Connectivity & Infrastructure for Working From Anywhere
Reliable connectivity and digital infrastructure are the foundation of successful remote work.
Whether you are working across borders as an individual or running a distributed team, the right setup determines productivity, security, legal compliance, and long-term sustainability.
This guide covers the essential infrastructure you need to work from anywhere professionally.
Internet Access
Not all countries or cities offer consistent, high-quality internet. Before relocating or approving remote locations, consider:
- Average broadband speeds
- Mobile network coverage (4G/5G)
- Network stability
- Power reliability
- Local ISP quality
Practical recommendations
- Always maintain two independent connections (primary + backup)
- Use local SIM + eSIM for redundancy
- Test speeds before committing to long stays
- Avoid relying solely on public Wi-Fi
Mobile Connectivity & eSIMs
Modern remote workers increasingly rely on eSIM providers for fast setup and global coverage.
Key benefits:
- Instant activation
- No physical SIM cards
- Multiple country profiles
- Predictable pricing
Use cases:
- Short stays
- Backup connection
- Border crossings
- Temporary work locations
VPNs & Network Security
When working internationally, VPNs are essential for:
- Protecting sensitive company data
- Avoiding public Wi-Fi risks
- Accessing company systems
- Meeting corporate security policies
- Bypassing regional service restrictions
What to look for
- No-log policy
- Business plans
- Kill-switch protection
- Multi-country servers
- WireGuard/OpenVPN support
Companies should mandate VPN usage for all remote staff.
Hardware Setup for Remote Work
Essential equipment
- Laptop with long battery life
- External monitor (portable)
- Noise-cancelling headset
- External keyboard & mouse
- Power bank
- Universal power adapter
Optional but valuable
- Portable router
- Ethernet adapter
- Privacy screen
- Hardware security key (example: YubiKey)
Cloud Infrastructure & Collaboration Tools
A professional remote setup depends on cloud-based systems:
Core categories
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)
- Communication (Slack, Teams, Zoom)
- Project management (Notion, Asana, Jira)
- Identity management (SSO, MFA)
- Password management
The use of centralised systems reduces risk and simplifies compliance.
Power Reliability & Backup
In many regions, power outages are common.
Minimum protection:
- Laptop battery buffer
- Power bank
- Surge protector
For long-term stays:
- UPS (uninterruptible power supply)
- Co-working spaces as backup
Co-Working Spaces vs Home Offices
Co-working advantages
- Enterprise-grade internet
- Backup power
- Professional environment
- Networking
- Security
Home office advantages
- Lower cost
- Privacy
- Custom setup
Many professionals use a combination of both.
Compliance & Infrastructure for Employers
Companies allowing international remote work must ensure:
- Secure network access
- Device management policies
- Data protection compliance (GDPR, etc.)
- VPN enforcement
- Endpoint security
- Audit logging
Poor infrastructure planning increases:
- Data breach risk
- Legal exposure
- Downtime
- Insurance costs
Recommended Infrastructure Stack (Baseline)
For individuals:
- Dual internet connections
- eSIM backup
- VPN
- Cloud storage
- Secure password manager
- Portable hardware setup
For companies:
- Corporate VPN
- Device management
- Zero-trust access
- Cloud collaboration stack
- Security training
Related Guides
You may also find useful:
- Remote Work Insurance
- Payroll & Compliance
- Money & Banking Abroad
- Digital Nomad Visas
- Tools for Distributed Teams