge as an opportunity and see how they can reap the benefits of having distributed and connected teams.
For all workers, not just for the office
It's also important to remember that discussions of location-based flexible working focus primarily on office workers, but for many companies, this segment of employees is just one of many. of your workforce. Initially, for those on the front lines, not being able to work has significant economic ramifications. In addition to using their digital workspaces to keep these employees engaged in business, when sites reopen, staff can be redeployed to the field with digital tools and access to offer a differentiated level of service and experience to businesses. they need to find the right foundation and the current reality of immediate needs makes it possible.
Navigate in the first few days to maintain operational efficiency.
These are difficult times for any business transaction. Being able to give employees and customers a sense of continuity comes immediately after to keep them safe. As companies explore ways to balance the two, telecommuting is gaining in importance. All businesses face a period of significant uncertainty, so it's vital that the decisions they make now, and how they set up their organization to work in a decentralized off-site system, provide the foundation for everything. that awaits us and offers an opportunity for the future. try too. This means a digital workspace that provides secure access to the apps and services employees need, regardless of device or location.