DirectAccess Usurps VPN for Windows 7
Microsoft has released DirectAccess for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, programs that remotely connect users to the workplace as though they were right there. Creating two-way connectivity with the user’s business network, this software keeps them connected to their office, creating a link whenever the user’s computer – provided it’s enabled by DirectAccess – is connected to the internet.
With the information age developing at a rapid pace, the needs of an organization change accordingly. With growing frequency, people are working remotely, the advances in internet technology giving them the ability to work from anywhere – home, business the beach, etc.
The mobility of the modern workforce has led to the success of those companies driving our economy, with new technologies permitting the nonstop productivity of employees whose presence at the office is no longer a required element in the operations of an efficient and profitable enterprise. By 2011, the number of remote employees is expected to have increased by 30.4 percent (IDC, “Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2007-2011 Forecast,” Doc #209813, Dec 2007).
While technology has contributed to an outgrowth of wireless communication, with the internet providing the backbone for those advances, corporate security – namely, firewalls – block access to those resources native to the office. This creates a number of problems, not the least of which being access to the network from those IT professionals in charge of managing the corporation’s network.
In the past, VPN (Virtual Private Network) has been the solution employed for that purpose. However, as any IT professional will tell you, the use of a VPN can be challenging. VPN requires users to wait for authentication, a process that can see the end user waiting for what has commonly amounted to several minutes. If the connection to the internet fails, the VPN connection will be severed, requiring the user to repeat the authentication process. With the only available alternatives providing even less functionality and additional problems to overcome, VPN has become the de facto solution, its issues aside.
Surmounting the challenges inherent to VPN, DirectAccess instantly creates a bi-directional link between the user’s computer and their work network. Using Windows 7, the DirectAccess client detects its connection to a network. The DirectAccess client will then connect to an intranet website designated during the initial configuration of DirectAccess. The process is seamless and automatic. Unlike VPN, which involves authentication with each use, DirectAccess authenticates the computer before the user even attempts to gain access to the network.
Easier to use than VPN, the effectiveness of DirectAccess is a boon to the productivity of an company’s workforce. With a transparent connection to their office network, employees will no longer find themselves enduring the bothersome process that has soured many on the use of VPN. Using DirectAccess, the data on their company’s network – intranet, applications, file-shares – is within reach wherever the employee can access an internet connection for their laptop, not just from their home connection.
Geek Choice, a leader in on-site technical service, prides itself on teaching the public about the advances within the tech world. If you have any questions about DirectAccess, give us a call at any time at 1-800-GEEK-HELP (433-5435). Our techs are here to help you. We can also help you with Virus Removal, Spyware Removal, a Slow Computer and general computer repair.











