Rethinking Hybrid Work: Scaling SaaS Teams Need More Than Flexibility
Hybrid work takes more than one balancing act to achieve. It is often a careful dance between usability and security. Employees expect instant access without unnecessary friction; IT teams must wrestle control over devices and data that are increasingly distributed.
For SaaS teams looking to scale, this flexibility of hybrid work has unlocked all kinds of possibilities, but it’s far from the full picture. Wherever organizations are on the workplace spectrum, from fully remote to return-to-office mandates, their IT teams continue to navigate a matrix of challenges. They’re enabling employees to access—securely—whatever resources they need, whenever, and from wherever they’re logging in.
Without visibility into device usage or unauthorized tools, shadow IT can create significant security gaps for hybrid organizations. The result: vulnerability to breaches and compliance risks. From something as simple as sending a print job to more targeted attacks by hackers in a neighboring building, a distributed workforce presents unique ripple effects.
The need is urgent. Organizations can regain visibility and control by fostering better alignment between IT and business needs, reducing shadow IT and bad security practices, and providing intuitive employee experiences.
Simplicity is the goal for employees and the IT admins who manage them. Hybrid IT teams must rethink their approach to distributed workforces across five areas to establish a simplified, secure, and scalable future.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): The Foundation of Hybrid Work
In the hybrid world, seamless and secure access is everything. IAM systems do the heavy lifting of enabling single sign-on (SSO) for simplicity and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for security. These tools ensure employees get what they need, where and when they need it, without compromising sensitive data.
But IAM isn’t just about plugging security gaps. It’s about creating a user experience that doesn’t incentivize employees to find IT workarounds to be more productive. It’s about preventing poor password practices and transforming them through technology (such as passwordless) so IT teams can boost both security and efficiency for hybrid workers.
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Device and Endpoint Security: Securing the Edge
Every device is a potential point of entry. Hybrid work created an explosion of endpoints—laptops, tablets, smartphones, and a variety of employee-owned devices for companies who support bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.
A proactive strategy is needed rather than just responding to potential issues. Approaches to a proactive device and endpoint security strategy include enforcing encryption, scheduling automated updates, and allowing for remote wipe or lock capabilities for lost or stolen devices, which are good ways to start.
Challenges go deeper with BYOD, but it’s still possible. A working agreement to enable endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools alongside mobile device management (MDM) solutions allows for more secure access and what will and won’t be tracked on a user’s personal device.
Business-Led IT: A Pathway to Eliminating Shadow IT
Shadow IT—unauthorized use of apps and tools—thrives in hybrid environments. But depending on your perspective, shadow IT is a signal.
To counter this, a new business-led IT strategy is needed. One that aligns technology decisions with user needs while maintaining visibility and control. It shifts technology discussion and procurement away from IT alone, expanding the decision-making process to include stakeholders from various business units.
Collaboration and Communication Tools: Building Digital Bridges
Collaboration is the glue holding hybrid teams together, but it takes more tools than anyone realizes. On top of the hundreds of applications that employees use, nearly half of organizations use another five to ten tools to manage their users.
The solution for users? Centralizing on one application for one medium and agreeing on when responses are due. Tagging someone in a doc versus an email may be the same to some and different for others, having a clear understanding enables teams to orchestrate faster.
The solution for IT? Unifying device and identity management into one platform. This centralized approach to identities streamlines not only access but also visibility for reporting.
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Employee Education and Security Awareness: Strengthen the Human Firewall
Even the most robust IT systems can’t protect an organization if employees aren’t equipped to identify threats. Security awareness training—tailored to hybrid work —turns your workforce into the first line of defense.
Find engaging ways to make the lessons stick. Gamified training and scenario-based learning can make cybersecurity fun and memorable. A regular schedule for security training ensures best practices are at the forefront of everyone's mind.
Rethink Hybrid IT: Pivot, Adapt, Prosper
Hybrid work isn’t going anywhere; it takes more than quick fixes to make it work. Craft IT strategies that do more than just keep things running—they need to be adaptable, secure, and built for growth. Prioritizing identity management, tightening endpoint security, and embracing business-led IT can mean mitigating the complexities of hybrid work while capitalizing on its promise.
The real question isn’t whether IT can keep up with hybrid work. It’s about how it can take the lead. With the right approach, today’s IT professionals aren’t just maintaining systems—they’re building the groundwork for long-term success in an unpredictable world.
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