Hybrid working: how to do it securely and productively
Trusted Advisor for IT & Telecommunications Sourcing
Secure, productive, anywhere: the foundation for hybrid working
How companies make hybrid working secure and productive
From devices and secure access to collaboration: the building blocks that support hybrid working.
Hybrid working has become the new normal in Germany. Around a quarter of employees work at least partly remote. The question is therefore no longer whether people work remotely, but how hybrid working succeeds securely and productively. Well thought-out mobile device management forms the basis, together with secure access and reliable connectivity.
In a nutshell:
- Hybrid working is established: around a quarter of employees in Germany work at least partly remote.
- Without central device management (MDM), security gaps, data risks and high administrative effort arise.
- Secure access needs more than a VPN: SASE and Zero Trust verify every access request based on context.
- Productivity depends on reliable connectivity and collaboration tools, not on the location.
The solution: Hybrid working succeeds when devices, access, connectivity and collaboration are thought of as one system. SAVECALL brings the right building blocks together in a vendor-neutral way.
What this article covers: What hybrid working means today, which four building blocks make it secure and productive, and what matters when selecting the solutions.
What hybrid working means today
Hybrid working has become the new normal in Germany. According to figures from the ifo Institute, around a quarter of employees work at least partly from home, a value that has stabilised at roughly 24 to 25 percent since 2022. The question is therefore no longer whether people work remotely, but how hybrid working succeeds securely, productively and in a legally compliant way. What matters is that four building blocks work together: managing the devices, secure access to applications, reliable connectivity and tools for collaboration. If one of them is missing, friction, security gaps or frustration among employees arise.
Devices under control: MDM and DaaS
As soon as employees work from changing locations, managing the devices becomes a central task. Mobile Device Management (MDM) controls devices, apps and access consistently, enforces security policies and makes it possible to remotely lock or wipe lost or stolen devices. Without this central control, security gaps, data risks and high administrative effort arise. The benefits of MDM range from compliance and data protection to noticeably lower operating costs.
In addition, Device as a Service (DaaS) ensures that teams always have up-to-date devices without high acquisition costs. Devices are provided as needed and can be scaled quickly as the workforce grows. Together with Lifecycle Management, this creates a continuous process from procurement to secure disposal.
Secure access from anywhere: SASE and Zero Trust
Anyone working from anywhere needs secure access to applications and data without unnecessarily opening up the corporate network. A classic VPN is usually no longer enough, because it often grants broad network access instead of selectively releasing individual applications. Modern approaches such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust verify every access request based on context and give users access only to what they actually need. On the network side, a cloud-ready architecture of SD-WAN and SASE ensures that sites and mobile users are connected with equal performance and security.
Connectivity and collaboration
Productivity in hybrid working depends on reliable connectivity and good collaboration tools, not on the location. This includes high-performance mobile and data connections as well as collaboration platforms for chat, video conferencing and file sharing. Transparent telecom expense management keeps ongoing costs under control and prevents unused contracts. This way, hybrid working remains not only secure but also economical.
How SAVECALL supports your hybrid working setup
The individual building blocks of hybrid working only mesh when they are coordinated. SAVECALL does not evaluate individual products in isolation but compares suitable providers for device management, secure access, connectivity and collaboration in a vendor-neutral way and combines them into a coherent overall concept. With access to more than 80 carrier and technology partners, SAVECALL finds the solution that fits your requirements, your security strategy and your budget, from analysis through selection to rollout.
Conclusion
Hybrid working is here to stay. The home-office rate in Germany has stabilised, and flexible models have become a factor in the competition for skilled workers. The difference between a working and a bumpy hybrid model rarely comes down to technology alone, but to whether devices, access, connectivity and collaboration are thought of as one system.
Companies that set up these building blocks cleanly early on win twice: more security and happier, more productive employees. This is precisely where independent advice comes in, advice that knows the market and brings the right solutions together.
Written by
Frank Frommknecht
Key Account Consultant, SAVECALL
Has supported companies for over 20 years in selecting and optimizing their connectivity solutions. His focus: making complex telecommunications understandable from the customer’s perspective and strategically finding the right solution.
Why
Telecom & IT sourcing. Worldwide. Carrier-independent.
Selection & operation of worldwide connectivity & cloud infrastructure. Without vendor risk & unnecessary costs.
- 80+ carriers worldwide
- One point of contact
- One SLA
- One portal: mySAVECALL
- Min. 20% savings
25+
years of experience
40+
Employees
80+
Partner
1400+ Clients
Sources
- ifo Institute: home-office rate in Germany, stable at around 24 to 25 percent (2025)
- Gartner: glossary definition “Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)”, Gartner Inc.
- SAVECALL: Mobile Device Management (MDM)
- SAVECALL: Telecom Expense Management
Frequently asked questions about hybrid working
Hybrid working describes a work model in which employees switch in a planned way between the office, home office and mobile working. It combines the benefits of on-site presence, such as personal exchange and team spirit, with the flexibility of location-independent work. In Germany, hybrid working has become the new normal. For it to work, devices, secure access, reliable connectivity and collaboration tools must work together. The location then no longer determines productivity and security.
According to the ifo Institute, around a quarter of employees in Germany work at least partly from home, a figure that has stabilised at roughly 24 to 25 percent since 2022. One in five job postings offers remote options, and the share is significantly higher in IT-related industries. Hybrid working is therefore no longer a pandemic transitional phenomenon but a permanent part of the labour market. For companies, flexibility has become a factor in the competition for skilled workers.
Mobile devices are secured centrally through Mobile Device Management (MDM). This lets you manage devices, apps and access consistently, enforce security policies and remotely lock or wipe lost or stolen devices. Without central management, security gaps, data risks and high administrative effort arise. Especially when employees work from changing locations, MDM is the backbone for compliance and data protection. SAVECALL selects the right MDM solution in a vendor-neutral way.
A classic VPN is usually no longer enough for hybrid working. It often grants broad network access instead of selectively releasing individual applications. Modern approaches such as SASE and Zero Trust verify every access request based on context and give users access only to what they actually need, regardless of location. This increases security while at the same time reducing complexity. For distributed teams, this approach is significantly more secure and scalable than pure VPN solutions.
DaaS (Device as a Service) provides devices such as laptops and smartphones flexibly through a rental rather than a purchase model. Companies receive up-to-date devices without high acquisition costs and can scale quickly as the workforce grows. Combined with Lifecycle Management, DaaS covers the entire path from procurement to secure disposal. For hybrid teams with a changing headcount, this reduces IT effort and keeps the device fleet current and secure.
SAVECALL supports companies in a vendor-neutral way across all building blocks of hybrid working: device management with MDM and DaaS, secure access via SASE and Zero Trust, connectivity and collaboration. Instead of evaluating individual products in isolation, SAVECALL compares suitable providers based on requirements, security and budget. This creates a coherent overall concept rather than isolated solutions. From analysis through provider selection to rollout, SAVECALL supports the process with access to more than 80 carrier and technology partners.
Articles that might also interest you
Trusted Advisor for IT & Telecommunications Sourcing
What drives you forward – & what drives
Book a free expert consultation
ONE Contact. ALL Carriers.
+FAQ
You ask.
