Changing work styles, new computing and communication devices, and the ever-increasing expectations of today’s end users are driving the demand for expanded remote access. Many companies today support full-time remote workers, or “day extenders,” who supplement office hours by working from a home PC. Business partners work from their offices behind their own firewalls, and remote users want clientless, broadband, and WiFi access from anywhere their travel takes them. They all expect easy, secure access to the network resources they need, from anywhere, at any time, using any device.

And, today, a greater number of users need access to corporate resources from environments that IT organizations can’t possibly control—such as home PCs or airport kiosks. Many users are also taking advantage of wireless technology, both through the increasing number of public WiFi hotspots and through company-sanctioned wireless local area networks. In addition, many companies extend network resources not only to mobile employees, but also to trading partners, consultants, and customers around the globe. Many organizations are also struggling with access demands from smaller form factors, mobile devices that combine voice and data access.

The portability of these devices makes them attractive for employees to stay connected but at the same time introduces concerns about access and authorization. These new and varied access situations bring security concerns to the forefront.

With the increased availability of broadband, most users are now accessing the corporate network over the Internet from fast broadband connections with speeds approximating local response times. This expanded access factors into disaster recovery plans for catastrophic events such as pandemics or hurricanes, as well as any contingency, such as a power outage or transit strike, that prevents employees from getting to a central office. Companies are looking at how they extend the boundaries of remote access to wherever their employees, contractors, partners, and customers can gain access to the Internet.

However, expanded access raises many concerns about how to trust this access. Today’s challenges in granting access include whether or not a device is directly managed by IT; whether the user is an employee, contractor, or supplier; whether a mobile laptop is currently inside or outside the firewall.


Netilla SSL VPN is a secure application access gateway that enables secure, web browser access to a broad range of business applications.

Propalms VPN is an easy to use, simple application access and security solution (SSL VPN) for enabling high-trust, secure remote access to corporate applications and resources.

Propalms TSE is the simple thin client solution for Microsoft Windows Terminal Services and Virtual Desktops.