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It’s like you never left the office
I got an e-mail from a colleague who manages the computer systems for the
publisher of the newspaper that is currently in front of you. If you’re reading
it online, he has his hands in that end of it, too. This is truly a full-time
job, a never-ending battle to meet deadlines while preventing users from
crashing the system.
He expressed an interest in streamlining the office environment, and wanted to
allow certain tasks to be completed by workers at remote locations. Many
companies are exploring alternatives to the traditional production and document
management systems currently in place in their offices. This is a trend that has
been quietly spreading throughout the business community. Check around your
office and see how many typewriters or adding machines you can find. Analog
information management is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
In the Information Age, businesses can easily be run without the usual reams of
documents and hordes of employees. E-mails and IMs can take the place of
conventional correspondence. Sales personnel can spend a greater portion of
their time on the road. Diverse tasks, from copy generation to fulfillment to
customer service, can either be outsourced or managed from remote locations,
frequently using the company’s existing computer systems.
That’s where my e-mail picked up, asking for my thoughts on the remote
networking solutions currently available, with an eye toward maintaining the
safety and integrity of the system at all times. Remember that every time you
allow a user onto your network from outside, you increase the chances of an
uninvited guest dropping in and fiddling with your information.
I mentioned in my reply that the market contained a number of remote networking
solutions with which I was only vaguely familiar. Large companies and networks
routinely establish large virtual private networks, or VPNs, which use the
public facilities of the Internet as a framework for their private
multi-location networking needs. This is an excellent concept for larger
networks, but a bit steep for small and medium-sized businesses.
Instead, I mentioned a couple of remote-access methods that I had either worked
with myself or had close association with through a user.
Big benefits to business
Before we get into those ideas, let’s have a look at the benefits that a remote
access solution can hold for normal everyday users like you.
Right off the bat, remote access minimizes the chances of leaving that
critically important file at home on the day of your big presentation. If you
find yourself without a good copy, you can jump right onto your computer from
wherever you are and get whatever you need.
Telecommuters are people who avoid that long drive into metropolitan offices by
performing their everyday tasks on a home computer connected to their office
system. Students away at school can maintain contact with their home network to
access resources, consult archives of completed assignments, and look for MP3s
they forgot to load onto their iPod.
You can see that connectivity of this level holds tangible benefits in real
life, from savings on gasoline and clothing to the inner peace that only someone
who avoids rush-hour traffic can appreciate. If a worldwide gateway to your
music stash sounds like a good thing, here are two ways you can implement your
own remote access system.
Symantec keeps it simple
Symantec PCAnywhere has always been my solution of choice for simple remote
access applications for three good reasons. It is inexpensive, it is secure, and
it is easy to use, even for users who are less technically inclined. It can be
installed quickly and be running in minutes, offering an on-demand connection
between computers.
Powerful security and encryption features make intrusion issues highly unlikely,
protecting your connection and your data. Cross-platform capabilities allow
connections between Windows users and computers running Mac OSX Universal or
Linux. Even some Microsoft Pocket PC systems can gain access. Well-suited for
smaller businesses, the PCAnywhere solution costs less than $200 per user. Read
all about it at www.symantec.com .
GoTo: like sitting at your own PC
I called a friend who I knew had used a service called GoToMyPC effectively, to
see if he still liked it, and to get his thoughts on the overall experience. I
had a hard time ending the call as he continued to effervesce over the countless
benefits of this web-based remote access solution for road warriors of his
ancient pedigree.
He has been doing it for years, hooking into his office network from the cab of
a flatbed parked outside any public Hot Spot he can find. He distilled the
experience far better than I could ever describe it, saying, “You long onto the
web, go to their website, enter your ID and password, and all of a sudden you’re
sitting at your own computer.”
Setup is fairly straightforward. You install the GoToMYPC software on the host
computer and leave it connected to the Internet. When you get to your remote
location, you are a few mouse clicks away from your home computer – even if you
are on another continent.
Single-user setup is affordable, under $20 per month. Larger systems can also be
accommodated, with the per-user price dropping as membership increases.
According to testimonials on the website, some fairly large companies have
solved their remote access issues simply and easily using GoToMyPC.
Even better, it offers online tech support that can help isolate you from
clueless end users who just stand slack-jawed at your desk waiting for you to
solve their problems for them. This feature alone could be worth the monthly
cost. If you dig around the website, you can even find a toll-free number for
the support department.
GoToMyPC offers a free trial of the system at its website,
www.gotomypc.com . It is quick and easy to
set up, and in a few minutes you can begin to determine if the service will work
efficiently in your situation. A few clicks and a credit card number later and
you will be in business, wherever you are.
There are other solutions to the remote access question, including a utility
bundled into Windows. Additionally, commercial services are available to fill
your accessibility requirements, managing everything from setup to tech support
for a fee. The latter option can get pricey in a hurry.
For now, PCAnywhere is still my first choice for simple remote access solutions,
since I usually only need to access one computer, and that need occurs quite
infrequently. Larger networks or users with more specific needs may find other
solutions more effective in their individual situations.
If you have set up your own remote access system, I would love to hear from you.
Tell me your story in an e-mail to
granese@juno.com .
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