DirectAccess Takes the Place of VPN for Windows 7

Microsoft has unveiled DirectAccess for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, remotely connecting users to the workplace as if they were right there. Establishing bi-directional connectivity with the user’s enterprise network, this solution keeps them connected to the office, creating a connection whenever the user’s computer – provided it’s enabled by DirectAccess – is connected to the internet.

With the information age evolving quickly, the needs of an organization adapt accordingly. Increasingly, employees are working from remote locations, the advances in internet technology affording them the ability to work from an off-site location – home, business meeting abroad, etc.

The mobility of our workforce has led to the success of those companies driving our economy, with new technologies facilitating the uninterrupted productivity of employees whose presence in the office is no longer a necessary component 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 gains, corporate security – namely, firewalls – obstruct the accessibility of those resources which are native to an office. This poses a number of problems, not the least of which being access to the network from those IT professionals tasked with 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 prove complicated. 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 internet connectivity is lost, the VPN connection will also be severed, requiring the user to repeat the authentication process. With alternatives providing even less functionality and more hurdles to overcome, VPN has become the de facto solution, its problems notwithstanding.

Overcoming the challenges inherent to VPN, DirectAccess instantly establishes a bi-directional connection between the user’s computer and 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 requires authentication with each use, DirectAccess authenticates the computer before the user even attempts to access the network.

Simpler to use than VPN, the efficiency of DirectAccess is a boon to the productivity of an enterprise’s workforce. With a transparent connection to their corporate network, employees will no longer find themselves enduring the bothersome process that has soured many on the use of VPN. Using DirectAccess, the information on their work network – intranet, applications, file-shares – is accessible wherever the employee can access an internet connection for their portable computer, not just from their home connection.

Geek Choice, a leader in on-site technical service, prides itself on educating the public about those advances that are relevant to the industry within which we continue to grow. 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.