Telecommuting Programs Make Orgs Lean, Mean, And Green

FAVORABLE WINDS
As we discuss in more depth in our extended report, at greencom puting.informationweek.com, if you're looking to implement or expand telecommuting, the technology trends are moving in your favor. Perhaps the most important enabling development is the availability of broadband Internet connectivity. Not only is broadband obtainable in more areas, but costs have come down and speeds have increased. VPN technology is another critical component that enables telecommuters to work at home with near-seamless access to the same networks and resources that their office-based counterparts use. Cisco and Juniper Networks, along with Aventail, Citrix, F5 Networks, and others, offer a range of systems to ease SSL VPN setup and use. Microsoft acquired Whale Communications in 2006 for its SSL VPN technology and is including this capability in its current Internet Access Gateway and upcoming Forefront Unified Access Gateway products.

Microsoft also has announced a feature called DirectAccess, available on Windows Server 2008 R2 on the back end when used with Windows 7 clients. It provides Windows 7 clients seamless access to corporate resources over the Net without a traditional VPN. One caveat: DirectAccess relies on IPv6, so in addition to adopting Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 clients, you must support IPv6 on your network.

VoIP and emerging unified communications technologies are particularly useful for remote access. By making telecommuters part of the same typical four- or five-digit dialing plan, office workers may not even realize that they're contacting a colleague outside headquarters. You'll realize cost savings by combining voice and data communications on a single broadband connection, eliminating the need to install business phone lines for home workers.

The emergence of Web-based applications also is good news for teleworker programs. As companies deploy internal apps such as e-mail, document management, and ERP on corporate intranets through the browser, they have the perfect application delivery method for their employees working from home. As an added bonus, training costs are reduced because there's really no difference between the user experience when accessing Web-based apps at the office or at home.

Finally, virtualized application delivery platforms, such as Citrix and Windows Terminal Services, are ideal solutions for delivery of corporate apps to remotely connected users.

Business Benefits

Telecommuting provides tangible as well as intangible benefits to worker and organization alike.

Behzad Behtash is an independent IT consultant who previously served as CIO of Tetra Tech EM and VP of systems for AIG Financial Products. Write to him at [email protected].

Photo by Bloomimage/Corbis

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