AVOIDING THE INTERNET

Though there are risks, in many circumstances the Internet remains the appropriate medium for connecting remote users. However, if you work in an environment where security is a paramount concern, there are other options.

In general, these rely on the use of either a private connection such as a dedicated leased line or on systems that only allow calls from predetermined phone numbers. Historically, modems connecting directly to a RAS server have represented the bulk of the latter type of connection. More recently, ISDN together with appropriate routers have provided a more robust solution, albeit one usually only available from fixed offices. Using the VPN technology normally applied to Internet connections can further strengthen such systems.