Remote has evolved from a temporary fix to a core part of how modern businesses operate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 35.5 million people worked at home in the first quarter of 2024 – 22.9% of people at work during that period. Whether your team is fully remote, hybrid working, or simply checking in from a coffee shop between meetings, that flexibility is now a given.
However, with this newfound freedom comes new risk. Businesses can’t afford to overlook the security implications of working beyond the office. From unsecured Wi-Fi to unmanaged devices and scattered cloud access, today’s work-from-anywhere model needs the right systems in place.
In this guide, we’ll explore common challenges remote teams face, how secure mobile connectivity protects your data, and the role of IT support in enabling safer, smarter remote working.
The Risks of Remote Work
Remote working and hybrid working offer flexibility, but they also introduce challenges that traditional office setups didn’t have to contend with. When your team is spread across home offices, public workspaces, cafés, airports, and hotels, it’s easy for small risks to snowball into serious problems.
Some of the most common issues we see include:
- Unsecured Wi-Fi connections: Public networks at coffee shops or hotels are convenient, but they’re also prime targets for cybercriminals. Without encryption, it’s easy for attackers to intercept sensitive business data.
- Personal devices without protection: Employees might be using personal laptops or smartphones for work. If those devices aren’t properly updated, monitored, or protected, they become an open door to your systems.
- Disjointed cloud access: When files are spread across devices or platforms, it’s harder to control who has access to what. That not only slows people down, but it also increases the risk of data loss or duplication.
- Poor password hygiene: Without strong password policies or multi-factor authentication in place, even a single weak credential can compromise your entire network – this was the case for British logistics company KNP in 2023, who were forced to close following a ransomware attack.
- Workarounds that create vulnerabilities: Whether it’s emailing documents to personal accounts or using unapproved apps, makeshift solutions can expose your business to unnecessary risk.
These are everyday scenarios for many businesses trying to balance flexibility with security. But with the right tools and processes in place, they’re entirely preventable.
Secure Connectivity: Your First Line of Defense
Faced with a reality where we can work from just about anywhere, secure connectivity is essential. Whether your team is dialing in from home, a client site, or a hotel lobby, protecting data in transit is the first step in keeping your business safe.
Public Wi-Fi might be convenient, but it’s rarely secure. These networks are easy to spoof or intercept, making them a favorite hunting ground for cybercriminals. Even with HTTPS websites, your data could still be exposed if the network itself is compromised.
That’s why businesses need to prioritize secure mobile connectivity. There are a few ways to do this:
- Use mobile hotspots or 4G/5G connections instead of relying on public Wi-Fi. These networks are far more secure and less vulnerable to interception.
- Deploy Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt traffic and shield sensitive information from prying eyes.
- Adopt Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for more granular control – verifying not just users, but the device, location, and context of every access attempt.
With these protections in place, your team can access cloud services, collaborate with colleagues, and meet deadlines without worrying about who else might be watching.
Secure connectivity removes the trade-off between convenience and caution, giving your team the confidence to work from anywhere without being slowed down.
Managed Solutions: Supporting Secure, Flexible Work
When teams are working across multiple locations and devices, it doesn’t take much for things to get messy. Files get saved in the wrong place, devices fall behind on updates, and no one’s quite sure who has access to what. That’s where centrally managed solutions make all the difference.
By unifying your tools, systems, and security policies under one umbrella, you gain visibility and control.
Here’s how it works in practice:
Cloud access that’s secure and streamlined
Tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace allow staff to collaborate in real-time, with access controlled by role, location, or device. Everything’s stored centrally, so your team always works from the latest version, with no need for risky downloads or email chains.
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Whether devices are company-issued or employee-owned, MDM gives your IT team the power to enforce security policies, push updates, and remotely wipe lost devices. That way, business data stays safe no matter where it lives.
Automated patching and updates
Devices used outside the office are often missed in routine maintenance. With a managed solution, critical updates can be pushed automatically to every device, ensuring known vulnerabilities are patched fast.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Even if a password is stolen, MFA acts as a vital second layer of protection that prevents unauthorized access and reduces the risk of breaches.
Managed solutions give you structure, replacing fragmented systems with a single, secure foundation that supports both productivity and protection – so your team can focus on doing their best work, wherever they are.
How IT Support Enables Safe, Scalable Remote Work
Even with the best tools in place, things can (and will) go wrong – especially when teams are working remotely. That’s where proactive IT support becomes essential. As opposed to fixing problems when they arise, they’re prevented before they ever reach your team. This article from trusted managed IT provider Infinity Technologies dives deeper into the IT services that keep hybrid workforces secure.
For businesses embracing remote working or managing a hybrid working model, the right IT partner brings three key advantages:
- Always-on monitoring: With 24/7 monitoring of devices, cloud access, and systems, potential threats or technical issues can be detected and resolved before they disrupt productivity.
- Fast, remote-first support: If a team member hits a snag while working from home or on the move, remote IT support gets them back on track quickly without waiting for an office visit.
- Consistent security enforcement: From MFA rollouts to cloud access controls, IT support helps ensure security policies are applied consistently across all users and devices, wherever they are.
A strong IT partner also helps your business scale its remote setup with confidence, rolling out updates, managing devices, and recommending the right managed solutions to support growth.
Work Securely Wherever You Are with Techital
Flexibility is a strength, but only when it’s backed by smart systems, secure access, and the right support behind the scenes.
Whether your team is hybrid working, fully remote, or constantly on the move, it’s essential to have the right tools in place. From secure cloud access and mobile-friendly protections to centrally managed solutions and proactive IT support, everything needs to work together to keep your business connected and protected.
At Techital, we help businesses in Glendale and across LA County build remote working environments that are as secure as they are scalable, so your team can stay productive, no matter where work takes them.
If you’re ready to strengthen your remote working setup, book a meeting with our founder, Alex. With over 2 decades of experience, he’s well positioned to help you find a solution that fits your way of working.
