12 / Canadian Government Executive // Winter 2023 could “enhance the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in the workforce.”2 Digital modernization also fuels greater efficiency in the public sector by enabling more self-service options for citizens, such as the ability to complete forms online instead of having to fill out paper forms in person. When citizens have self-service options, public service workers are freed up to spend more time focusing on bigger strategic problems. As the government continues to embrace remote work options, the IT infrastructure underpinning the public sector will need to be modernized. This is critical to ensure mobile workers have the applications and tools they need to work effectively from anywhere. But while digital transformation presents several opportunities, there are also inherent risks. This is especially true for public sector entities that handle vast amounts of sensitive data, making them prime targets for cyberattacks and security breaches. By Paul West and John Slater PERSPECTIVE Sponsored Content Today, more than three years since the term COVID-19 became part of our lexicon, remote work shows no signs of slowing down. This is true not only for private sector workers but for those in the public sector too. According to research by Global Government Forum, 82 percent of Canadian public servants work remotely, including 19 percent who do so full-time.1 Supporting a mobile workforce has several benefits for government leaders, including fostering different approaches to collaboration, enabling greater productivity, boosting employee retention, and opening the door to more diverse hiring. According to a study by Deloitte, remote work and advancements in technology have “opened up opportunities for people with disabilities” while work flexibility Paul West, Director, Global Public Sector, ThinkOn John Slater, Chief Security Officer, ThinkOn It is crucial for government executives to ask the right questions and make thoughtful decisions as they undertake the significant task of digital infrastructure modernization. This will help ensure the government mitigates risks while reaping the benefits of a mobile public sector, well into the future. Consideration #1: Choose the right cloud solution A remote public workforce handling reams of data needs a secure and robust data management solution. While a hyperscale solution might be tempting, a hyperscale provider’s “one size fits all” approach has several drawbacks for the public sector. The varying needs of government departments often require a more personalized, tailored solution. For example, some remote public service workers may have application requirements for wireless and handheld devices where a hyperscale solution isn’t necessary or appropriate. Another important consideration when it comes to data management services is data sovereignty. When the hyperscalers are foreign-owned, any data stored in a hyperscale cloud is controlled by a foreign interest. The solution? A sovereign, secure, hybrid cloud that allows public sector ENSURING THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF A REMOTE GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE: Three Key Considerations
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