Technology is changing business practices every year, but we’ve seen an even greater shift than usual this year—largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects. Some of these changes are the result of better, more efficient tech, and some are a result of the changing nature of business itself. Let’s talk about what IT providers and departments should be focused on in 2021 and beyond.
Supporting More Remote Employees Than Ever Before
One of the most obvious ways technology is changing business is the shift in where that business is taking place; remote work is here to stay. A 2021 Mercer study found that 70% of companies plan to adopt a hybrid remote and office work model, and companies like Spotify, Salesforce, and Twitter have already shifted to this model. The burden of this transition inevitably falls on IT departments and third-party providers.
Working from home comes with unique security and communication challenges. Less-secure home internet networks, a lack of enterprise-level cybersecurity measures, and out-of-date telecommunications solutions are all common barriers to successful remote work. Thankfully, solutions like Unified Communications (UC) phone systems, endpoint protection tools, and virtual private networks (VPNs) can all help make working from home safe and efficient. Digital Agent offers a customized cybersecurity and IT package for remote workers called Sentry Roam.
Turning to Wireless Internet Backup Solutions
An internet outage is bad news for any company, especially businesses that require 100% up-time. This requires a fail-over network in the event that their primary internet connection fails. Even the best Internet options on the market—like fiber, which has a 99.999% upt-time—can fail.
Historically, these backup networks have been coaxial or T1 connections. That’s beginning to change. Wireless WAN is quickly becoming the backup WAN of choice for businesses because it’s generally more cost-effective and easier to install and manage than traditional backups.
Rethinking Cybersecurity with SASE Network Infrastructure
Wouldn’t it be nice for mission-critical cybersecurity measures to come seamlessly integrated into your network infrastructure? IT experts agree. That’s why IT providers everywhere are starting to offer a new network architecture called Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
The SASE framework has SD-WAN as its foundation, with cybersecurity components like Firewall as a Service and Zero Trust built-in. It’s also cloud-based, but with higher flexibility and reliability than a direct SD-WAN to cloud connection. Experts predict that by 2024, at least 40% of enterprise businesses will have added SASE to their strategic plans.
Technology is Changing Business in a Lot of Ways. Is Your Company Falling Behind?
As a business owner, it can be hard to stay on top of your company’s IT needs, especially if you don’t have a full internal IT department. Digital Agent, a third-party managed IT service provider (MSP), offers virtual CIO services to companies looking to incorporate business technology into their strategic planning. Contact your Digital Agent to see how technology can best serve your business.
Kate Lewis
Marketing & Sales Coordinator
Digital Agent
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