"Remote Access" refers to technology which allows Users to connect to your company's LAN from outside. 

Remote Access Users connect to the LAN via standard telephone connections or over the Internet via a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Once connected, Users can access network resources just as if they were in the office, albeit slower depending on their connection rate and method.  This is often referred to as "Telecommuting" in that it allows Users to do their work at the office without having to be physically in the office and without having to face the horrendous traffic into Port-of-Spain or San Fernando.

When a standard telephone connection is used, the Client or User basically places a 'data' phone call with his computer's modem to the company's Remote Access Server on the LAN.  This is done over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) such as that provided by TSTT .  This means that a staff member can connect from anywhere there is a telephone. Though it is quite flexible, there are a couple of downsides to this method of connection.  Firstly it incurs the cost of a telephone call for the length of time connected.  If you're connecting to an office in Curepe from a St. Augustine residence then it would only cost 23 cents as would a normal phone call.  However, if you're connecting from Paris it would cost as much as an international call.  Also, data transfer rates would be limited to 56 Kbps which may result in a slow user experience and could frustrate the user depending on the task he is trying to accomplish over the connection.  Finally, since this method is much like a telephone call, you would need a separate telephone number and line to support every live (concurrent) incoming connection to the office LAN.

When a VPN connection is used, both parties (i.e. the Client/User and the office's Remote Access Server) must have a live Internet connection as it is the Internet's IP network which acts as the basis for communication.  Once the Internet connection is established on both ends, the User then places an IP call to the Remote Access Server and a secure VPN tunnel is established to the LAN.  This method allows more than 200 users from anywhere in the world to connect over a single IP connection.  The speed of data transfer is only limited by the speed of the Internet connection on either end.  The downside to this method is that the connection can only be established by clients who have some form of Internet access.  Even though one can connect to the Internet over dial-up, it should be noted that VPNs over telephone dial-up Internet connections are even more painfully slow than direct Remote Access through standard dial-up.

Zandolie Networking can setup either or both types of connections with standard Windows software or with separate Remote Access devices. Though hardware device solutions are normally more robust they are also more expensive and add a layer of complexity to your network which might be unnecessary depending on your company's needs.  We can also train staff  to easily use remote access technology, thereby increasing worker productivity and allowing your company to reap the benefits of Telecommuting.