In the last issue, we looked at the reasons why remote working is currently a hot topic. The most obvious benefit is that users at home or on the road can gain full access to your company network. But there are wider possibilities, too, that can be particularly significant for small to medium-sized businesses.
Once you enable users to do the same things, whether they're in the office or not, you don't necessarily have to think about 'the office' at all. Your authorised users, whether full-time staff, freelancers or associates, can work and communicate wherever they may be. THUS calls this 'presence-independent services and access'.
Recipe for success
THUS can supply and implement all of the various components that may be involved in enabling remote working. One of the most important is secure access. This is ideally implemented by operating a VPN (virtual private network) over an IP-based network, and THUS is a leading provider of this type of service. Using THUS solutions, a worker with a laptop computer can log in either using dedicated client software or through a web browser. Access is restricted by username and password or a physical hardware token which, combined with a user PIN, offers extremely strong protection against unauthorised access. Each worker can be assigned access privileges only to relevant systems.
Access relies on a physical connection of some kind, and here there's a growing range of options. Offices and homes can be equipped with cost-effective ADSL broadband working at speeds of up to 8Mbps, providing a single, affordable access point for all services. In circumstances where a wired connection isn't possible, for example while travelling, THUS can enable your users to take advantage of the latest wireless facilities.
Within range of a public access point - now being set up by many city councils as well as cafés and transport terminals - a laptop can make a standard WiFi connection. Unfortunately, different hotspots have different operators, meaning the user may have to juggle several subscriptions with different tariffs. THUS has addressed this with a unique combination of features based on the iPass system. Your company buys bundled minutes which are valid for most hotspot providers, so each user can log on whenever and wherever a connection is available, at a single preset rate. For smaller enterprises, per-user bundles are available with very affordable monthly fees, allowing you to get your staff mobile without heavy up-front costs.
To cater for locations without WiFi, a 3G data card allows access via the Vodafone network, now supporting broadband speeds where available. Outside 3G reception, the connection will drop back to conventional GPRS data transfer, making access possible from almost anywhere. BlackBerry® devices can also be integrated, whether used directly to access services or as a modem to connect a laptop via GPRS or 3G (according to model).
All together now
An important element of today's business networking is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), which allows voice calls to be routed digitally over your data connection. This requires only a modest investment in new equipment, such as VoIP handsets, and can bring immediate cost savings: for example, all calls within your network will be free of charge. VoIP can also improve your communications and responsiveness, because each user's telephone extension is no longer tied to a specific location, such as their desk. If they log in from a laptop, their calls follow them, without any special forwarding arrangement being required.
When it comes to data, THUS can help integrate your existing applications with remote working solutions and set up new ones to exploit the capabilities. Through its relationship with Attenda, Europe's leading specialist in operating Internet and enterprise applications, THUS can work with customers to manage applications such as SAP®, Citrix® and Exchange®. If your needs are simpler, we can advise on configuring office and email software and storage for remote sharing.
Multiple choices
Exactly what presence-independent working can do for you will depend on the nature of your business. That's where the flexibility of THUS' approach comes in. Rather than choosing between off-the-shelf packages, customers can specify just the capabilities they need.