In the context of IT, we can define Remote Access as the ability of a user to access application, data or any other service without physically accessing these resources. To accomplish remote access, a user typically relies on the internet or any other fast medium of communication.
The concept of remote access has revolutionized the way workloads are allocated and handled these days. It won’t be wrong to say that remote access has opened unimaginable new avenues for easily and effectively executing even complex tasks or workloads.
Benefits of Remote Access
The benefits brought about by remote access are multi-faceted and can be applied across organizations of almost all sizes and industries. It was for these reasons that ever since its introduction, remote access has never looked back and constantly evolved into more potent iterations.
Related Posts:
- What is Virtualization and Types of Virtualization?
- Hybrid Cloud Outlook for Year 2020
- Top 8 Hybrid Cloud Computing Expectations for 2020
- Ransomware Incidents to Spike in Year 2020 [Study]
In this post, we will highlight some of the main advantages of remote access.
Productivity
A remotely accessible infrastructure is designed for productivity. Employees can access their work from the comfort of their homes or even when travelling. This ability of workers to remain productive, without even physically showing up for work is a great aspect of remote access.
Flexibility
Modern remote access solutions allow users to access their work from multiple device platforms, right from where they left off. When an employee signs off from the workplace, access to the office PC is still possible remotely from home via smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC.
Also Read: Guide to Building a Flexible Cloud Strategy In 2020
This flexibility in turn drives organizational productivity because it frees up employees from the constraints of physical workspace. Further, this flexibility also improves employee motivation as they can execute work as, when and where they feel most productive.
Security
In today’s internet driven environment, data and network security is a serious challenge. When preparing the cyber security posture for an organization, cyber security professionals adopt a more centralized approach. Even otherwise, the devices that remotely access an architecture can be too large in number to secure.
Related:
- Top 11 Guidelines for Cloud Security in 2020
- Data Security Breaches and Some Intriguing Stats of 2019
- How to Achieve a Secure Cloud Going Into 2020
Remote access architecture makes the task of data and network security a much manageable affair. Firstly, all the business critical and sensitive data resides over the organization’s in house infrastructure, which is much more manageable from a cyber security perspective.
The only crucial link is the presence of strong user authentication protocols so that before a user gains remote access to the organization’s network and systems, proper authentication has been performed. This aspect is well covered by the introduction of multi factor and dynamic authentication mechanisms now widely available.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Once a secure network has been established as a basis for remote access architecture, organizations no longer have to invest heavily in low tier or end user level hardware. In such an environment, business critical resources such as storage and compute are allocated from a large central resource pool.
Related:
- How DaaS Can Help You Manage BYOD In Your Organization
- Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): A Checklist for IT Managers
In this way, organizations can save large sums of money by avoiding the procurement of high obsolescence end point devices. To bridge this gap, organizations can allow employees to bring their own devices at work. This in turn saves them the capital expenditures of procuring such devices and also their periodic maintenance costs.
Remote Workforce
The possibility of a functional remote workforce is brought to reality by remote access. Organizations can now engage the services of professionals sitting in the farthest corners of the world, without them having to physically show up for work. All they need is a decent functional internet connection and they are good to go.
A remote workforce brings along a lot of other benefits. A remote employee would be prepared to work at a lower salary as compared to an on premise resource. This naturally brings workforce diversity which will add a whole new dimension of innovation in the company.
Business Continuity
There are many natural and manmade circumstances that threaten to disrupt even mission critical processes. Remote access plays a pivotal role in ensuring that critical business processes continue uninterrupted over the remote infrastructure.
Also Read:
- Business Continuity vs. Disaster Recovery
- Why you need Cloud Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Even in the event of such disruptions, employees will be able to remain productive by accessing organizational and productivity resources remotely. A robust business continuity (BC) posture goes a long way in bolstering the confidence of customers and ensuring long term sustainability of the business itself.
Technical Support
Another aspect that greatly benefits from remote access is scenarios involving technical support. Previously, to troubleshoot a technical issue, resources had to be physically mobilized to undertake the task. Thanks to remote access that the domain of technical support has become much more cost effective and streamlined.
Now, a customer support representative (CSR) can first gain access to a customer’s system via remote access and ascertain the situation. In most circumstances, the technical issue does not warrant physical intervention and is resolved via remote access in the first place. This can result in saving time and financial resources.
Employee Motivation
We are fast moving in the era of flexible workplace. Highly skilled professionals now insist on rendering their services from the comfort of a remote location, generally their homes. Remote access really comes in handy when we consider hiring and retaining highly skilled IT or industry professionals.
In cases where employees can execute and submit productivity tasks in the time and place of their choosing, their motivation level generally tends to be high. This in turn positively influences employee retention, which is also an emerging challenge for today’s highly flexible workforce needs.
Talent Acquisition
Remote access opens up entirely new avenues for attracting the industry’s best talent, regardless of physical location. The only thing an organization needs to provide a top notch professional is safe remote access to the company’s data and other critical resources and that’s about it.
The versatility offered by remote accessibility amplifies the pool of human capital an organization can tap to achieve its organizational goals. In the context of human capital, remote access tends to work in the best interest of both hiring organizations and job seeking industry professionals.
Conclusion
Remote access has indeed transformed the way modern workloads are handled these days. Despite the looming concerns around cyber security, remote access is truly a game changer in organizational efficiency and effectiveness. When used with proper controls in place, remote access can accomplish unprecedented milestones.
