One differentiator between COVID-19 and previous virus outbreaks is the role that technology plays in people's daily lives. Technology is key, from how people gather information about the virus, to how they keep in touch with friends and family, to the growing remote workforce that companies now have.
Although the overall effects of this pandemic are not yet fully known, experts say that organizations and networks will feel the lasting and long-term effects of the rise of the remote workforce, as well as seeing a greater reliance on VPNs and collaboration platforms.
While companies may have believed that their remote working policies and technologies were effective, emergency situations, such as the global response to COVID-19, show how ill-prepared many types of networks are to support remote workforces.
However, this situation can also help organizations prepare to support large remote workforces more effectively in the future.
During this time, IT and network teams can re-evaluate the resources they outsource to service providers to adapt to remote workforces. For example, teams that hire service providers can reinforce network capacity and provide more flexibility.
4 lasting effects of the growth of the remote workforce on networks
Four effects of the remote workforce on the network infrastructure are as follows:
1. Fixed broadband capacity upgrades
Due to the increase in the remote workforce, as employees work from home, as well as other uses of the home network, such as streaming or online shopping.
2. Higher capacity demands in residential areas
Which are inherently less able to support activity than office networks - as opposed to sports facilities and other areas where demand is usually higher and now see significantly less traffic;
3. More focus on policy control for networks offering high-risk applications
Including telemedicine applications and information resources.
4. Greater focus on reliability and security for home network infrastructure
Since this infrastructure connects remote workers to companies, loved ones and essential information.
Both with the current COVID-19 and any future pandemics, networks and telecommunications will form a central part of direct medical response and crisis management.
But, perhaps more importantly, it will allow humanity to adapt to challenges and difficulties in entirely new ways, improving the ability to work and live where necessary.
Tips for increasing efficiency in remote workforces
As working remotely is inevitable for most organizations in the midst of a pandemic, companies must respond appropriately to enable efficient remote workforces indefinitely.
For companies that need to adopt remote working strategies, two main technologies to focus on are VPNs and collaboration platforms.
VPNs, which allow authorized end users encrypted connections to networks and network resources, are essential for remote workforces. Since countries began enforcing social distancing, the use of VPNs has increased significantly.
Collaboration platforms also saw spikes in use. These platforms allow teams to stay connected, as users can create groups for full team communication and private messaging for individual connections.
However, organizations shouldn't invest in VPNs or collaboration platforms just because of pandemic concerns. The remote workforce has increased significantly in recent years and many industries continue to move towards remote working.
The macro trend in companies has been towards more flexible and remote working practices for some time. COVID-19 will hopefully be a temporary factor, but it is likely to accelerate the trend of employees spending less time in company premises
What will the "future of networks" look like now?
While COVID-19 has created challenges for organizations, the pandemic has also highlighted existing challenges for companies. One challenge is the pressure to move to software-based services and where legacy network equipment fits into this equation.
It's hard to say, especially as the network industry has consistent budget problems for teams and many experts and suppliers don't agree on where the value of the network lies.
This means that network providers are not the only ones with the power to increase budgets or improve network spending. However, as providers increase the prices of services, the case for open network models becomes more popular, if not an inevitable fate for the network industry.
Open network models can provide a reliable and affordable network model for organizations that choose to abandon vendor services.
However, this open network model offers more questions than answers. Even so, it is essential to look at cloud environments, which may be the best examples of what future networks will try to emulate.
Cloud environments also provide examples of network policies and controllers, which can enable the creation of open network models. For now, only time will tell - although COVID-19 may shed light on the underlying issues.
Contact the experts at Conversys now and find out about Aruba Networks' security, network management and connectivity solutions. We're on hand to help you overcome new challenges.
About Conversys
Conversys IT Solutions is a provider of Information and Communication Technology services and solutions operating throughout Brazil.
With a highly qualified technical and commercial team and a network of partners that includes the main global technology manufacturers, Conversys IT Solutions is able to deliver customized IT and Telecom Infrastructure solutions to clients.
We invest in our employees and partners and strive for a long-lasting relationship with our clients, because we believe that this is how we gain the skills and knowledge we need to innovate and generate value for the businesses in which we operate.
