15 Common Remote Work Technology Challenges and Solutions

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Reviewed by Joanna Zambas

A worker woman facing remote work technology challenges wires everywhere

Working remotely sure has its benefits: you save time and money from commuting, you can work virtually anywhere (be it your home office, garden or favorite coffee shop), you evade workplace distractions (and consequently increase your productivity), and you enjoy a better work–life balance. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

But with remote working comes an inevitable reliance on technology, which, as we can all attest to, doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to — if at all. Something that seemingly happens whenever we really need it to work. (Perhaps our laptops and printers can smell our fear and desperation.)

The good news is that there’s almost always a workaround to technology hiccups. And in this article, we’ll share the 15 most common remote work technology challenges that even our own team sometimes faces, along with practical solutions to overcome them.

Remote Work Technology Challenges and Solutions

1. Unreliable internet connection

I can’t tell you how many times the internet connection of one of our team members suddenly dropped in the middle of a video call, or slowed down to snail speed while updating our blog.

It’s annoying, to say the least, but it also affects all-around productivity — for everyone.

SOLUTION

If your internet connection issues persist, it might be a good idea to switch service providers, or upgrade your current plan to get more bandwidth. Equally important is to have a back-up plan, like a mobile hotspot or an alternative WiFi option, for emergencies.

2. Outdated hardware

Unless your employer provides you with (or you’ve purchased your own) brand-new hardware, you might be working on a laptop, computer or phone from yesteryear — which will likely be super slow or even malfunctioning. Naturally, this will hinder your work efficiency and overall output.

SOLUTION

Perform routine hardware updates to ensure optimal performance, fix stability issues and provide protection against potential threats. If that still doesn’t help, consider requesting a hardware stipend from your employer or exploring remote work grants for better gear.

3. Cybersecurity risks

Working from home often means weaker network security, leaving you vulnerable to cyber threats, like phishing attacks, malware and data breaches, particularly if you’re using an unsecure WiFi network.

These cybersecurity risks also affect your employer, who can hold you personally responsible for any cyberattacks, especially if you haven’t been complying with established company policies and guidelines. If you think your system might be compromised, you'll need to remove malware safely to protect your information and resolve the situation.

SOLUTION

Use a secure VPN, enable two-factor authentication, and regularly update software and antivirus programs to protect your data and systems. That said, your employer should provide adequate resources, guidance and tools to help minimize cybersecurity threats.

4. Frequent software updates

Gosh — the number of times I’ve had to install software updates and restart my laptop while in the middle of writing an article or preparing a report (and lose my train of thought in the process)!

Granted, software updates are a part of office life, too, but they’re usually arranged by the IT department so they don’t disrupt employees’ workflow and productivity. With remote work, on the other hand, they become part of your catalog of tasks — so it’s up to you to update your Safari browser or Windows operating system, for example.

SOLUTION

Always apply any and all software updates — this ensures that everything works properly, while it also protects you against security vulnerabilities. If you can, though, try to schedule these updates during non-work hours.

5. Lack of IT support

When you work from home, you may struggle to resolve technical problems, like a laptop that suddenly crashes, without the quick access to IT support normally afforded to on-site workers.

This inevitably leads to delays and creates a backlog of tasks, especially when you don’t have the knowhow and expertise to troubleshoot any issues yourself (apart from turning your laptop off and back on again).

SOLUTION

Create a troubleshooting guide — a personal list of common IT problems and their solutions, documenting steps you’ve taken in the past to fix similar issues. It’s also a good idea to use self-help resources, and to use backup tools when necessary (for example: if Zoom is down, use Google Meet).

6. Distractions from tech glitches

When something goes wrong (and something will always go wrong at some point where technology is involved), you end up spending a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. And this happens at the expense of your workload.

SOLUTION

That troubleshooting guide I mentioned earlier will help you address tech issues proactively and minimize their overall impact on your productivity (and sanity). If that’s no help, consider asking a colleague for their input — two heads are better than one, after all.

7. Screen fatigue

Even in an office setting, screen fatigue can be a real problem, particularly if your job involves working on a computer all day. But in-person meetings and even watercooler chats can alleviate at least some of the eye strain and fatigue that you experience.

With remote working, on the other hand, you don’t really have the freedom or opportunity to do that, resulting in prolonged use of screens for work and communication — and, ultimately, the worsening of the effects of screen fatigue.

SOLUTION

Use blue light filters or glasses, and — more importantly — take regular breaks away from your computer. Meanwhile, the 20–20–20 rule is a good routine to incorporate into your day, which involves looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

8. File sharing difficulties

You finally finished that 100-page report you’ve painfully worked on the past couple of weeks, and now it’s time to turn it in — yay! But it’s taking ages to send — not yay.

