* [Blog](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog)
* [Palo Alto Networks](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/)
* [Points of View](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/points-of-view/)
* The New Hybrid Workforce

# The New Hybrid Workforce

[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F01%2Fsase-hybrid-workforce%2F)  
[](https://twitter.com/share?text=The+New+Hybrid+Workforce&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F01%2Fsase-hybrid-workforce%2F)  
[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2021%2F01%2Fsase-hybrid-workforce%2F&title=The+New+Hybrid+Workforce&summary=&source=)  
[](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/01/sase-hybrid-workforce/&ts=markdown)  
\[\](mailto:?subject=The New Hybrid Workforce)  
Link copied  
By [Don Meyer](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/don-meyer/?ts=markdown "Posts by Don Meyer")  
Jan 06, 2021  
3 minutes  
[Points of View](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/points-of-view/?ts=markdown)  
[Use-Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/use-cases/?ts=markdown)  
[CloudGenix SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/cloudgenix-sd-wan/?ts=markdown)  
[Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/prisma-access/?ts=markdown)  
[remote access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/remote-access/?ts=markdown)  
[remote work](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/remote-work/?ts=markdown)  
[SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/sase/?ts=markdown)

This post is also available in: [日本語 (Japanese)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/01/sase-hybrid-workforce/?lang=ja "Switch to Japanese(日本語)")

![Representing the hybrid workforce with an image of a woman's face reflected in a computer screen, superimposed over tiles from a video call.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/work-from-anywhere.png)The start of a new year is traditionally a time for reflection: fondly looking back on the year that was while attempting to predict what could be in the coming year. This past year was challenging in so many ways that it's difficult to identify much to fondly look back upon. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't highlight one area that I have been grateful for -- the tech that enabled so many of us to shift to working from home.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic necessitated multitudes of employees once confined to their corporate campuses to suddenly be [enabled to work remotely](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/remote-security). The pandemic also accelerated the move to digital transformation, requiring IT and cybersecurity teams to ensure that infrastructure and resources essential for work remain available and secure. And these changes do not appear to be temporary.

Poll after poll confirms that the way we work and conduct business has changed for good. In fact, a recent [Pew Research](https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/12/09/how-the-coronavirus-outbreak-has-and-hasnt-changed-the-way-americans-work/?utm_source=adaptivemailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20-12-9%20culture%20of%20work%20-%20general%20release&org=982&lvl=100&ite=7586&lea=1675348&ctr=0&par=1&trk=) poll indicates that 90% of people interviewed "do not want to go back to the office full time, even once it's safe to do so." Even the vast [majority of IT decision-makers](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonwingard/2020/06/25/the-remote-office-is-the-new-normal-3-reasons-leaders-are-shifting-strategy/#4c9577cf1e33) expect remote work "to remain in place long term or permanently."

Hybrid workforces are now the new normal, forcing companies to retool their networking and security infrastructures to not only make corporate resources available 24/7 but also deliver an optimal user experience to their remote workforces. However, the rush to support all these newly enabled remote employees and new ways of doing business has exposed significant limitations in legacy systems that were never designed for [rapid scale](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2020/04/network-secure-access/) nor to deliver consistent security and an optimal experience everywhere.

Legacy systems and point-product solutions cobbled together to solve for premises-based requirements do not work for the new hybrid workforce. A new model is required to securely enable today's increasingly [remote workforce](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/secure-remote-workforces), one that delivers consistent security and an optimal experience regardless of where users are located or which applications they access. To describe this model, [Gartner](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/sase-the-future-of-network-security.html) coined the term [SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-sase) -- a Secure Access Services Edge -- to align networking and security to emerging business and employee needs.

Palo Alto Networks [Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/access) and [CloudGenix SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cloudgenix-sd-wan) transform networking and security to deliver the industry's most comprehensive cloud-native SASE so organizations can easily support the dynamic secure access needs of their hybrid workforces. Learn more on our informative and interactive webinar, "[Securing Today's Work-From-Anywhere World](https://register.paloaltonetworks.com/securingworkfromanywhere)." Get valuable tips on how to enable today's work-from-anywhere workforce and achieve consistent security with an optimal user experience for all users and locations.

