The Pandemic’s Surprising Silver Lining
Remember the good old days when we used to commute to work, chat with colleagues around the water cooler, and attend in-person meetings? Yeah, me neither. It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended the traditional work model, forcing organizations everywhere to hastily adopt remote work policies.
But you know what? That might not be such a bad thing. In fact, the shift to remote work could end up being a blessing in disguise. As the VP of Technology for Cloud Security Practice at DivvyCloud by Rapid7 points out, many companies that once shunned the idea of remote work have realized that their employees can be just as productive, if not more so, when working from home [1]. Productivity often increases because remote workers don’t have to waste time commuting and can work from the comfort of their own space.
Of course, the sudden shift to remote work has also presented new challenges, especially when it comes to security. Enterprises can no longer rely on the traditional firewall perimeter to protect their data and systems. Instead, they need to prioritize identity and access management (IAM) to ensure that only authorized employees have the right level of access to the cloud-based resources they need [1]. This is no easy feat, but getting it right can make the difference between a productive, secure remote workforce and a nightmare scenario.
Embracing the Cloud
So how exactly can the cloud help enable remote work? Well, cloud applications and services are the backbone of the remote work revolution [1]. Real-time communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams allow dispersed teams to stay connected and collaborate in real-time, no matter where they’re located. And cloud-based productivity suites like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 give remote employees access to the tools they need to get their work done.
But the cloud offers so much more than just communication and productivity apps. It also provides the secure, scalable infrastructure that companies need to support their remote workforces. Think virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), cloud storage, and cloud-native applications. These cloud-based solutions allow employees to access corporate resources from anywhere, while also giving IT teams the visibility and control they need to keep everything secure.
Of course, not every job or industry is suited for remote work. Some roles simply require a physical presence. But for those that can embrace the remote model, the cloud makes it possible. As the pandemic forces more and more companies to rethink their work strategies, the cloud is emerging as the clear frontrunner for enabling productive, secure remote work.
Securing the Remote Workforce
But here’s the catch: with the traditional firewall perimeter no longer sufficient, companies need to rethink their approach to cloud security. As the Forbes article points out, identity and access management (IAM) is now the primary perimeter in cloud cybersecurity [1]. Enterprises need to have robust IAM controls in place to ensure that only authorized employees can access the resources they need, while also preventing unauthorized access attempts from cybercriminals.
This is easier said than done, though. Managing identities in the cloud is a complex undertaking, with users, cloud services, and other entities all having their own unique identities. To tackle this challenge, companies need to carefully catalog the resources each employee should have access to, and then use automated IAM solutions to manage access and role permissions at scale [1]. It’s a daunting task, but getting it right is essential for maintaining a secure remote workforce.
And it’s not just about prevention – IAM solutions with advanced monitoring and remediation capabilities can also help security teams proactively navigate any identity-related threats that may arise in the cloud environment [1]. After all, the last thing you want is for a disgruntled former employee or a crafty hacker to gain unfettered access to your company’s sensitive data and systems.
The Future of Remote Work is Bright
While the pandemic may have forced remote work upon us, the cloud is making it possible for companies to not only survive, but thrive in this new work paradigm. By leveraging cloud applications, infrastructure, and security solutions, organizations can empower their employees to work from anywhere, while also keeping their data and systems safe.
Of course, remote work isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. There will always be some roles and industries that require a physical presence. But for those that can embrace the remote model, the cloud is the key to unlocking a new era of productivity, flexibility, and security. And who knows – maybe one day, the daily commute will be a distant memory, and we’ll all be able to enjoy the comforts of home while still getting our work done.
So if your company is still trying to figure out this whole remote work thing, take a good hard look at the cloud. It just might be the solution you’ve been searching for.
References
[1] Forbes, “The Cloud Is The Backbone Of Remote Work,” https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/06/16/the-cloud-is-the-backbone-of-remote-work/
[2] Ubiquiti Community, “Can’t enable remote access to Cloud Key,” https://community.ui.com/questions/Cant-enable-remote-access-to-Cloud-Key/a586399d-b8a8-4f68-b901-f53446aa7445
[3] Western Digital Community, “Cannot connect my cloud on remote access,” https://community.wd.com/t/cannot-connect-my-cloud-on-remote-access/272261
[4] Unity Forum, “How do I enable remote push notification capability using Unity Cloud Build?” https://forum.unity.com/threads/how-do-i-enable-remote-push-notification-capability-using-unity-cloud-build.457812/
[5] Western Digital Community, “Plex – Access outside the home network,” https://community.wd.com/t/plex-access-outside-the-home-network-remote-access/284465
[6] Atlassian Community, “Cannot enable “Remote API” setting as a system admin,” https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Confluence-questions/Cannot-enable-quot-Remote-API-quot-setting-as-a-system-admin/qaq-p/2314395
[7] Teradici, “Remote Work,” https://www.teradici.com/remote-work
[8] Stack Overflow, “Azure Cloud Service Remote Desktop is not working,” https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52668975/azure-cloud-service-remote-desktop-is-not-working
