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How Remote Working Will Benefit Your Startup

 

Whether it’s the rise in technology or the lasting effects of the global pandemic, remote working has become a staple in many businesses worldwide. It’s when businesses forgo the traditional office setup and instead allow employees the flexibility to work off-site, usually at home.

Statistics have shown that in 2023, over 12.7% of employees worked from home full-time. And an astounding 98% of workers expressed the desire to work remotely, at least some of the time, in the future.

This figure shows that remote work is quickly becoming a critical employee demand. But is it advisable for a startup to embrace this working model?

This article will explore some of the core reasons remote working could be a game changer for you. You’ll discover the different areas it can help improve and learn about potential dangers you must address to ensure your startup’s safety.

 

Four advantages of remote working

Below are four reasons why so many startups are adopting remote working from the get-go:

 

 

• You can attract talent from across the globe

 

One of the biggest advantages of adopting remote working is attracting the best talent worldwide. Startups no longer have to rely on people in their immediate area. Instead, they can recruit from different towns, cities, and even countries.

Being able to pick from a wider selection of employees ensures you can build a team filled with people with different experiences, skills, backgrounds, and attitudes.

 

 

• No commute can help with productivity among staff

 

One of the reasons why employees love the idea of remote working is because it eliminates the daily commute to or from the workplace. No commuting can have many benefits, not just to workers but also to the business.

Firstly, research conducted during the global pandemic, when employees worldwide began working remotely, found that it can boost productivity. It found that those who eliminated their daily commute reinvested 35% of reclaimed time directly back into their work.

Moreover, no daily commute means that employees can choose where they live. They no longer have to rent a home near office space, often in expensive urban areas. This can alleviate financial stress, leading to happier staff who are more likely to stay at work.

 

 

• Remote working can help lower costs

 

Money is a precious thing for startups. One advantage of remote working is that a startup can save money because they do not need to rent office space, pay utility bills, purchase insurance, and more.

This allows the startup to focus finances on other aspects of their business, including developing new products, hiring more experienced staff members, or saving money for emergencies.

 

 

• Better communication

 

One of the biggest concerns businesses, particularly startups, about remote working is that communication will suffer without the office setup. But did you know remote work can actually help improve communication and collaboration?

Advancements in technology mean that it is now so easy to work collaboratively with one another, regardless of where we are in the world. Teams can now keep in touch through live video conferencing, share feedback through instant messaging, and work collaboratively on virtually any piece of work through software.

 

The dangers of remote working you need to be mindful of

When deciding to work remotely, cybersecurity is one of the most important areas you must address. This is because opportunistic hackers target startup companies that may not have robust security to protect themselves.

Oftentimes, this is also due to the fact that remote-working employees are using their own personal computers for business purposes or connecting to public WiFis when on the go.

Below are two of the main methods of cyberattacks and simple ways of protecting yourself against them:

 

 

• Malware attacks

 

Malware is software designed to harm, exploit, or corrupt a device or network. It can enter a business in many ways, including if employees download a malicious file, connect an infected USB drive, or click on a malicious advertisement or link.

Thankfully, there are ways you can block malware before it has an opportunity to infect your systems. These include using robust antivirus software that automatically scans, detects, and quarantines suspicious files. 

You can also use a virtual private network (VPN), a cybersecurity tool that often comes with built-in anti-malware features that flag suspicious links, adverts, and downloads before you click on them, thus preventing infection.

 

 

• Phishing attacks

 

Phishing attacks are when a hacker impersonates a trusted person or service and messages an employee to trick them into doing something that exposes them.

They might accidentally share personal information like passwords or account numbers, download malicious attachments, or grant someone access to sensitive business files.

Simple ways of repelling phishing attacks include:

• Training employees to identify the common traits of phishing messages
• Setting stronger, unique passwords on all work accounts
• Activating multi-factor authentication
• Limiting the amount of personal information freely available online
• Thoroughly checking URLs and email addresses to prove their authenticity.

Keep in mind that remote working can be a game changer for startups, but only if done properly. By addressing potential pitfalls and implementing cybersecurity measures, remote working will be a valuable asset for startups.