 |
 |
 |
|
The line between home and office is blurring for millions of employees who work at least part of the time outside the office — typically right in their own homes. The reasons are compelling, given the clear ties between employee productivity, satisfaction and retention, and the flexibility and responsibility provided by telecommuting. Plus small businesses can save significant overhead in reduced parking and office space expenses.
 The trend toward telecommuting is also a product of necessity, with the increasing need for 24 x 7 financial services, technical support and retail transactions. Legally, companies use teleworking to ease compliance with legislation such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Furthermore, telecommuting enables employers and their staff to lessen the impact of disruption due to catastrophic events, power outages or natural disasters such as hurricanes.
Shrinking the grid
Advances in Internet technology are breaking down the barriers to telecommuting by bringing new levels of flexibility and response capability. Specifically:
• Most desktop computers and notebooks now carry ample broadband Internet connectivity. And with Bluetooth® technologies and wireless peripherals like cordless mice and printers, setting up a field office requires little effort.
• Expanded e-mail message capacity enables more data to be transferred in near real time.
• An Intranet provides outside employees a secure window into a company's "private" Web space, where access to confidential company information can be password restricted.
• Teleworkers are using multimedia and collaborative applications — such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), videoconferencing, instant messaging and file sharing — that reduce the business need for face-to-face communication.
• Companies are also employing server-based strategies, with data and applications stored inside the company firewall, to reduce security risks and increase resource availability to teleworkers.
Three ways to secure teleworking resources
But with telecommuting comes several added risks. When a mobile or home-based employee remotely accesses the company network, for instance, other entities may try to "piggyback" or exploit the opening. To secure remote connections conducted over the Web, companies can use virtual private networks (VPNs), dynamic password authentication and endpoint security.
Companies that implement a VPN must use either Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technologies. The choice is a matter of security versus flexibility. Because an IPsec VPN enables a full connection between a remote computer and a company's network, flexibility is high; but security may be compromised by network threats residing on remote computers. IPsec is the most popular and least expensive type of VPN, but also more difficult to manage. On the other hand, SSL VPN is session-based, offers more granular security and allows IT to have tighter control over access rules.
Already a standard security process, authentication requires remote users to supply a valid logon ID and password. Authentication systems using dynamic passwords take the process one step further by requiring a unique password with each logon. Dynamic passwords can be created with automatic password generators, such as RSA Security's SecurID®, installed on a user's laptop. To connect to the network, a teleworker first enters a personal identification number (PIN) into an RSA SecurID pop-up window. A new, "dynamic" authorization number is generated and displayed, and the user enters that number and submits the logon. After being authenticated by the RSA server residing on the company network, the teleworker is given access. The dynamic password is usually valid for only one minute or so, reducing the chance of users sharing or recording it. Most VPN systems support RSA authentication.
Teleworkers can inadvertently risk exploitation by connecting to unsecured networks or permitting others to use their equipment. To counter these risks, endpoint security systems shift the focus to an employee's endpoint device — such as the notebook, handheld or smartphone in use — verifying its security status before network access is given. Advanced endpoint security applications reside on the network as a gateway-level appliance and can confirm whether the computer attempting to connect is running appropriate, up-to-date security software, whether that software is up to date and whether all required patches are in place.
As the teleworking trend continues to gain traction, be sure your organization has the security software and infrastructure in place to handle increased vulnerabilities. Only then can your employees take their work home with them without jeopardizing company resources.
%%d_amdefault_cta%%
<< BACK TO TOP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lenovo ThinkPad® T60
Built-in durability protects against bumps and drops, Bluetooth® keeps you well connected with colleagues, and Intel-powered processing brings peak efficiency to your home office
CDW 1073492
LEARN MORE >>
Canon PIXMA® iP90
Print reports, memos and other documents from home or office in professional clarity and bold, crisp text
CDW 731227
LEARN MORE >>
Logitech® V450 Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks
Telework longer and in more places with extended battery life, wireless capacity and all-terrain tracking
CDW 1023268
LEARN MORE >>
|
|
|
|
Account Manager
%%d_amdefault_ambox%%
|
|
|
