We are in the age of the dynamic workforce - if you need evidence, just look at how businesses are opening up remote working in the wake of COVID-19, or the Coronavirus.  The dynamic workforce can keep businesses afloat in times of crisis.

The words 'dynamic workforce' sound uninspiring but give it a second thought if you will, because there's so much more to it than meets the eye - and it's now in the foreground of business life.

The concept has so many implications for any organisation that embraces - or seeks to embrace - the broader strokes of digital transformation.

Every sector is enjoying the rapid adoption of a variety of cloud services, but data sovereignty and privacy concerns are hindering the cloud adoption process.

Hybrid cloud is back on the table (again) as it offers the flexibility and ubiquity of public or privately hosted cloud solutions. This means everyone can access the data they need from wherever, whenever and however they want. If you need convincing, think omnichannel like web, desktop, mobile.

‘Going hybrid' also restores the necessary security, visibility and control to the crown jewels that many organisations are concerned about.

However, three compelling catalysts have occurred recently that have changed the workplace landscape yet again: the emergence of the potential pandemic COVD-19, or coronavirus; the Australian bushfires; and the massive flooding that occurred thereafter.

This catastrophic backdrop has affected every region: major events have been cancelled, travel bans put in place and offices temporarily closed. Overnight, your dynamic workforce just got even more dynamic - and not in the ways that anyone particularly wants.

What does this mean for maintaining - and more importantly, securing – services and employees that need to keep the business running? Dynamic means flexible, and now you have to be both.

In terms of Identity and Access Management (IAM), there's a conundrum in the works. Organisations are trying to secure access to these resources and managing a sharp influx of workers that have suddenly become full-time remote workers. No single vendor in the security space has a great answer.

Organisations must now manage different users such as full-time staff, contractors, and third-party partners. Some of these users will now rely on hybrid services that you offer.  No one wants to take the financial hit in terms of covering them all when another virus or climate-induced disruption strikes.

Here are a few ways to mitigate the risks associated with a dynamic workforce

• Demand dynamic, flexible and strong authentication licensing and management tools from your vendor. These tools should be able to cater to a sharp uptick in the number of users without a major impact to the bottom line.
• Ensure that governing access through IAM tools is easy, rapid, visible, and provides instant results
• Adopt a risk-based approach to all access points such that your typical ‘ambulance chasers' don't exploit gaps caused during the turmoil (this happens).
• Ensure you have a ready-set-go communication plan, not only for your customers and partners but to your employees as well.
• Ensure your platform provides an easy, automated and secure provisioning process for any authenticator type. Flexibility is also key.

Modernise your authentication to meet the needs of your dynamic workforce.

Download the Frost - Sullivan – Modernise Your Authentication white paper here.