Gartner Group Inc., an IT-advisory company in Stamford, Conn., predicts that more than 30 million U.S. workers will be telecommuters by the year 2000, and many of these will use the Internet for remote access. So knowing how to effectively and efficiently manage, secure, and support remote communications can give your career a boost. Some vendors, such as Symantec Corp., make it easy to try out remote-access software before you buy. When checking out a product, look closely at its security features . Secure remote connections are more important now than ever because of the Internet's potential dangers.
Authentication makes sure the person dialing in to the remote-access system is an approved user.
The simplest authentication strategy employs a user ID and password, but this strategy is not particularly secure. Other options include call back to authorized telephone numbers and password rules to make guessing passwords difficult. These technologies keep unauthorized users from eavesdropping on remote sessions. Access control generally involves physically securing the host machines used for remote access. For instance, the control software might lock the keyboard, mouse, and display or lock the machines in a physically controlled environment, such as a wiring closet.