Many business owners worry that managing remote employees is harder than managing people in the office. This concern often comes from not knowing how to clearly communicate business goals to remote workers. The good news? With the right systems and approach, remote work can actually strengthen your business.

Why Remote Work Makes Business Sense

Remote work isn’t just about keeping employees happy. It provides real business benefits that can improve your bottom line and protect your company:

Your Business Stays Running During Emergencies When your employees work from different locations, your business can keep operating even when problems hit your area. Power outages, snowstorms, or other local issues won’t shut down your entire operation. During the pandemic, businesses with remote work systems already in place kept serving customers while others had to close temporarily.

You Can Hire Better People Without needing everyone to live nearby, you can hire the best person for the job regardless of where they live. This means access to more skilled workers and often at competitive rates. A marketing expert in another state might be perfect for your team, even if no qualified candidates live in your city.

Lower Office Costs Fewer people in the office means you might need less office space, lower utility bills, and reduced spending on office supplies and equipment. Some businesses have cut their office expenses by 30-40% with hybrid or remote work models.

Easier Growth Adding new employees doesn’t require finding more office space right away. You can grow your team based on business needs, not office capacity. This flexibility helps you respond faster to new opportunities.

The Real Challenge: Clear Communication and Goals

The biggest problem with remote work isn’t the technology – it’s communication. Many managers don’t know how to break down company goals into clear, actionable tasks that remote workers can complete successfully.

Think about it this way: in the office, you might walk over to someone’s desk to clarify a project. With remote work, you need systems that make expectations crystal clear from the start. This requires better planning and clearer processes.

Your Technology Must Support Your Goals The systems you use for project management, communication, and file sharing become even more important with remote work. These systems need to be secure, easy to use, and accessible from anywhere. Poor technology choices can create confusion and security risks.

Security and Compliance: Your Biggest Remote Work Concerns

Many business owners worry about security when employees work from home. These concerns are valid, but manageable with the right approach.

Common Security Risks with Remote Work:

• Employees using unsecured home internet connections
• Company data stored on personal devices
• Weak passwords and poor security habits
• Lack of proper backup systems
• Difficulty monitoring who accesses what information

How to Address These Risks:

• Provide secure ways for employees to access company systems
• Train your team on basic security practices
• Use cloud-based systems with proper security controls
• Regularly update and monitor all devices and software
• Create clear policies about what employees can and cannot do

The Role of IT Leadership in Remote Work Success

If your business doesn’t have a Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), you need someone who can fill these roles – even if it’s an outside consultant.

What a CIO Does for Remote Work:

• Ensures your technology systems work well for remote employees
• Plans for growth and changing business needs
• Helps choose the right tools and software
• Makes sure systems are reliable and fast

What a CISO Does for Remote Work:

• Protects your business data and customer information
• Ensures you meet industry regulations and compliance requirements
• Creates security policies and procedures
• Monitors for potential security threats

For most small and medium businesses, hiring full-time executives for these roles doesn’t make financial sense. Instead, working with a managed service provider like RPM Computing gives you access to this expertise without the full-time cost.

Getting Your Employees Involved

One of the best ways to make remote work successful is to involve your employees in creating the solution. Instead of trying to control every detail, ask your team to help you figure out how they can best meet company goals while working remotely.

Try This Approach:

• Clearly explain what results you need from each role
• Ask employees to document their current work processes
• Have them suggest the best ways to accomplish their tasks remotely
• Give them some flexibility in how they work, as long as they meet expectations
• Regular check-ins to ensure everything is working

This approach builds trust and often leads to better productivity because employees feel more ownership of their work.

Real-World Example: How Spotify Does Remote Work Right

While many tech companies have required employees to return to the office, Spotify has embraced remote work. Their Chief Human Resources Officer, Katarina Berg, explained their philosophy: “You can’t spend a lot of time hiring adults and then treat them like children.”

Spotify focuses on results rather than micromanaging how work gets done. Their approach shows that trusting employees to meet business goals – while providing the right support and systems – can be very effective.

Making Remote Work Practical for Your Business

Successfully implementing remote work requires more than just telling people to work from home. Here’s how to do it right:

Start with Clear Policies Create written policies that explain:

• Which positions can work remotely and when
• How employees should communicate and stay in touch
• Security requirements for home offices
• Performance expectations and how success is measured
• Equipment and technology requirements

Invest in the Right Technology Your remote work success depends on having reliable, secure technology systems. This includes:

• Fast, secure internet connections for all remote workers
• Cloud-based systems for file sharing and collaboration
• Video conferencing tools for meetings and communication
• Secure methods for accessing company systems from home
• Regular backups and data protection

Provide Ongoing Support Remote employees need different types of support than office workers. Make sure you provide:

• Technical support when systems don’t work properly
• Regular communication and feedback
• Clear processes for getting help when needed
• Training on new tools and security practices

Monitor and Adjust Track how well remote work is working for your business:

• Are employees meeting their goals and deadlines?
• Is communication effective?
• Are there security issues or compliance concerns?
• What feedback do employees have about the remote work experience?

Use this information to continuously improve your remote work policies and systems.

How Professional IT Support Makes the Difference

Managing the technology side of remote work can be overwhelming, especially for businesses without dedicated IT staff. This is where working with a managed service provider becomes valuable.

RPM Computing helps businesses succeed with remote work by:

Security and Compliance Management We ensure your business data stays protected and meets all regulatory requirements. This includes setting up secure access systems, monitoring for threats, and helping you maintain compliance with industry standards.

Remote Access Solutions We implement secure systems that let your employees work from anywhere while keeping your data safe. Many modern solutions are cloud-based, which means better security and easier management than traditional methods.

Ongoing IT Support Our team provides continuous support, troubleshooting, and system maintenance to keep your remote workforce productive. When something goes wrong, you have experts to call who understand your business needs.

Strategic Planning We help you plan your technology investments to support both current remote work needs and future business growth. This prevents costly mistakes and ensures your systems grow with your business.

The Bottom Line

Remote work can strengthen your business by improving continuity, reducing costs, and giving you access to better talent. The key is having clear communication, proper security measures, and reliable technology systems.

Don’t let fear of the unknown prevent your business from benefiting from remote work flexibility. With the right planning and support, you can create a remote work environment that drives business growth and success.

If you’re ready to explore how remote work can benefit your business, or if you need help improving your current remote work setup, RPM Computing is here to help. We specialize in helping small and medium businesses implement secure, efficient remote work solutions that support their growth goals.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business succeed with remote work while maintaining the security and reliability your customers expect.