*Donald Meyer, director of product marketing at Palo Alto Networks, has more than 19 years of networking and security industry experience. In his current role, Meyer is responsible for the Palo Alto Networks SASE security portfolio.*

*** ** * ** ***

## Related Blogs

### [Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cybersecurity-2/?ts=markdown), [Education](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/education/?ts=markdown), [Points of View](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/points-of-view/?ts=markdown), [Use-Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/use-cases/?ts=markdown)

[#### Why Hackers Like Your Remote Access and What You Can Do About It](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/06/why-hackers-like-your-remote-access/)

### [Company \& Culture](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/company-culture/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/product-features/?ts=markdown)

[#### Elevate SASE Security for Remote Locations With Free Micro-Credentials](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/04/sase-micro-credentials/)

### [5G Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/5g-security/?ts=markdown), [IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/iot-security/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Points of View](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/points-of-view/?ts=markdown)

[#### Network Security: Predictions for 2021](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/01/network-security-predictions/)

### [Secure the Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/secure-the-cloud/?ts=markdown), [Secure the Enterprise](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/secure-the-enterprise/?ts=markdown), [Use-Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/use-cases/?ts=markdown)

[#### Working from Home During COVID-19: Secure Access for Remote Workers](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2020/04/network-secure-access/)

### [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### Secure Your App-Verse with Prisma Access Private Application Security](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/secure-your-app-verse-with-prisma-access-private-application-security/)

### [Cloud-delivered Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/cloud-delivered-security/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown), [Zero Trust Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/zero-trust-security/?ts=markdown)

[#### Prisma Access \& Cloud Dynamic User Groups Find Risky Users](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/prisma-access-cloud-dynamic-user-groups-find-risky-users/)

### Subscribe to the Blog!

Sign up to receive must-read articles, Playbooks of the Week, new feature announcements, and more.
![spinner](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/themes/panwblog2023/dist/images/ajax-loader.gif) Sign up  
Please enter a valid email.  
By submitting this form, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown) and acknowledge our [Privacy Statement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown). Please look for a confirmation email from us. If you don't receive it in the next 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.  
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply.  
{#footer} {#footer}

## Products and Services

* [AI-Powered Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security?ts=markdown)

* [Secure AI by Design](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/precision-ai-security/secure-ai-by-design?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-ai-runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI Access Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/ai-access-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Delivered Security Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/security-subscriptions?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced Threat Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-threat-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced URL Filtering](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-url-filtering?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced WildFire](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-wildfire?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced DNS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-dns-security?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise Data Loss Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/enterprise-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Medical IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Industrial OT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/next-generation-firewall?ts=markdown)

* [Hardware Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/hardware-firewall-innovations?ts=markdown)

* [Software Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/software-firewalls?ts=markdown)

* [Strata Cloud Manager](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/strata-cloud-manager?ts=markdown)

* [SD-WAN for NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/sd-wan-subscription?ts=markdown)

* [PAN-OS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/pan-os?ts=markdown)

* [Panorama](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/panorama?ts=markdown)

* [Secure Access Service Edge](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Application Acceleration](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/app-acceleration?ts=markdown)

* [Autonomous Digital Experience Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/adem?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise DLP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/access?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Browser](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/prisma-browser?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/sd-wan?ts=markdown)

* [Remote Browser Isolation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/remote-browser-isolation?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven Security Operations Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Application Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/application-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Posture Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/cloud-posture-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Runtime Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven SOC](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XDR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xdr?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSOAR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsoar?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Xpanse](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xpanse?ts=markdown)

* [Unit 42 Managed Detection \& Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-detection-and-response?ts=markdown)

* [Managed XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Threat Intel and Incident Response Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42?ts=markdown)

* [Proactive Assessments](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/assess?ts=markdown)

* [Incident Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/respond?ts=markdown)

* [Transform Your Security Strategy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/transform?ts=markdown)

* [Discover Threat Intelligence](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/threat-intelligence-partners?ts=markdown)

## Company

* [About Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us?ts=markdown)
* [Careers](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/)
* [Contact Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/contact-sales?ts=markdown)
* [Corporate Responsibility](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility?ts=markdown)
* [Customers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/customers?ts=markdown)
* [Investor Relations](https://investors.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Location](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/locations?ts=markdown)
* [Newsroom](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/newsroom?ts=markdown)

## Popular Links

* [Blog](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/?ts=markdown)
* [Communities](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/communities?ts=markdown)
* [Content Library](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources?ts=markdown)
* [Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown)
* [Event Center](https://events.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Manage Email Preferences](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/preference-center)
* [Products A-Z](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/products-a-z?ts=markdown)
* [Product Certifications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center/compliance?ts=markdown)
* [Report a Vulnerability](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/security-disclosure?ts=markdown)
* [Sitemap](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sitemap?ts=markdown)
* [Tech Docs](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://panwedd.exterro.net/portal/dsar.htm?target=panwedd)
  ![PAN logo](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/pan-logo-dark.svg)
* [Privacy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown)
* [Trust Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center?ts=markdown)
* [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown)
* [Documents](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal?ts=markdown)

Copyright © 2026 Palo Alto Networks. All Rights Reserved

* [![Youtube](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/youtube-black.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/paloaltonetworks)
* [![Podcast](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/images/icons/podcast.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/podcasts/threat-vector?ts=markdown)
* [![Facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/facebook-black.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/PaloAltoNetworks/)
* [![LinkedIn](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/linkedin-black.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks)
* [![Twitter](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/twitter-x-black.svg)](https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks)
* EN  
  Select your language