As millions of workers vacated corporate offices and settled into work from home, companies deployed systems, processes, and tools to ensure continued productivity, but it was a challenging process at best.
For those already invested in Microsoft solutions, the shift to a distributed workforce was made easier. For those that were not, here are nine ways Microsoft can make your remote workers more productive while staying connected.
User identity and access
Employees, partners, and suppliers—every user who needs to access the corporate network—receives a primary account synced to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) that
facilitates user verification and controls access to company resources by staff, whether internal or external.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Three options for secure authentication are nearly transparent for remote users who need to connect using Microsoft work credentials on a Microsoft-managed device. IT directors can choose from certificate-backed virtual and physical smart cards, Windows Hello for Business (with a PIN or biometric sign-in), and Azure Multi-factor Authentication.
Managing devices
Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) combines Microsoft Intune and Configuration Manager into a single console for managing endpoints (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android) and apps while ensuring security and reliability. Self-service enrolment means users can quickly and easily join Azure AD and enroll in MEM to access company resources, even with bring your own device (BYOD).
MEM applies appropriate policies and ensures devices attempting to connect are adhering to procedure during the user’s authentication process.
Productivity applications
Whether on the go or at the desktop, Microsoft 365 users can access resources and share files with Microsoft Office apps using automatic, default cloud storage. There is full access to email with Outlook Mobile, meetings with Microsoft Teams, and storing files with OneDrive—all accessed using File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac, or Office Apps on mobile devices.
Meetings and collaboration
While Zoom has captured headlines, many Microsoft-based organizations rely on Teams for chat, meetings, calls, and collaboration. Features such as background blur are a requirement for attendees that need to block distracting background activities such as kids, pets, and daring wall art.
Access to line of business (LOB) applications
Most Microsoft apps are cloud services, but some still require a VPN. The Azure VPN gateway supports both Point-to-Site (P2S) and Site-to-Site (S2S) VPN connections.
Businesses can scale remote workers’ connections using the Azure VPN gateway, which provides secure access to Azure deployed and on-premises resources.
Service monitoring
Service monitoring of an entirely or partially remote workforce has increased the load and usage of company resources. Service monitoring is a vital service to confirm applications and networks are performing as they should.
Culture and change management
To maintain a healthy work culture, career, and resume growth while working remotely, Microsoft provides social platforms to give users a voice, help them feel connected, and raise the visibility of leadership.
Designing for specific roles
It’s not just office staff working from home, developers, engineers, call-centers, help desks, or any other professional with a successful resume who joined the distributed team as well. Microsoft provides tools for development collaboration and remote access to existing dev environments. For support staff, Microsoft-managed PCs facilitate an instant switch to a remote-work model without loss in productivity.
It’s teamwork
The biggest challenge of supporting a distributed workforce isn’t a decline in productivity or even the distribution of tools. Companies such as Microsoft continually work to solve operations issues, improve products, and release new solutions for our online world.
What most employees report feeling is a disconnect on a personal, human level. Distributed companies—all companies—need to foster opportunities for their teams to build, develop, and nurture relationships with colleagues, whether across the room or the globe.
Lead by example. Use Microsoft Teams to hold company-wide meetings where building relationships is the focus. Encourage staff to connect one on one or in small groups. Hold happy hours and buddy sessions—even short, ten-minute get-togethers held semi-regularly can strengthen connections.
It’s unlikely remote working will come to an end any time soon—if anything, more companies will convert to fully distributed teams. Taking steps now to connect team
members and leadership will convey to the workforce their importance in the business’s success.