According to some analysts, Covid-19 has driven ten years’ worth of change in working practices in three months. Of course, nothing drives change quite as well as having no option. Remote working wasn’t an alternative, it was the only way to keep going.
Many organisations, including in the care sector, have found advantages in remote working that they don’t want to give up. So, even when the threat of Covid-19 recedes, greater use of remote working will be here to stay.
The question that’s hard to avoid is what risks came bundled with the urgent and fundamental changes care organisations had to make? These were, by and large, implemented without the normal levels of planning and risk management.
Digital transformation and migration to remote working is normally a considered and gradual process. At its core is the selection and deployment of tools that are specifically designed to work in this way.
Humans Are Fallible
Security is always a key concern when remote working is rolled out. Taking centralised and manual processes and making them work remotely will inevitably lead to vulnerabilities. No end of scammers and fraudsters will be ready and eager to exploit any new security gaps.
When we built CareFor, cyber security was a key consideration – it’s still our top priority. We are dealing with the sensitive personal data of vulnerable people so there’s absolutely no room for wishful thinking. From where data is stored to how it is shared, everything must be screwed down and leak-proof.
Protocols and procedures that rely on all people doing the right thing, all of the time, are a ticking time-bomb. Security has to be built into the core of your business tools.
Risk-free tools for remote working feature secure data storage, high level end-to-end encryption and rigorous quality-assured processes for data protection. I wonder how many of the emergency remote working solutions feature all of those?
Remote working saves time and money. It offers staff greater flexibility and freedom, which can be highly motivating. But those advantages have to be carefully balanced against the risks.
