The fastest (and safest) way to connect to your PC at the office is by using remote access software. To get started, you will need the following:

Remote Access Software

Use remote access software from well know companies that offer two-factor authentication. This is critical, especially when staff members are using unsecured personal computers to access your business network. These solutions do not require opening up any network ports on your firewall.

Recommended Remote Access Software

GoToMyPC

GoToMyPC provides a strong suite of features, including two-factor authentication. Call GoToMyPC to request a corporate quote. We are currently paying around $9.95 per user per month, paid on an annual basis. Do not pay the price you see on the website. If the price is too high, try one of the alternatives below.

Splashtop

Splashtop also works well. Prices are good at about $4.54 per user per month, paid on an annual basis. Requires minimum of 10 licenses, but they also have smaller plans. Provides two-factor authentication and is easy to set up.

RemotePC

We have not used RemotePC yet but according to their website the product provides two-factor authentication via your mobile phone. Pricing is very good at $187.12 for the first year and allows an unlimited number of users to access up to 50 computers. Larger plans are available.

How it Works

These products all work pretty much the same way.

First, you install a software agent on the PC at the office. When you get home, you logon to the remote service website (gotomypc.com, splashtop.com, remotepc.com), enter your website login and password, at which point you receive a second “code” to your mobile phone. This is the "second factor" authentication. Enter that code when prompted on the website.

Once authorized, you then will click on a link or icon on the website that represents your office PC. The connection is intiated, the remote control software loads, and you are presented with the "Desktop" of your office PC. At that point you just login to your office PC as if you were sitting at your desk.

Other Things to Consider

Printing
All these products offer remote printing capabilities which means that a print job created on a work PC can be redirected to a printer connected to the remote PC. We recommend finding alternatives to printing when possible. For example, instead of printing something, save it as a PDF and email it to the appropriate recipient.

Data Loss
Prevent remote staff members copying a file from their personal PC and uploading it to your office PC – this will essentially bypass any security you have in place to scan incoming documents for malware. Have them send the document to themselves or others using email, so the content can be scanned and filtered appropriately. You can block the transfer of files using the settings in each of these applications.

Another risk is the “clipboard” feature, which allows staff members to copy and paste from their personal computer to the office computer. Again, this too will bypass any scanning capabilities you have on data entering the office network from the outside. Disable the clipboard feature if you do no need it.

In Conclusion

Setting up your staff members to work from home doesn't have to be complicated, and can be done safely using the steps provided. If you have any questions about remote access, please contact me:

Stephen Brown
(915) 875-0000

Revised: 06/10/2020