{"id":7161,"date":"2020-08-06T10:18:38","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T08:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/?p=7161"},"modified":"2022-03-19T09:52:47","modified_gmt":"2022-03-19T08:52:47","slug":"preparing-coworking-infrastructures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/dev-life\/preparing-coworking-infrastructures\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare IT Infrastructure For Coworking Spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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  1. Be flexible<\/a>
  2. Reliable Internet is crucial for coworking<\/a>
  3. Make security a priority<\/a>
  4. Don\u2019t discount people skills<\/a>
  5. Extra hardware?<\/a>
  6. Building maintenance<\/a>
  7. What DON\u2019T you need for coworking?<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    As the world moves away from the model of a traditional workforce<\/span>, coworking spaces are on the rise. These offices<\/span> are designed to suit small businesses<\/span>, freelancers<\/span>, or even larger companies<\/span> that work remotely but need to take advantage of physical meeting<\/span> spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As of mid-2019, there were around 35,000 coworking spaces worldwide. Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic is sure to have impacted this sector\u2019s short-term growth, it\u2019s likely to lead to interesting long-term effects. As more companies<\/span> have moved to working remotely – and have even hired new remote staff – we can expect to see employees<\/span> choosing to access a more social space rather than remaining at home<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This continued growth brings new technology<\/a>, and with that, new challenges for IT teams! The best way to prepare for these challenges is to have a solid infrastructure<\/span> to work from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Be flexible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Unlike conventional offices<\/span>, coworking spaces require a lot of flexibility. Whereas traditional office buildings<\/span> will either host a single company<\/span>, or at least a few split over multiple floors, coworking spaces can have a lot <\/em>more. You\u2019ll have to deal with more traditional firms occupying a floor, individuals renting a single desk for a short period of time, and everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Different
    Different types of users of coworking facilities<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Expecting a one-size-fits-all approach is the quickest way to find yourself in trouble. Instead, concentrate on having infrastructure<\/span> in place that allows you to meet a variety of needs. Many teams<\/span> will bring their own technology<\/span> – so you can\u2019t control what operating systems<\/span> they run, or what devices they bring. They\u2019ll also have different expectations. Some start-ups might need a lot of processing power<\/span>, access to a large amount of data<\/span>, and the ability to use remote machines. Others firms might only need a reliable internet connection<\/span>. Some will want dedicated phone lines, whilst others will be happy to use VoIP systems for small business<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If possible, canvas opinions from potential and current members of coworking spaces. Whilst they won\u2019t necessarily cover everything that comes up, they\u2019ll give you a good idea on the range of expectations members have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reliable Internet is crucial for coworking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This may seem obvious, but it is one of the most important things to ensure you have in a coworking space. Rather than relying solely on wi-fi, invest in a comprehensive wired network. This can involve a lot of upfront cost<\/span> – you may need to fit an old building with new cabling, or replace pre-existing wires – but it\u2019s worth it. Every single client<\/span> that uses a coworking space will need internet access<\/span>, and if yours isn\u2019t reliable, they\u2019ll look elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Once you\u2019ve got an excellent wired network in place, you can build your wi-fi capabilities from there. There are a few ways that you can set this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n