Just a few years ago, choices for remote access were fairly limited. Now companies can choose from Windows NT remote access server (RAS), leased lines, traditional modem banks, Internet access, and virtual private networks to keep employees in the fold. When constructing a remote access solution, two main issues to manage are service and cost.

Service is a combination of factors such as bandwidth, reliability, security, and availability. As with most IT areas, the better the degree of service, the more expensive the project. In some cases, employees will need robust access to mission critical applications and other network resources. Others may seek nothing more than E-mail or Intranet access.

Technology choices are basically either direct connections or indirect use through another company's resources. Direct connections traditionally have been modem banks and leased lines. These are best suited for people who are not at the main facility, but are stationary and reasonably close. Telecommuters generally can use a modem and phone line because the connections generally are lower-cost ones from employee residential lines. This can be especially effective using V.90 56 kbps modems, such as U.S. Robotics' x2 brand.

One challenge with direct connections comes if you increase the distance between the user and the network or the user becomes mobile. Long-distance dial-up access can be expensive, especially from a hotel, and it greatly decreases the reliability of a connection. Those on the road probably are better off with some form of Internet access. The same may be true for a remote office that is far enough removed to make a leased line unreasonably expensive. Using the Internet involves an entirely different range of decisions. For mobile users, it is critical to select an ISP with a range of dial-up numbers covering the territory. Regional providers may offer better pricing, but if operations extend beyond a certain geographic region, the company might have to manage multiple vendor relationships.

ISPs are also involved with choosing virtual private networks, or VPNs, which offer secure connections between facilities through common data carriers. VPNs promise a true local network feel for remote sites. Successful implementation, however, depends on choosing a provider with a network backbone that extends to both the central and remote locations. Otherwise, the provider is not in control of the connection and cannot guarantee quality of service, a situation that can rapidly translate into degraded performance and frustrated users.

One reason for the rising interest in VPNs is reduced cost through outsourcing. Maintaining modem banks and dial-in lines is an expensive proposition, both in equipment and support expenses. By partnering with ISPs, a company can off-load those tasks, and improve service while reducing expenses. Whatever your choice, keeping the mobile users in touch is important in improving the effectiveness of an increasingly remote workforce.