Mobile & Remote Access Planning & Management
Remote Access
Remote Access to company data is usually what mobile users want. Once you get mobile access to the internet, you can log into the network infrastructure via Remote Access. There are a couple of ways to do it. If you need access to documents, spreadsheets or presentations the best access is VPN. If you need to run an Industry Application or Database you will need a “remote desktop.” If you want to check e-mail, you can do it through a website.
VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. This allows you to connect to your organization’s internal network through the internet and to get access to the internal network assets. Mobile users can open Word documents, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentations and other files; modify, save and print them.
Remote Desktop
Remote Desktop requires a little more of an investment. There has to be a server with Microsoft Terminal Server installed and dedicated to this function. Once that server has been set up, a mobile user may connect to the internet and run the Remote Desktop Protocol Client or RDP Client. This will allow you to access documents and use industry applications, sales applications and any other types of databases. You connect to a virtual desktop that emulates a computer connected directly to the internal network. The look and feel for your experience is the same as when you work at the office.
Web
Microsoft has created several server products that allow you access to anything you may need over the web. The most popular is Microsoft Outlook Web Access. This product allows a connection through a website to check your e-mail, calendared events and even lets you look up contacts for addresses or phone numbers.
