How IT Solutions Can Help Combat Brain Drain

The right IT solutions can help slow or even reverse brain drain while enabling businesses to thrive post-pandemic.

Remote work was on the rise long before the pandemic hit, but COVID-19 has forced many more businesses to embrace this concept for the first time. As companies have adjusted to the new normal, it has become clear that a mandated in-office workspace is not only no longer necessary, but may actually be counterproductive. Now, as businesses begin to think about their post-pandemic future, they are increasingly considering the positive impact of remote work.

This impact is perhaps most visible when it comes to the reversal of the decades-long “brain drain” of human capital away from rural communities across the U.S. and towards the bicoastal innovation hubs. Before the pandemic hit, brain drain was a major issue and point of concern for states that were losing both financial and social capital.

Across the South, Midwest, and Central U.S., brain drain has been a lingering problem that continues to fuel itself. As highly educated adults leave their home states in search of opportunities in areas like California, New York, and Massachusetts, they drive more innovation and create even more opportunities in those already-prosperous areas. At the same time, their departure reduces the chances of new opportunities developing at home.

Now, many companies are planning for a post-pandemic world that involves a combination of remote and in-person work, enabling highly educated individuals to remain in or return to their local communities without sacrificing job opportunities. It also allows existing urban workers to move outside of cities and still keep their jobs.

These changes can massively benefit rural areas by increasing their socioeconomic status. But at the same time, remote work also provides businesses with access to a wider talent pool than ever before — increasing productivity and improving employee engagement and wellbeing. Fortunately, there are high-quality IT solutions available to help businesses achieve these goals.

IT Solutions for Safe and Secure Remote Work

While there are many benefits to remote work — such as greater flexibility for employees and the ability to hire a more diverse workforce — making it a widespread reality can prove challenging. To operate remotely, businesses need to incorporate more powerful communication channels and cybersecurity solutions than they would in a typical office space.

The right cybersecurity solutions allow employees to access the sensitive information they need to perform their jobs, while also preventing unauthorized individuals from viewing confidential data. These measures are especially important today, as breaches of remote networks have been on the rise throughout the pandemic.

From centralized IT management to password encryption, technological solutions are critical in helping enterprises adapt to the current face of remote work. When choosing a remote access solution, there are a few key features to keep in mind to maximize both security and productivity:

• Wired and wireless security: Remote access solutions should allow for role-based authentication and policy enforcement for all devices and users.
• Scalability: IT solutions should be able to grow with a business as its remote workforce expands.
• Seamless access to applications: Corporate applications should work remotely and integrate seamlessly without the need for new software or retraining.
• Zero-touch provisioning: Solutions should be easy to deploy with devices automatically provisioned and configured to reduce the demands on already-overworked IT personnel.
• Centralized management: IT providers should provide access to the entire remote network from a single, consolidated interface.
• Always-on connectivity: Remote sites and data centers should always be connected to ensure operations run smoothly 24/7.

A great example of a secure and powerful IT solution — one that includes all of these key elements and more — is Aruba’s Remote Access Solution. As a versatile remote networking solution, Aruba helps businesses extend their corporate enterprise network at a lower cost. With Aruba Remote APs (RAPs), it’s easy to overcome the complexity that makes standard remote networking options poorly-suited for wide-scale business continuity applications.

These multi-functional RAPs, which can be combined with Aruba ClearPass, deliver fast and secure wireless and wired network access to remote workspaces. This means employees can access all the resources they need no matter where they are, without putting sensitive information at risk.

Embracing Remote Work Post-Pandemic

By including the option of remote work, businesses can go beyond simply increasing their talent pool. They can build a culture of happier, more productive employees who have the choice to work from wherever they want. In turn, these workers can help reverse brain drain by contributing to the economic wellbeing of communities outside of dense city centers.

If you’re interested in incorporating remote work into your business plan for the post-pandemic world, you’re going to need top-of-the-line network solutions. That means you’ll need an IT partner who will work with you to find the best solutions for your specific needs, help you install them, and ensure you receive their maximum benefit.

Turn-key Technologies, Inc. (TTI) is that partner. With nearly three decades of experience in network management and security, we have the skills and knowledge to help you embrace remote work successfully. Contact TTI today to learn more.