There were many hurdles IT leaders and professionals had to overcome in 2021. And many of those challenges will persist in 2022 and beyond. These were shifting workplace demands, clambering for top business talent, and addressing ever-evolving cybersecurity risks—to name a few. Happily, Power BI Schedule Reports as business has the tools and capabilities to not only overcome these challenges but thrive in the modern business world.
2022 has the potential to be an exciting and profitable year for business and worker alike. Though challenges abound, so does resilience. The solution rests in finding the way forward along three basic lines:
- Balancing in person and remote work
- Filling workforce gaps with the right talent
- Keeping data and the enterprise secure
The question remains—what solutions can decision makers look to for help?
Sustaining Hybrid or Fully Remote Work Environments
Working from home provides a lot of positive benefits for employees. They can save both money and time by not having to commute to work every day. They can spend more time with family at home and even get some extra sleep in the morning, so they’re more rejuvenated for the workday. There are even benefits for employers. They can cut down on operational expenses at the office. It also provides geographical flexibility to hire the best talent from around the country without the time or expense of relocating new hires.
However, sustaining a remote or hybrid work environment certainly has its challenges. There’s no denying the work from home trend will be here to stay. IT leaders must address the key issues with a remote workforce, most significantly is the implementation of collaborative tools. These primarily include video and teleconferencing services. There are a range of challenges that could arise from these technologies, such as latency, compatibility, and network reliability issues.
Communication is the key to success for any organization. Fortunately, high-speed connectivity has come a long way. Better connectivity helps curtail many of the communication issues that arise from remote conferencing. Likewise, cloud-based automation tools, such as Power BI reporting, allow companies to maintain detailed reports and insights from their remote or hybrid workforce. Ultimately, this allows for a much smoother operation for a dynamic work environment, such as automated report formats and access levels when disseminating data.
Finding Top Talent for Businesses
The pandemic made many business leaders and professionals reevaluate their careers and livelihoods. Some opted to stay with their company in their current roles. Some moved to different companies. Others opted for career changes. And some left the workforce altogether. The Great Resignation was a real scenario that impacted thousands of businesses as over 33 million people left their job in 2021. And there are many in the workforce still considering a transition.
Businesses are reeling from this impact, trying to fill talent gaps. Highly-skilled, technical workers are in incredibly high demand, with many of them going for premium rates. Workers knowledgeable of machine learning, cloud-based solutions, data science, or software development are the most sought-after for most mid-to-large-sized companies. And differentiating your company from competitors can be a substantial task when attracting business candidates.
With competition so tight, companies need new and creative methods to fill open positions and ensure their workforce contains the best minds in the industry. Artificial intelligence tools like Power BI reporting can enable HR departments to make real-time data-driven decisions to help attract, manage, and retain top-skill employees. All of this helps companies improve their ROI by creating better work environments, addressing the needs of employees, and increasing worker productivity. When implemented effectively, it could have a significant impact on your bottom line.
Combatting Ever-Evolving Cyberattacks
Cybercriminals and cyber-attacks are constantly changing and evolving. It is an arms race for companies to implement technology to curtail cyber attacks, while cybercriminals create ways to sidestep these defenses. The sophistication of these attacks is unparalleled when compared to methods just ten years ago. Businesses, regardless of whether they are small, medium, or Fortune 500 companies, must understand that these attacks will continue indefinitely. Unless there is a way to stop cyberattacks with 100% effectiveness, they will always be a threat.
However, one of the biggest cybersecurity concerns for 2022 is ransomware. A survey conducted by Forbes found that 80% of the IT professionals they interviewed revealed their company was the target of a ransomware attack in 2021. Another study by PBS found that ransomware attacks rose by 62% worldwide and 158% in North America in 2021.
So what’s causing the uptick in attacks? Well, there’s a multitude of reasons. For one, companies are paying the ransom. This plays into the hands of cybercriminals and gives them what they want. If a cybercriminal is successful in their endeavor, they have no reason to stop. Likewise, remote working is playing a huge part in it. If on the job and not connected to a VPN, remote employees are much more susceptible to cyberattacks.
One of the best ways to mitigate the effects of ransomware or other cyberattack is with advanced security technology. For instance, low-level security coupled with Power BI reporting can restrict data access for specific users. It can also filter nefarious activity and define filters within workplace roles. Not to mention, work members have access to secure data sets while in the office or at home online.