Remote and hybrid work has changed the dynamics of real-time communications to iterative and solving problems. But building an agile infrastructure based on digital workspaces, virtual desktops and hybrid clouds can ensure employees remain productive while creating a high-growth company.
Agile infrastructures have been a boon to businesses looking to develop sooner, deployer faster and iterate quicker. They’ve also been tested like never before. The pandemic, hybrid work models and the Great Resignation are straining traditional business models that relied on real-time communications to solve problems. However, organizations that invest in agile technologies are better positioned to build a responsive and iterative infrastructure that will allow employees to thrive in the office or remotely.
Agile technologies run the gamut from collaboration platforms to virtual desktops to cloud technologies. It’s deploying and incorporating these technologies for hybrid and remote workers that present a challenge. Where agile infrastructure environments previously responded to project or customer challenges, they now need to add in actual changing work environments for countless employees. A hybrid model might allow employees to access data on-site but conduct work from any device anywhere. Fully remote workforces need to balance bring-your-own-device culture with security. In any scenario, organizations can make several key technology investments to ensure employees have secure access to work resources from any location or device.
1. Create a Digital Workspace
During the pandemic, many employees are working from home for the first time and using their personal devices to access applications and data or using their work devices to access personal information. However, some of these devices may be untrusted, causing potential security threats. A virtualized digital workspace delivers applications and data that is available on any device, on any network from anywhere with security top of mind for employees and companies:
- Enable a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environment
- Scale out existing environment
- Optimize performance
- Extend applications and data safely to employees’ personal devices (BYOD)
- Create conditional access policies to maintain security
- Ensure compliance
The most successful digital workspace solutions integrate uncompromising security with enhanced end-user experiences. Using a VMware-powered digital workspace allows for the use of SaaS applications with a zero-trust model that secures and protects data. This type of security architecture can build trust for remote and hybrid employees to use whichever device they are the most comfortable with while still contributing to an agile environment. Fully integrated security management tools empower teams with iterative solutions that continually evaluate risk across interconnected access points, making BYOD practices safe and flexible.
2. Leverage a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure for Greater Security
If there’s one area in remote and hybrid work that gives IT departments heartburn, it’s security. With the possibility that remote workers can be anywhere at any time, companies and IT departments need to make sure devices and data are secure. This is where a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) can come in. A VDI separates applications, data, operating systems, and other secure elements from the hardware and into a central location. Essentially, the worker uses a device to access the virtual desktop. This way, if a remote worker loses a device or has it stolen, the data is not compromised because it is not stored on the device. Workers are then free to use whatever device they want, or companies can easily replace devices without having to worry about the security implications. This centralization also allows for companies to pivot to applications and services much more quickly since it only needs to be rolled out to one location instead of dozens, or even hundreds, of devices.
However, VDI offers multiple benefits to organizations of all sizes, particularly those with heightened information security needs.
Ease of access. VDI gives employees the ability to access their virtual desktops using any device they prefer, from any location.
Greater flexibility. With improved infrastructure agility, you can give remote and hybrid workers access quickly and securely.
Enhanced efficiency and productivity. VDI `not only empowers employees with the tools they need to produce their work product, but also reduces downtime due to maintenance issues, disaster scenarios, or other disruptions.
Reduced costs. Organizations that already have the server architecture in place won’t be burdened by high deployment costs. Even businesses that require a significant initial investment to adopt VDI enjoy a significant ROI over time as maintenance costs and unit replacement costs are dramatically reduced.
Increased security. VDI provides a centralized structure for information that does not ever leave the data center. Because data is sequestered from the employees’ devices, it cannot be accessed if those devices become compromised.
3. Create Investment Flexibility With a Hybrid Cloud Model
In the simplest sense, a hybrid cloud model sounds exactly like what it is: a blend of private, or on-site, cloud with a public, or off-site, cloud. The operations are fairly the same, but it differs in ownership. Public cloud space can be leased while private cloud space is owned. The benefit it provides, especially for companies with a robust remote or hybrid workforce, is the balance between scale and security.
Infrastructure is expensive, especially when it comes to the storage, processing, and energy associated with the cloud. A hybrid cloud approach allows companies to off-load non-sensitive data and apps to a public cloud system. Instead of having to invest in the physical costs of a data center, companies can simply buy more services when demand spikes instead of having to invest in capital-intensive infrastructure upgrades. This reduces immediate costs and introduces more agility into the system. A growing company can add cloud resources closer to its employees and customers to reduce latency and downtime, providing a better overall experience.
The benefit of a hybrid model is that it allows a company to retain greater control over sensitive data. With remote workers accessing information from virtually anywhere, a private on-premise cloud service can provide secure servers to safeguard data. With most apps and day-to-day tasks moved to the public cloud, infrastructure costs are generally fixed or can be planned for growth. Latency is also less of an issue allowing a company to establish a private cloud where it is more cost-effective.
4. Keep Momentum by Creating a Continuous Delivery Infrastructure
Continuous delivery is the mindset that early failing will ultimately drive new business value, reduce time to market, and enable sustainable growth. It does this by ensuring predictability. In a time where predictability seems to be in short supply, implementing a continuous delivery infrastructure can smooth operational variability.
- Make sure tools and resources are accessible by those that need them in the organization
- Modularize infrastructure as much as possible
- Use tools that encourage collaboration
- Use infrastructure as documentation
Creating a secure and productive agile infrastructure to utilize the best resources for a “productivity anywhere†environment will help ensure your organization remains a high-growth company in the immediate and long term.
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