2021: The Remote

Workforce and IoT

Post-Pandemic
Table of Contents

3 The Remote Workforce Finds Permanence

4 Remote Workforce Across Verticals

5 Technology Accelerates Amidst Remote Workforce

5 Data and Cloud Security, Network Visibility for Protected Workforce

6 Enhancing Cloud Security

6 Network Visibility

7 Partnered IoT Solutions for Greatest Success

2021: The Remote
Workforce and IoT 3
Post-Pandemic

Just a few decades ago, a pandemic of COVID-19

magnitude may have caused an even more disruption to
the economy. The ability to effectively shift to remote work
for many enterprises and their employees has allowed
operations to move ahead business as usual – for the most
part.

With the pandemic forging ahead, the part IoT plays in

keeping businesses operating will hold steady across many
different verticals, even after the COVID-19 dust settles.

The Remote Workforce Finds Permanence

Gartner recently reported that nearly 41 percent1 of

employees will continue to work remotely, at least some of
the time, which is an increase from 30 percent reported prior
to the pandemic. It’s well-known news that some major
technology companies have announced that employees can
work remotely full-time, while many organizations consider
shifting to a hybrid approach.

The long-term considerations for a sizeable remote

workforce revolve around the technology and connectivity
needed to support so many endpoints sharing data through
the internet. IoT is expected to play a large part in
continuing to support these solutions across many verticals.

...nearly 41 percent1 of employees will continue to work

remotely, at least some of the time, which is an increase from
30 percent reported prior to the pandemic.

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2021: The Remote
Workforce and IoT
Post-Pandemic
Remote Workforce Across Verticals
Manufacturing
IoT is powering the ability of technicians to monitor and
maintain equipment without being physically present.
Sensors connected to cloud software allow for reporting and
actionable data to monitor condition and usage, and if any
breach in threshold is detected, technicians are alerted.
Assets and Logistics
High-level visibility in the supply chain can be found through
utilizing IoT in asset monitoring and management. With
sensors, algorithms, cloud software, platforms, and more, the
ability to track assets along every point in the supply chain
means less need for physical presence at the various points in
the supply chain. The pandemic has shown what happens
when supply chains are taxed by high demand, leaving
logistics managers searching for technology solutions. And
now with vaccine distribution, leveraging comprehensive
supply chain visibility for this highly sensitive and valuable
asset becomes even more important.
Healthcare
The rise in technology adoption in healthcare in 2020 isn’t a
shock, but the investments poured forward are still significant.
Health innovation funding for the first half of 2020 alone hit
$9.1 billion2 with expectations in increases to follow.
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4
IoT is powering successful healthcare
solutions such as:
Remote Patient Monitoring: This Connected Health
solution allows for medical practitioners to remotely
monitor patients outside of a hospital or clinical
setting. Traditionally used for chronic disease
management, such as diabetes and heart disease, as
well as post-operative care, remote patient
monitoring is seeing a rise in use cases during the
pandemic. COVID-19 has accelerated the need to
provide patient care while reducing exposure. By
using connected devices, peripherals, connectivity,
platforms, and software, remote patient monitoring
provides patient care through reliable and accurate
data.
Wearable Healthcare: Mobile Personal Emergency
System (mPERS) technology is seeing a major uptick
as the population ages and the demand to age in
place grows. By leveraging connected devices and
connectivity, healthcare is accessible at all times in
case of an emergency. Interestingly, mPERS devices
are also being utilized in IoT solutions related to
remote patient monitoring and decentralized clinical
trials due to their ability to gather and track vital
health data.
Decentralized Clinical Trials: Over the last several
months, the world has been more focused than ever
before on drug therapies and vaccines related to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual and decentralized trial
options to participants, enabled by IoT technology,
have broadened the participant pool and aided in the
logistical issues of traveling to and from a clinic.
Through the use of smartphones, tablets, clinical
outcome software solutions, reliable connectivity,
mobile device management (MDM) tools, and
connected devices for capturing data and logistics
support, clinical trials can be delivered in a faster and
more efficient way than ever before.
2021: The Remote
Workforce and IoT 5
Post-Pandemic

Technology Accelerates Amidst Remote Workforce
What lies behind these technology adoptions is the Internet
of Things, wherein devices send and receive data through
reliable network connectivity.
The traditional method of endpoint communication is for IoT
devices to send all data to the cloud of analysis and insight.
But with edge computing, this transaction will take place
directly on devices themselves. This allows for savings in
bandwidth usage, while increasing efficiency as data is
processed closer to the end user.
The use case for edge computing already existed, but with
the pandemic forcing organizations into a remote work
model, the case has never been stronger. Both 5G and edge
computing can make remote work a long-lasting possibility
for many organizations that choose to continue in this
model, even after the pandemic is controlled.
Data and Cloud Security, Network Visibility for Protected
Workforce
While edge computing is on the rise, cloud environments
continue to enable employee productivity by allowing for
internal collaboration and communication similar to that in
the office.
But an increase in internal endpoints connecting to the
cloud can create a security issue if not managed properly.
For one, the interception of data as it moves from endpoints
to the cloud and back poses a threat. Cloud security is
typically offered through a provider, but securing endpoints
and connections is imperative in keeping data – especially
mission critical and sensitive data – safe.
Remote Workforce Data Sensitivity and Security

