Ways Cybersecurity and Automation are Reshaping Remote and Office Workflow

One of the perks of evolving technology is that automation is becoming more common, making remote and in-office workflow easier for many companies. A downside of the rise in tech is that there are more cybersecurity risks, but new technology is also taking care of that. Here’s what you need to know about the importance of automation and cybersecurity and how both can impact workflow and make your business more successful.

Why Automation and Cybersecurity Are So Big Right Now

Automation is quickly changing many aspects of how we work. It’s become so big it’s impacting almost every industry you can imagine. Even healthcare regularly uses robotics and automation to perform many tasks, from inventory tracking to surgery. However, while automation is taking on more complicated jobs, it’s also an excellent tool for remote and in-office employees because it can handle many repetitive tasks so your employees can focus on the jobs which require a human touch.

That’s important because when your staff has to spend hours working on small, repetitive tasks, they are letting more urgent work fall through the cracks, and your employees may begin to feel burned out and bored. When your team is unhappy at work, there’s a significant chance of errors. Plus, you’re paying people to be there to complete mundane tasks when you could have machines do the same thing, so you can also cut down on costs.

But cybersecurity continues to be a concern in this ever-changing world, especially when business owners face 600,000 new malware threats daily. New tech provides hackers with updated methods of breaching our systems, and attention to constant threats means a distracted workforce. This is even more dangerous for remote employees who may need more resources to protect their systems. New cybersecurity tactics keep those issues at bay so your employees can do their best work without concern.

Types of Automation That Work

Companies around the nation are using automation to streamline processes and bring in more customers to help their enterprises succeed. One of the best examples for sales organizations is using customer relationship management (CRM) programs which automatically log a customer’s activity when they visit your website and use those preferences to recommend other products they may like.

An automated CRM program can also gauge your customers’ interest level and location and send automatic emails with targeted ads that speak to their desires. All of this happens without a human being pressing a single button. This means your sales associates can focus on the person-to-person interaction that’s necessary when selling products.

Automation is also incredibly beneficial for storage companies and warehouses because an innovative program can monitor the inventory and shipments without human intervention. While human employees can track inventory, there’s always an opportunity for errors, especially at a larger warehouse. When properly programmed, machines eliminate this potential for error so the manager can keep on top of what’s in stock and what needs to be reordered.

The service industries can also benefit hugely from the advancement of automation, especially when it comes to chatbots. While many retailers used to need an army of agents to take incoming customer calls, now programmed chatbots can answer many simple questions so the customer can get a resolution and be on their way. This type of always-on support is essential in the world of business these days. You’ll still need human agents, but they can tackle the more complex problems so all customers are satisfied.

Cybersecurity Helps Employees Stay on Track

Along with automation, companies also need to focus on cybersecurity with a focus on new and emerging threats. Your employees need to feel secure at work and know how to easily report risks when they appear so they can be assured the company has their backs. Luckily, there are many new ways to streamline your cybersecurity protections.

One is to partner with automation through cloud computing. Your company can use cloud programs which automatically manage and store the organization’s data. This simple function becomes incredibly handy if a hacker installs malware in your system and deletes all the information. This automatic data recovery will be a lifesaver.

Remote employees may feel like they’re on an island when it comes to working and protecting their devices against cybercrime. So, in addition to automation and new tech, management should teach them the essential steps to work securely at home. Among them is the importance of creating smart passwords for all programs which are complex and use a random assortment of letters, numbers, and special characters.

All employees, both in the office and at home, also need to understand the importance of avoiding phishing scams (emails sent by criminals aim to trick them into clicking a malicious link or attachment). While it used to be easy to spot a scam due to typos and awkward wording, new tech will enable hackers to make their messages more natural, so educating the staff on how to report malicious emails is more important now than ever.

As you can see, cybersecurity and automation are game changers when improving office and remote workflow. Alleviate the redundant tasks and take the cybercrime concern off their backs, and your staff can do their best work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Brenneman

Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content. When she isn't writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Brenneman, you can follow her on Twitter.