Building an at-home office in the 21st century

With advances in cloud computing, mobile and wireless technology, the traditional view of a home office consisting of a comfy chair, ample desk space and mountains of paper is a bit outdated. These days, the heart of many at-home offices is simply the PC.

For many home offices, a laptop or desktop computer is the only essential item, as it enables employees to access work documents, programs, email and other needs. If the corporate office has implemented some sort of virtualization, the employee can also access the office printer and other technologies directly from home.

A WiFi connection is a near-necessity. This allows the employee to work from the living room, the bedroom and even the kitchen if so desired. It also enables the worker to connect several devices, including laptops, tablets and smartphones, to one network wirelessly.

For those looking for a little more freedom, working from home has several benefits. Dress codes are more lax, and employees can save on commute costs and determine their own hours. Businesses can save on workspace and the amount of equipment needed. According to a study from research firm IDC, the mobile workforce surpassed 1 billion in 2010. As companies and employees continue to recognize the advantages of working from home, this figure is expected to grow.