Hybrid Work in Finance: Building a Secure and Productive IT Environment

Hybrid work is here to stay especially in the City’s finance sector. But while most firms have adapted operationally, we have seen many that are still playing catch-up on the IT side. With employees splitting their time between the office and remote locations, traditional setups often fall short on security, productivity, and compliance.

If you’re a financial business in London, there’s never been a better time to evaluate whether your IT infrastructure supports the way your people actually work.

Why Now?

The shift to hybrid wasn’t gradual it happened fast. Most firms made it work with short-term fixes: hastily deployed VPNs, cloud file sharing, and remote logins. But those solutions were never meant to be permanent.

Now, the gaps are showing. You’ve probably noticed:

• Slower response times from support teams

• Increasing pressure from compliance and security audits

• A patchwork of tools that don’t always talk to each other

• End users juggling outdated or unmonitored devices

That’s not sustainable especially in finance, where data security, uptime, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.

What a Good Hybrid IT Setup Looks Like

Getting hybrid right in finance means taking a step back and thinking holistically. Here’s what we typically recommend for firms based in and around the City:

1. Secure Remote Access That Goes Beyond VPNs
VPNs are still part of the picture, but they’re not the full answer. You need secure access tools with proper authentication layers (multi-factor as standard), device trust policies, and the ability to isolate threats if something goes wrong.

2. Unified Device Management
Whether people are using laptops from the office or home desktops, those devices need to be visible, manageable, and secure. That means rolling out mobile device management (MDM), endpoint protection, and clear policies on BYOD (bring your own device).

3. Collaboration That Doesn’t Compromise
Cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace are key, but they need to be configured properly for finance. That includes setting data loss prevention (DLP) rules, email encryption, and shared access that’s tightly controlled.

4. Backup and Continuity Built for Hybrid Teams
Your teams should be able to keep working even if a device is lost or a local system goes down. Cloud backups, business continuity planning, and fast response times are critical.

5. Compliance at the Core
If you’re regulated by the FCA or handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, your IT systems need to reflect that. That includes audit trails, encryption, role-based access control, and regular vulnerability scans.

6. Proactive Monitoring and Local Support
In a hybrid setup, issues can come from anywhere Wi-Fi dropouts, failed updates, login problems. A managed service partner (MSP) that actively monitors your systems and provides fast, local support can be the difference between a 10-minute fix and a multi-day disruption.

Benefits for Finance Firms in the City

When you invest in proper hybrid work IT solutions, the payoffs are real:

• Less downtime, fewer tech headaches

• Happier, more productive staff

• Lower security risk and fewer compliance worries

• Infrastructure that can scale with your business

Firms that treat IT as an enabler, not a cost centre, tend to be the ones that adapt fastest to market changes. With hybrid work sticking around, now’s the time to treat your infrastructure like the strategic asset it is.

Need a second opinion on your setup?
We work with finance businesses across the City to improve hybrid IT environments. If you’d like a quick, no-pressure assessment of your current setup, get in touch.

Contact us here: https://www.mapletech.co.uk/contact/