The ability to share applications and data between offices and allow remote access to corporate systems is now becoming a necessity. Whether you want to increase productivity, provide more flexible working arrangements for your staff or improve communication links with suppliers, business partners and customers, remote access is essential to your organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness.

For many organisations, providing secure remote access can be a daunting task, especially when it involves connecting a dispersed user base from a multitude of devices to a broad range of corporate resources. How do you ensure any information transmitted across the internet remains private? How can you be certain that the person accessing the information is who they say they are? What if your remote workers are connecting to the service from untrusted devices such as a home PC or public internet kiosk?

A managed Virtual Private Network (VPN) from ntl:Telewest Business combines easy to use and secure remote access solutions with established links over our next generation core network, enabling you to take full advantage of the internet to enhance business communications.

Why do I need a managed VPN?

Combining internet, intranet and extranet connectivity through a single remote access solution enables you to reduce the cost and complexity of operating multiple networks and free up valuable IT resources. As such, a VPN offers an attractive alternative to traditional Wide Area Networks (WANs).

By enabling staff, no matter where they are based, to connect to a single integrated network, you can boost your operational efficiency, allow information to flow more freely and offer employees more flexible working arrangements.

When disaster strikes, a Remote Access solution can help ensure that critical components of the business can continue to function. In the event of a major disruption, call centre staff can be redeployed to work effectively from an alternative location to maintain business continuity. We offer two options for remote vpn access:

• An IP Security (IPSec) VPN provides a secure, private tunnel between devices and is an ideal way to extend your private network across the internet to a remote site or branch office.
• A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) VPN uses familiar browser-based technology and robust security functions, making it the ideal solution for connecting internal or external users to your organisation’s applications.

Which solution is right for my business?

IPSec - or network layer - VPN uses a shared network to transport sensitive multi-protocol traffic using a combination of encryption and tunnelling functions. Users can enjoy the same full, continuous access to the corporate network as if they were physically connected to it, ideal for sharing resources in separate offices to improve enterprise-wide productivity.

Choose IPSec VPN if:

• You mainly need site-to-site connectivity where tunnels are permanently established, e.g. connecting branch offices to corporate offices
• You only need to grant access to “trusted” enterprise hardware, e.g. company PCs, providing limited mobility options
• You need an always-on connection to enable large volumes of background traffic to be sent from automated programmes talking to other programmes, e.g. a retail POS system that sends transaction data to head office
• You require the extra layer of security afforded by software installed and configured on the client device.

SSL - or application layer - VPN offers users the convenience of being able to gain remote access to the network using any web-enabled device in any location, with no pre-installed client software required. SSL offers extremely granular access controls and addresses the needs of diverse audiences, from roaming or mobile workers to external users coming from unmanaged endpoints. This mitigates the risks that providing access to company resources from an untrusted network or unmanaged device, such as a home computer can introduce.

Choose SSL VPN if:

• You want to provide secure remote access to corporate resources to a diverse internal and/or external user constituency
• You want a device-neutral solution, enabling users to access the network from “untrusted” (non-enterprise) devices that support a web browser (e.g. public internet kiosk, mobile device, home PC)
• You want to avoid incurring the cost of licenses for client software and the administrative burden on IT of installing, configuring and supporting corporate remote devices
• You want to control users’ access at a granular level, including user identity, the network they’re coming from and the security status of their device
• You want to provide a solution that helps to ensure your business continues to operate in the event of a disaster.

To find out more about our Managed VPN solutions, why not have a look at our website or give us a ring on 0800 953 0180.