Remote Work in 2025: The Complete Best Practices Guide
The way we work changed dramatically in 2020, as businesses shifted from on-premises systems to cloud-based services and quickly embraced remote and mobile work.
Companies slow to adopt remote policies had to catch up fast, and now analysts agree that hybrid and remote work are here to stay, while traditional on-site roles continue to decline.
For employers, modernizing IT and workplace strategies is essential to stay competitive. While remote work presents challenges, it also offers major benefits—let’s explore both.
The Top 3 Advantages of Remote Work
The rapid shift to remote work during COVID-19 showed both employers and employees that many roles don’t require as much on-site presence as once believed. This shift highlighted several key advantages of adopting remote work policies, including:
1. Operational Savings
Allowing employees to work remotely can generate substantial cost savings. According to Global Workplace Analytics, employers could save over $700 billion annually if eligible employees worked remotely just half the time—an average of about $11,000 per employee each year.
For many organizations, reducing office space and shifting from dedicated workstations to flexible touchdown areas can significantly cut expenses. Remote work also lowers travel costs, especially when teams are equipped with video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom, replacing costly air and land travel with efficient virtual meetings.
2. Improved Employee Experience
The workplace is changing quickly as Millennials and Gen Z—already 54% of the workforce—drive new expectations. By 2025, Millennials alone will make up 75% of workers, demanding seamless digital experiences. In fact, 68% of leaders say younger employees may leave if their tech needs aren’t met.
According to Owl Labs’ State of Remote Work 2022:
- 66% would seek another job if remote options disappeared, and 39% would quit.
- 62% feel more productive working remotely, especially Millennials (66%).
- 53% cite returning to the office as their top source of stress.
3. Enhanced Productivity
Remote work doesn’t just boost retention—it also increases productivity. A Stanford study found remote employees were 5% more productive in 2020, rising to 9% by 2022.
Working from home also saves employees an average of 72 minutes of commuting time daily, while reducing absenteeism from illness, family needs, or bad weather—costs that can reach $3,600 per employee annually.
Cybersecurity: The Biggest Challenge for Remote Teams
One of the biggest risks of remote work is security, a challenge that became evident during the sudden shift to working from home in March 2020. Remote employees and mobile infrastructure are especially vulnerable due to several factors:
- Unsecured networks: Public Wi-Fi in places like coffee shops is difficult to protect, and even home networks are often poorly secured, making them attractive targets for hackers. VPNs can help reduce this risk.
- Device security: Not all employees use company-issued devices, and personal laptops, tablets, or smartphones may lack critical updates and patches. This opens the door to significant vulnerabilities when connecting to corporate networks.
- Limited user training: Many remote workers aren’t fully aware of best practices for protecting company data. This knowledge gap leaves them exposed to phishing scams and social engineering attacks.
Strategies to Mitigate Remote Work Security Risks
Fortunately, businesses can enjoy the benefits of remote work while reducing its risks. Here are some expert recommendations to help you get started:
Centralized, Protected Data Management
When paired with strict policies and remote access controls, centralizing data in a secure environment greatly reduces the risk of cybercriminals accessing sensitive information.
For smaller businesses, this can be as simple as using Microsoft Office 365, which leverages Microsoft’s secure cloud infrastructure, continuous updates, security patches, and real-time monitoring.
Larger enterprises with more complex needs may turn to hosted data center solutions. These environments securely manage storage, networking, and applications while handling security and hardware upgrades—often requiring little to no upfront capital investment.
Enhance Security with Desktop as a Service
To strengthen data and application security, many companies use Desktop as a Service (DaaS)—a cloud-based solution that centralizes apps and data in a secure hub managed by a provider. Employees log in via remote desktop software, gaining access only to approved resources, with no sensitive data stored on their devices.
Beyond security, DaaS offers:
- Scalable costs with per-user pricing
- Redundant backups to prevent data loss
- Customizable file access controls
- Anywhere access from any device
- 24/7 provider support
Key Considerations for Building a Remote-Ready Infrastructure
Building a secure and reliable remote work infrastructure requires attention to several key factors:
1. Hardware and Software
Many companies issue employees standardized devices—laptops, tablets, or smartphones—preloaded with productivity tools, encryption, firewalls, and password managers. These devices can be centrally managed, ensuring updates and security patches are applied consistently.
However, if employees use personal devices for work, even occasionally, additional safeguards are needed. A common solution is to rely on browser-based apps or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), which keep data centralized in the cloud rather than on personal devices, making it accessible only through secure networks.
2. Employee Training & Communication
Employees are the first line of defense against cyberattacks, making their full engagement in remote work practices essential. Policy training should be mandatory during onboarding and reinforced through regular refresher sessions—ideally at least once a year.
While clear policies alone can’t eliminate every risk, consistent training and communication are vital to strengthening security and protecting an organization’s most valuable digital assets.
3. Clear Remote Work Policies
Well-defined Work From Home (WFH) and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are essential for managing mobile and remote workers.
A WFH policy should outline who can work remotely and the procedures they must follow to protect company data. Key elements include:
- Approval process for remote work
- Responsibilities of remote employees
- Device and workspace security requirements
- Mandatory VPN use
- Data encryption for storage and transfer
- Incident reporting procedures
A BYOD policy sets rules for how personal devices interact with company systems. It should cover:
- Approved devices and software versions
- Supported applications (e.g., productivity tools)
- Password requirements
- Rules for data sharing and storage platforms
- Security configurations for employee-owned devices
- Offboarding protocols, including data removal
Managing Remote Teams Securely While Reducing Costs
The benefits of remote work are clear, but building and maintaining a secure infrastructure is an ongoing challenge as cyber threats grow more sophisticated. Many companies choose to partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to reduce costs, gain expert support, and strengthen security.
Organizations can also bring in IT consultants for one-time audits and recommendations to optimize their systems.
Turn to Los Angeles IT for modern IT solutions, digital transformation services, and secure remote work capabilities, including DaaS and more.
