2022 – 2023: Establishing the Hybrid Working Model
From Emergency Response to Sustainable Hybrid Work
By the beginning of 2022, the pace of change had slowed, but the direction had not reversed.
Organisations were no longer responding to immediate disruption. Instead, they were working within a new set of conditions that had been established over the previous two years. Remote working had proven viable at scale, and the systems that supported it had become embedded in daily operations. The question was no longer how to enable remote access, but how to define a sustainable model that balanced flexibility with consistency.
For most organisations, that model took the form of hybrid working. Employees divided their time between office and remote environments, often with considerable variation between roles and teams. Some functions returned to office-based work more quickly, while others remained largely distributed. This variability placed new demands on systems, which needed to support different patterns of use without introducing friction.
Seamless and Secure Access Across Locations
Access became a central concern. Users expected to move between locations without interruption. A document opened at home needed to behave in exactly the same way when accessed in the office. Conversations needed to remain continuous, regardless of where participants were working from. Systems that introduced delays or inconsistencies became more noticeable, particularly when compared to consumer applications that delivered a more predictable experience.
This placed increased emphasis on identity and access management.
Ensuring that users could authenticate securely, access the correct information, and maintain consistent permissions across platforms became essential. The traditional model of securing a fixed network boundary was no longer sufficient. Instead, access controls needed to be applied at the user and data level, reflecting the reality that work was taking place across multiple environments.
Managing the Growth of Collaboration Data
At the same time, the data itself continued to evolve. The patterns established during the pandemic persisted. Collaboration platforms remained central to communication, and the volume of data generated through chat, meetings, and shared documents continued to grow. Information was being created and stored across multiple services, each contributing to a broader operational picture.
Managing this data required ongoing attention. Retention policies needed to account for new types of content, such as recorded meetings and persistent chat histories. Access controls needed to reflect how information was actually being used, rather than how systems had been configured in the past. Ensuring that data remained accessible while also being governed appropriately became a continuous process.
Modernising Data Foundations and Legacy Systems
For organisations that had already invested in structured data management, these challenges were more manageable. Data that had been migrated into modern platforms with its context intact could be accessed and used more effectively. Systems that had been configured with governance in mind were better able to support consistent policies across different environments. The work carried out in earlier phases continued to provide a foundation for these developments.
For others, the need to modernise remained. Legacy systems and fragmented data estates continued to create challenges, particularly when integrated with newer platforms. Migration efforts persisted, often focused on bringing historical data into environments that supported hybrid working more effectively. The goal was not only to enable access, but to ensure that information could be used in a consistent and reliable way.
Maintaining Data Continuity Through Migration
Transvault’s role during this period remained focused on supporting that transition. Ensuring that data could be moved between systems without losing its structure or meaning was essential to maintaining continuity. As organisations refined their environments, migration was often required to align older data with newer platforms, enabling it to be accessed alongside more recent information.
The broader technology landscape continued to develop alongside these changes. Cloud services became more sophisticated, with greater emphasis on integration and automation. Security models evolved to reflect the shift towards identity-based access, and organisations placed increased importance on monitoring and managing how data was used across platforms.
Technology Matures Around User Expectations
Users, meanwhile, continued to expect simplicity. The experience of using technology outside the workplace influenced how systems were perceived internally. Applications that required minimal effort to use were preferred, and processes that introduced unnecessary complexity were quickly identified as obstacles. This expectation shaped how organisations approached both system design and data management.
By the end of 2023, hybrid working had become an established model.
It was no longer considered a temporary arrangement or a compromise. It reflected a new understanding of how work could be organised, supported by systems that were designed to operate across different environments.
Hybrid Working Becomes Established – and the Next Phase Begins
This stability created an opportunity to focus on the next stage of development. With data accessible and systems capable of supporting flexible work, attention began to shift towards how that data could be used more effectively. The foundations were in place, but the potential of the information being held was not yet fully realised.
As organisations looked ahead, the emphasis moved beyond access and governance. The next phase would focus on how data could be analysed, interpreted, and used to support decision-making in more direct ways.
That transition would introduce a different set of capabilities, and a new set of expectations, in our next article.
20 Years Of Transvault
