Across the U.S., businesses have begun reopening following months of shelter-in-place orders from local authorities trying to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, many people who transitioned to working from home full-time to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aren’t eager to rush back to their old lives in the office: A Gallup panel found approximately three out of five employed Americans who have been working remotely during the pandemic express a preference to continue logging on from home as much as possible, even after stay-at-home orders expire.
It seems as if COVID-19 might serve as the catalyst for a permanent shift in corporate culture, as far as working remote versus on-site is concerned. An estimated 56 percent of the workforce in the U.S. can do their jobs at least partially from home, and this public health crisis has demonstrated that going into the office isn’t actually necessary for many professionals. As a result, by the end of 2021, an estimated 25 to 30 percent of U.S. employees will work from home multiple days a week, according to Global Workplace Analytics.
If you’re considering how to equip your team for a new post-pandemic normal that involves remote work, the Microsoft 365 suite (formerly Microsoft Office 365) is definitely worth consideration. Due to their features that promote mobility and productivity, the business applications included in this solution became popular even before the current crisis led to widespread remote work.
Previously in our Microsoft 365 Spotlight series, we’ve taken a look at Teams and SharePoint Online – both apps that are particularly well-suited for distributed teams. In this entry, we’ll explore how OneDrive for Business can set your organization up for success by allowing your staff members to access vital resources from anywhere.
OneDrive for Business Overview
OneDrive for Business is a cloud-based application allows end users to store, share and access files from any device. This makes it ideal for companies looking to accommodate mobile and remote workers, since it ensures employees always have the resources needed to fulfill their professional obligations, no matter where they are.
OneDrive is available for PCs, Macs and mobile devices (via the OneDrive mobile app). It comes with at least 1 TB of cloud storage, depending on your Microsoft 365 plan. To sync OneDrive for Business with their local computers, end users must use the OneDrive for Business sync app.
5 Useful OneDrive for Business Features
In addition to allowing you to access important files from anywhere, OneDrive can help you get your work done as quickly and efficiently as possible with the following key features:
1. Offline access: You can still make changes to your files offline. Any edits will automatically upload the next time you’re connected.
2. Easy collaboration: OneDrive lets you securely share files and work on them together with your colleagues.
3. Advanced security: This app comes with advanced features such as encryption and allows admins to manage security controls to ensure sensitive data stays protected.
4. Intelligent search: Microsoft Graph delivers personalized results to help you find files as quickly as possible.
5. Scanning: Easily upload business-related paper documents by scanning and uploading them with your mobile device.
If you’d like to learn more about OneDrive for Business, the Microsoft 365 suite or remote work solutions in general, our team of trusted advisors can assist you. We have experience working with various tech solutions from a wide range of suppliers in our partner network and can help you determine which products make the most sense for your business, depending on your unique challenges and objectives.
To learn more, please call 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
