System Support

What’s all that about?

 

Put simply these terms all refer to the ability to be able to carry out your computer based work from virtually anywhere you choose.

 

With the advent of the low cost communication technologies such as broadband, no longer is work required to be undertaken in the confines of the office and this new technology is revolutionising the way business’s operate.

 

But it's not just about working from home: remote working enables various types of workers - from nurses to sales people to parents with young children to use technology such as mobile and smart phones, wireless internet hotspots and VPN software to get on with work regardless of their location.

 

Remote working offers particular benefits to workers who spend a lot of time commuting to meetings, or those who live a long way from the office or who are usually mobile and just use the office as a base.

 

It also allows you to be far more flexible with the staff that you employee and help meet Employment Legislation for Flexible Working.

 

There are also many cost benefits including significant reductions in fixed operating costs resulting from a decrease in office space requirements. A reduction in time wasted in commuting. The opportunity to improve customer service by making personnel accessible outside the normal core office working hours.

 

 

But how do you harness this power?

 

Many of our customers simply want the ability to just access their e-mail remotely and there are a number of ways this can be achieved utilising your mobile phone or PDA’s.

 

Remote Desktop Access

 

The next level might be to access all the services available from your office based computer remotely. This is known as Remote Desktop Access which is a relatively low cost solution replicating the image you see on your desktop monitor from any remote location. The benefits are it is quick and easy to implement, you can access information stored locally on your office PC and also on the server but is does require your office based desktop to be permanently switched on and ready for access.

 

Virtrual Private Network (VPN)

Moving further up the technology scale we could implement a Virtrual Private Network (VPN). This effectively allows you to connect to your office based network from any remote location just as if you were another PC on your network. This removes the need to have your office PC permanently switched on as it relies on being able to access the server. The benefits are improved performance and security albeit at a slightly higher cost.

 

The use of VPN technologies will also allow you to link company offices at different locations thereby providing a single seamless company network or ‘corporate intranet’.

 

Security

 

However there are many considerations not least of which is security.

 

Home computer systems and portable computers connecting from remote locations to the Internet or other networks across the Internet are increasingly vulnerable to external attack from the Internet. The growing threat of worms & viruses and attempts by others to illegally gain access to your computers makes it more important than ever for you to ensure that your desktop and portable computers are as secure as possible. Although it is possible to provide protection from virus, worms and intruders, it still raises the issue of how secure these are and how to control access to confidential company information.

 

Of course help is at hand. We can steer you away from the potential pitfalls and implement the most appropriate solution for your business.

 

We will ensure you have a solution that utilises ‘best of breed’ industry practices and that also one that meets your business goals and of course budget.