Indeed, sending large files and even accessing shared documents from remote locations can be slow or otherwise problematic. And this can prevent you from smoothly moving on to the next task, and even contribute to your stress levels.

SOLUTION

Use cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive for easy file sharing and access. Meanwhile, consider compressing large files, or using services like WeTransfer when necessary.

9. Video conferencing issues

With remote work comes a sudden increase in video calls (that’s right: there’s no escaping team meetings). And that’s great (when they’re productive and meaningful, anyway), as they allow you to check in and brainstorm with your team in real time, and they can even alleviate any feelings of isolation.

But video conferencing isn’t without its own set of problems: lagging, poor video quality and even disconnections often get in the way of effective communication, which can ultimately hinder the productivity of all parties involved.

SOLUTION

Before every meeting, make it a point to test your video conferencing setup to ensure everything works smoothly. If it helps the call’s overall quality, consider turning off your camera or relocating your laptop closer to your WiFi router.

10. Inadequate tool training

Making the move from working in an office to working remotely often means the introduction of new tools into your job — tools that you’re sometimes expected to learn on your own.

But, even with the best intentions and the strongest commitment to learn the ins and outs of a tool, you might come away feeling confused or overwhelmed. And that’s all on top of the time you take away from your normal work.

SOLUTION

Ask your supervisor to provide regular training (and retraining) on new tools and software to make sure you fully understand how to use them and won’t have to spend even more time trying to figure things out yourself.

11. Over-reliance on digital tools

As a remote worker, you might be tempted to download the tools you use for your job to your phone. And that’s okay — if it’s done primarily as a backup during lengthy software updates, for example.

It’s not okay when necessity becomes over-reliance on these tools, though. Indeed, constantly checking in on the weekends or while you’re on holiday, for example, will unavoidably overwhelm you and lead to burnout.

SOLUTION

Set boundaries for tools like Zoom, Trello and Slack, and make it a point to only use them during work hours. Limiting, or better yet, disabling notifications after certain times and on weekends will help with this.

12. Tech outages or malfunctions

Even the best tech tools will experience outages or malfunctions from time to time — there’s no avoiding it, and no knowing when it will happen. (For me, personally, it does seem to always happen at the most inconvenient times.)

These outages and malfunctions, even when they’re short-lived, can seriously hinder your productivity and leave you feeling stranded — and that’s because, as a remote worker, all (or, at the very least, most) of your work is done on a computer over the internet.

SOLUTION

Speak to your manager about developing backup processes in the event of outages and malfunctions. For example, you could regularly download a backup of your Google Sheets or, better yet, move important spreadsheets offline onto Excel.

13. Remote access problems

One of the most common remote work technology challenges that employees are faced with is the difficulty they sometimes experience when accessing company systems or networks — which is often the result of a slow internet connection, VPN issues, security concerns or software incompatibility.

Naturally, this downtime (until IT can get things back up and running for you) leaves you locked out from important files and slows down your overall output.

SOLUTION

Some simple solutions to try include restarting your device, updating software, clearing your cache and cookies, and checking your internet connection. If the problem still persists, contact your company’s IT support for assistance.

14. Time zone differences

One of the great things about working remotely is that you can work from virtually anywhere in the world — be it Paris or the Bahamas. But here’s the thing: your coworkers are probably doing the same. And this often means you’re working in completely different time zones.

This, in turn, can complicate collaboration and communication between your team, especially if you’re online at different times — which then causes delays in project progress.

SOLUTION

While you can’t really fix the issue of time zone differences itself, you can minimize productivity and tech issues by using shared calendars, scheduling meetings at convenient times for everyone and using time zone management apps.

15. File syncing issues

Ever opened a file on your company’s services, started working on it and, 30 minutes in, realized it’s an outdated version? Not exactly cause for celebration!

Unfortunately, file syncing issues are a common problem for remote workers, and are often the result of internet connectivity problems or software conflicts. This can interrupt workflows, causing you to wait until a file to sync, delay project completion and even create more stress for you.

SOLUTION

Make sure your company uses a fast and reliable file collaboration solution — like Dropbox, OneDrive or SharePoint. If the issues persists, speak to IT who identify and fix the root cause.

Final thoughts

For the most part, your employer will be responsible for removing — or at least minimizing — the impact of these remote work technology issues from your life. But if you’re left to your own devices, or you can’t get the immediate support you need, our list of top fixes will help you navigate any future challenges.

What remote work technology issues do you regularly face, and what is your workaround? Let us know in the comments section below.