Staff want to work at home, but do your current Internet services support this?
Teleworking has often been seen in the past as an “employee benefit,” like flex time or a compressed work week, but economic conditions have prompted a growing number of organizations to consider the model for some employees as a way to reduce overhead costs. The events of Sept. 11 have also led many individuals and organizations to reduce work-related travel, another driver contributing to the recent growth of teleworking.
But, while allowing employees to work from home — wherever that may be — is a sound idea, the Internet connections that allow this can be lacking. One solution is satellite technology.
Growth of teleworking
There are approximately 19.6 million teleworkers in North America today, according to a recent independent survey sponsored by the International Telework Association and Council. The same study projects 12 to 15 per cent compounding annual growth in the number of telecommuters and an increasing diversity in the types of employers and job types involved.
This suggests that both information technology and human resources managers will have to come to grips with teleworking in the not-too-distant future. Their challenge will be to facilitate the option as a means of connecting disparately located employees, such as field sales representatives, or as a means of reducing overhead by allowing certain employees to work from home.
Broadband access is implicit in the telework solution, because of the overwhelming prevalence of broadband connectivity in traditional office settings. Thus, delivering the same robust level of broadband connectivity to the small office/home office environment as that experienced in the “regular” office is a challenging task.
A typical scenario might look like this: You’re a manager with a workforce scattered across the region (or the nation); land-based high-speed service (cable and or DSL) reaches less than half of them. How can you provide your teleworkers fast, secure access and get the uniform level of service and support you need?
Broadband via satellite
Because satellite connectivity is not dependent on in-the-ground infrastructure, users are not subject to the variable offerings of local cable or telephone companies, including pricing, performance degradation over distance and service area availability. Indeed, many operators still haven’t developed a sound business case for running broadband gear to every location. In contrast, satellite offers no such barriers on service. If you want broadband via satellite, you can get it anywhere.
Although availability is perhaps the most profound factor when considering satellite broadband versus terrestrial service, there are also other important issues to consider when securing business-class Internet protocol (IP) connectivity with enhanced networking capability. Chief among them are reliability and security.
Satellite solutions operate over a standardized platform, allowing enterprises to deploy a teleworker program quickly and reliably while decreasing the ongoing costs of maintaining a remote network. In terms of overall network security, satellite offers business users the static IP addresses that are required to maintain network integrity on virtual private networks (VPNs). In addition, all data delivered over the network is encrypted for each unique satellite modem.
Many cable systems preclude use of static IP addresses by users, even if they are VPN clients. Conversely, satellite is compatible with most widely used VPN clients, offering faster speeds than dial-up and always-on access.
Satellite can be a great choice for organizations that want to provide teleworkers with a cost-effective, reliable broadband connection. It is available anywhere in North America and can interface with secure VPN technology on a common platform. Satellite teleworking solutions also excel in the provision of e-learning, business audio and video streaming and file distribution, and can be combined with affinity programs for family high-speed public Internet access.
Steve Salamoff is vice-president of marketing for Hughes Network Systems, based in Germantown, Md. He can be contacted at [email protected].
But, while allowing employees to work from home — wherever that may be — is a sound idea, the Internet connections that allow this can be lacking. One solution is satellite technology.
Growth of teleworking
There are approximately 19.6 million teleworkers in North America today, according to a recent independent survey sponsored by the International Telework Association and Council. The same study projects 12 to 15 per cent compounding annual growth in the number of telecommuters and an increasing diversity in the types of employers and job types involved.
This suggests that both information technology and human resources managers will have to come to grips with teleworking in the not-too-distant future. Their challenge will be to facilitate the option as a means of connecting disparately located employees, such as field sales representatives, or as a means of reducing overhead by allowing certain employees to work from home.
Broadband access is implicit in the telework solution, because of the overwhelming prevalence of broadband connectivity in traditional office settings. Thus, delivering the same robust level of broadband connectivity to the small office/home office environment as that experienced in the “regular” office is a challenging task.
A typical scenario might look like this: You’re a manager with a workforce scattered across the region (or the nation); land-based high-speed service (cable and or DSL) reaches less than half of them. How can you provide your teleworkers fast, secure access and get the uniform level of service and support you need?
Broadband via satellite
Because satellite connectivity is not dependent on in-the-ground infrastructure, users are not subject to the variable offerings of local cable or telephone companies, including pricing, performance degradation over distance and service area availability. Indeed, many operators still haven’t developed a sound business case for running broadband gear to every location. In contrast, satellite offers no such barriers on service. If you want broadband via satellite, you can get it anywhere.
Although availability is perhaps the most profound factor when considering satellite broadband versus terrestrial service, there are also other important issues to consider when securing business-class Internet protocol (IP) connectivity with enhanced networking capability. Chief among them are reliability and security.
Satellite solutions operate over a standardized platform, allowing enterprises to deploy a teleworker program quickly and reliably while decreasing the ongoing costs of maintaining a remote network. In terms of overall network security, satellite offers business users the static IP addresses that are required to maintain network integrity on virtual private networks (VPNs). In addition, all data delivered over the network is encrypted for each unique satellite modem.
Many cable systems preclude use of static IP addresses by users, even if they are VPN clients. Conversely, satellite is compatible with most widely used VPN clients, offering faster speeds than dial-up and always-on access.
Satellite can be a great choice for organizations that want to provide teleworkers with a cost-effective, reliable broadband connection. It is available anywhere in North America and can interface with secure VPN technology on a common platform. Satellite teleworking solutions also excel in the provision of e-learning, business audio and video streaming and file distribution, and can be combined with affinity programs for family high-speed public Internet access.
Steve Salamoff is vice-president of marketing for Hughes Network Systems, based in Germantown, Md. He can be contacted at [email protected].
