Remote and hybrid work have transitioned from emergency measures to enduring elements of labour markets. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that 35.5 million people worked from home for pay in the first quarter of 2024, accounting for 22.9 percent of those employed (Source: bls.gov). At the same time, the Office of Personnel Management reported that telework eligibility among federal workers rose to 57 percent, yet the share of employees teleworking fell to 43 percent (Source: opm.gov).
In Great Britain, the Office for National Statistics observed that about 28 percent of working adults were hybrid workers in autumn 2024 (Source: ons.gov.uk). These data underscore that flexible work arrangements are becoming a fixture for many organizations and employees, prompting investment in tools that enable secure mobile access.
Variations in adoption reflect cultural, economic, and policy factors. Telework participation in the United States expanded quickly during the pandemic but has moderated as some employers bring staff back to offices for supervision and collaboration. In the United Kingdom, hybrid work has stabilized, partly because broadband infrastructure supports remote tasks and workers value autonomy and timesavings. These contrasts illustrate that flexible work is not a one‑size‑fits‑all phenomenon; organizations must balance productivity, oversight, and employee well‑being when designing telework policies.
Understanding Telework Patterns across Roles and Education Levels
Not all workers participate equally in remote or hybrid work. BLS data show that telework correlates with education and job type. In early 2024, 43.6 percent of workers with advanced degrees and 38.4 percent of those with bachelor’s degrees teleworked, while only 8.5 percent of high school graduates and 3.5 percent of workers without a high school diploma did so.
Telework was concentrated in management and professional roles (34.8 percent) and was rare in service or production occupations. Within professional fields, computer and mathematical jobs exhibited telework rates around 65 percent. In the United Kingdom, hybrid work was more prevalent among older workers, managers, and those with degrees. These patterns show that remote work is especially viable for knowledge‑intensive occupations and underscore the need for secure mobility solutions that support diverse roles.
How Remote Work Impacts Productivity, Costs, and Efficiency
Research suggests that remote work can improve productivity and lower costs. A BLS analysis found that a one-percentage‑point increase in the share of remote workers corresponded to a 0.08 percentage‑point rise in total factor productivity and a 0.1 percentage‑point decrease in unit labor cost growth. It is also related to reductions in capital services and office space cost growth. These relationships suggest that flexible work can enhance efficiency by reducing overhead. However, digital divides persist; employees without reliable internet or private workspaces may be excluded from these benefits. Employers must thus provide tools that secure data, foster productivity, and ensure equitable access.
What Is Virtual Mobile Infrastructure?
Virtual Mobile Infrastructure addresses many challenges of flexible work. VMI runs mobile operating systems and applications on secure servers and streams the interface to a thin client on a personal device. Because no enterprise data is stored on the physical device (only images and inputs are transmitted), security controls remain centralized, and compliance with data protection regulations is easier. This architecture aligns with zero‑trust security principles by authenticating every session and monitoring activity. VMI also supports Bring Your Own Device policies without invasive management software and can deliver enterprise mobile applications across a variety of hardware.
According to Kings Research, the global virtual mobile infrastructure market size is projected to reach USD 286.3 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.90% from 2023 to 2030.
How Companies Are Advancing Virtual Mobile Infrastructure Solutions
Several companies have advanced VMI solutions. Hypori’s cloud‑based platform has gained traction in the U.S. defense sector. In August 2024, the company announced a US$4.1 million contract with the Department of the Air Force and Space Force to provide 10,000 licenses and build a secure environment in Amazon Web Services GovCloud. The program gives users one‑app access to mission systems and eliminates the need for Common Access Card readers. A subsequent US$12 million contract renewal with the U.S. Army will support 50,000 users and migrate the service to a software‑as‑a‑service environment, demonstrating government confidence in VMI. Hypori continued its momentum with a US$12 million Series B extension in January 2025, signaling investor belief in the scalability of zero‑trust BYOD programs.
Symmetrium offers another approach. In July 2024, the company announced that its platform manages mobile access and web filtering at the IP layer without using virtual private networks. It hosts virtual mobile devices with static IP addresses inside corporate networks and filters traffic at the IP level. This design allows enterprises to restrict access to a narrow range of addresses and separate work and personal activity. Such diversity in implementation reflects varying regulatory and operational needs; some organizations prefer cloud‑hosted environments while others favor on‑premises control.
Beyond the public sector, vendors are extending VMI into financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries. Features such as remote biometrics, secure web browsing, and digital document signing are being integrated into VMI platforms to support tasks ranging from loan approvals to telemedicine consultations. Vendors are also expanding compatibility across different operating systems and devices, recognizing that BYOD policies encompass smartphones, tablets, and laptops. These developments suggest that VMI is evolving from a niche solution for defense and government into a broader enterprise mobility platform.
What Advantages and Limitations VMI Brings to Organizations
For organizations, VMI offers device‑agnostic Bring Your Own Device policies, appealing to knowledge workers in occupations where telework is most prevalent. VMI can reduce hardware acquisition and management costs and strengthen compliance by keeping data within controlled environments; the BLS linkage between remote work and lower unit labor and capital cost growth suggests that such savings may offset investments in virtualization platforms.
Public agencies provide evidence of these savings: the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported that telework generates cost reductions in commuting and transit and is increasingly linked to benefits in recruitment, retention, and reduced spending on office space. Implementing VMI can amplify these gains by allowing organizations to consolidate devices and minimize space requirements for device storage and maintenance. VMI also advances zero‑trust security. Hypori’s deployment on IL5 AWS GovCloud and Symmetrium’s IP‑level controls show how data remains within secure environments.
However, there are trade‑offs. Streaming a virtual interface requires reliable connectivity; employees in areas with limited broadband may experience latency. Integration with legacy systems can be complex, and workers may resist shifting from native applications to virtual interfaces. Clear communication about privacy protections and the personal benefits of reduced commuting can support adoption. Regulatory demands vary across jurisdictions, so organizations must choose between cloud‑based and on‑premises solutions that fit local data sovereignty laws.
Conclusion
Remote and hybrid work are now embedded in labor markets. U.S. data show that almost one quarter of employees teleworked in early 2024, with higher rates among workers with advanced degrees. About 28 percent of workers in Great Britain follow hybrid schedules, with managers and degree holders particularly likely to do so. Studies associate remote work with higher productivity and lower costs. These dynamics create strong incentives to invest in secure mobile work solutions.
Virtual Mobile Infrastructure is well positioned to meet these demands. By separating enterprise applications from physical devices, VMI provides a secure, flexible environment for accessing corporate systems. Hypori’s deployments with the U.S. Air Force and Army indicate that VMI can meet stringent security requirements while delivering convenience and Symmetrium’s approach shows that VMI can be tailored for on‑premises deployment.
Investment in VMI is increasing, suggesting confidence in its role within zero‑trust strategies. For industry players and stakeholders, the challenge is to implement VMI in ways that maintain productivity, protect data, and ensure equitable access. As the nature of work continues to evolve, Virtual Mobile Infrastructure offers a promising path toward secure and flexible digital workplaces.
