In a recent BusinessWeek article entitled "Swine Flu Should Prompt Business Checkups", the author stimulates the idea that businesses will need to re-lookat remote access technology in the midst of the H1N1 pandemic:
The virus may also force us to take a hard look (finally) at some of those remote-technology tools that we probably should've deployed a few years ago. With people needing to stay at home to recover from the flu and avoid spreading infection, we'll need to get them connected to the office so checks go out, orders are filled, and customer questions are answered. We'll want to use remote control software (like gotomypc.com and logmein.com) or desktop-sharing software (like glance.net or crossloop.com)—or just finally bite the bullet and a set up a virtual private network. For the first time, we may really have an urgency to put these tools to work this winter.
I'm all for using the appropriate remote access technology, but I would encourage business owners to take time and ask their trusted IT advisors what the right solution may be. It is not just about technology; it is part of business contingency planning. This isn't about Swine Flu; it's about planning for pandemics and other external conditions like severe weather conditions and natural disasters.
On the technology front, if you have already invested in Microsoft solutions like Small Business Server or using firewalls or VPN concentrators from popular vendors like Sonicwall and WatchGuard you already have this sort of technology available. If you don't, rushing out to get low cost solutions may expose your business to unnecessary risk.
Remember that software like GotoMyPC and LogMeIn may require you to make the desktop available to the Internet. This very fact lowers your corporate security posture as a weak password that is shared, stolen or easy guessed means an unauthorized user may be able to login and impersonate a staff member with that user's privilege to sensitive and/or proprietary information. Worse yet, staff that have left your organization who may know a colleagues password will have inside knowledge on what information is important and valuable, and will know how to access it.
So consider complimentary technologies that can reduce this risk to an acceptable level. Back in September I blogged how one of our partners in Hong Kong uses AuthAnvil's strong two-factor authentication (2FA) to add identity assurance to GotoMyPC Professional. You probably already know about our award winning RWWGuard product for Small Business Server and Essential Business Server that adds 2FA right into Remote Web Workplace. And you may have read a previous post about how you can use AuthAnvil's Credential Provider with Microsoft's new DirectAccess technology. And of course, we work with hundreds of VPN solutions already on the market.
My point here is that remote access solutions are extremely valuable, but need to be safeguarded. Consider using 2FA to provide a level of strong authentication and identity assurance so you have the confidence that when staff are accessing corporate information and assets remotely, they are who they say they are. And that they are authorized to access such information.
Talk to your trusted IT advisor. They can help you with this. If you don't have one, let us know. We would be happy to introduce you to one in your local area. And if there isn't one... I would be happy to help you myself.
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