The GSA system accommodates both voice and data traffic, so employees can check their voice mail or their e-mail. It uses digital technology, which means that it handles voice traffic in the form of computer data. Out of Control Before installing the new server, GSA used smaller modem pools that were scattered around the agency. But they were too disparate and numerous for easy maintenance, says Jack Jackson, a GSA telecommunications specialist. Not only is the Cisco server easier to set up and maintain, Jackson says, but also it provides better security.
Security is the major worry of agencies considering providing remote access.
With a central system, agencies get more control over the use of remote access channels. Once they are in control, agencies can offer employees a wide range of opportunities to connect. At GSA, employees with home PCs, modems and Internet connections can simply check their e-mail with their Web browsers. With their modems, they can dial in for access to other kinds of services programs that run on the agency's mainframes, for example, or the GSA intranet, which allows them to look up information, file travel expense reports and retrieve some shared files. GSA will pay for high-speed services for employees' homes when it's in the agency's interest.