Artificial intelligence, extended reality (XR), virtual reality

• Interception of data as it moves through from
(VR), and augmented reality (AR) are all possibilities in
endpoints to the cloud and back
upkeeping a remote workforce that feels disconnected.
Whether it’s creating a virtual boardroom or an office • Compliance and governance over sensitive
information being shared
through XR, VR, or AR, or weaving artificial intelligence into
presentations, the ability to engage with employees,
customers, and prospects that are dispersed outside of an
office setting abound.

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 2021: The Remote
Workforce and IoT
Post-Pandemic
Enhancing Cloud Security
Strategy: Cloud security is an ongoing task, therefore it
needs a comprehensive strategy. A centralized
strategy to sidestep fragmentation as cloud computing
grows will serve remote employees from wherever they are
securely across the entire organization.
Responsibility: Understanding the organizational role in
the cloud is important, especially in defining a strategy.
While cloud service providers (CSPs) manage the security
of the cloud, an organization has to manage its security
within the cloud. When deploying cloud services, make
sure to know what security falls under the CSP and what
the organization responsibility and plan accordingly.
Threat detection: In-cloud threats need to be mitigated
and when they occur, they need to be addressed
immediately. CSPs that allow for integration of existing
security tools give the advantage of not having to purchase
or learn new tools, as well as providing a deeper level of
insight into data and potential threats.
Network Visibility
Network visibility is crucial in making informed decisions
about how resources are allocated, monitoring network
performance, and securing against downtime. Outages and
network slowdowns are costly errors but can be mediated.
As remote workforces grow, the need to adapt to network
infrastructure will, as well, make it prudent to secure the
highest-level visibility to not strain bandwidth. When using
multiple network providers, or even a single network
provider, visibility will not be placed in the hands of the
organization. That visibility instead, will be placed on the
1. Value
network operator. When Added Services
organizations can manage their
own network visibility, it provides the most comprehensive
solution to prevent downtime and scale intelligently.
1. Costly Site Visits
k 2. Device Managment
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6
Access: The remote workforce is best equipped with
security measures when accessing the cloud, including
single sign on, multifactor authentication, and user life
cycle management.
Protecting company data with many remote employees is
simple with an expert connectivity partner. With the right,
trusted advisor, organizations can secure remote
workforces in the following ways:
• Require employees to use a virtual private network (VPN)
• Back up password protect with two-factor authentication
• Use encryption software
• Utilize firewalls, antivirus software, and anti-malware
With these measures in place, both the data and where
it is stored is protected for greater risk mitigation as the
remote workforce continues ahead in the pandemic
climate.
Network strain can lead to interruptions, with services down
from anywhere to a few hours to a few days. Not many
businesses can withstand such a disruption to operations.
However, business continuity solutions can be complicated,
expensive, and too complex for in-house deployment.
Leveraging a backup internet connection powered by
broadband routers and redundant LTE connectivity can save
businesses thousands in lost productivity each year.
Supporting a workforce globally poses issues, as well, when
trying to manage multiple carrier contracts and OSS/BSS
systems. By having one, unified, multi-tenant connectivity
provider, businesses can focus on what’s important and
1. Scalability
leave the complexity of IoT solutions to a trusted partner.
1. Equipment
korewireless.com
3. Tracking Devices
 2021: The Remote
Workforce and IoT 7
ncy
Post-Pandemic 1. Inability to Communicate

1. Long Repair Times

Partnered IoT Solutions for Greatest Success
Connected Health Powered by IoT

rt Deploying any one of these IoT solutions to support a remote workforce requires a trusted partner that understands the
complexity of IoT. When looking at an IoT deployment, it’s difficult to see the entire landscape of what is required for success.
While some aspects 1.
of Delayed Openings
leveraging IoT can be managed in-house, the entire infrastructure is quite complex, with many moving
parts. For the greatest outcome and ROI, it’s important to consider a partner that can manage the granular details that make an
IoT ecosystem run smoothly, with the ability to adapt and scale as the business case evolves.

KORE has been an industry leader for nearly two decades in assisting enterprises and organizations to see maximum ROI on their
technology investments.
1. Poor Customer Experience

About KORE
KORE is a pioneering leader and trusted advisor
that helps deliver transformative business
performance from IoT solutions. We help
customer organizations of all sizes navigate the
complexities of IoT and improve execution,
so they can focus on operational and business
results. Our IoT expertise and experience, global
reach, independence, and deployment agility
accelerate and materially improve our customers’
return on their IoT investments.

Looking for more

information on IoT
solutions?

Learn more about our

diverse IoT solutions and
managed services.

1
https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-04-14-gartner-hr-survey-reveals-41--of-employees-likely-to-
2
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/investors-double-down-health-technology-as-funding-reaches-9-1b-2020

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