Remote Workers - Brainstorming solutions

[Stevehewitt]

Hi all,

We have a number of "account manager" (sales staff) that are on the road the majority of the time. The sales staff only really use our ERP software and Office. In particular, the sales team do a lot of PowerPoint presentations.

Currently, the staff VPN in using a PPTP connection to a Windows 2003 server.

After a combination of new purchases and previous investments, I have the following technologies at my disposal:


Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 Farm
Juniper SA 2500 SSL VPN Appliance
Outlook Web Access
Outlook Mobile Access
Outlook Push-Email / ActiveSync / Over-the-air
Smartphones (WM 5/6 and Nokia E Series)
Company ADSL Broadband in the sales team homes
Juniper SSG-320M Firewall (inc IPSec VPN support)
Windows XP (soon to be Vista) laptops for all staff
RSA SecurID (yet to be deployed!)


I'm working out the best method / combination of the above technologies to deploy to allow the best experience for the sales team, whilst also improving security and management from our point of view.

The key issues are that the sales staff will NEED to be able to access things like their presentation files when they need them. They may not always have wifi or a web connection at a clients site - which brings a problem of having everything on Citrix.

Currently the staff VPN in for their email and to access department network drives. They store their files locally(!). They come into the office about once a month.

Any suggestions about how to best implement a good, secure and robust remote access system using the above it would be very much appreciated!

Thanks,





Steve.

"They have the internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

ok for the file storage...im thinking offline files...you would need to coordinate with them to get them to at least vpn into the network and refresh policy and such to get offline files working....then when they come to the office, they sync their files with a server share...the server will almost always have outdated data, as the good data is on the laptops offline....

i didnt see certificate services in there anywhere though...you can alot of lockdown with certs, and its free

-Brandon Wilson
MCSE:Security00/03
MCSA:Messaging00
MCSA:Security03
A+

 

[progman1010]

you might try using sharepoint for its Document Sharing functionality. My workgroup makes extensive use of this and once we all got used to it, it's really handy! i.e. multiple file edits, workgroup collaboration, no need for synching.

sharepoint could also be used to deploy an intranet, where you can manage the resources mobile reps have at their disposal- plus, more accessible than setting up VPNs in a pinch. (think of the nightmares when your laptop gets lost/stolen at the airport and you have a big sales meeting in an hour!) Web-based means accessible from anywhere.

i also agree with offline files and vpn sync for most other things.

 

[progman1010]

whoops- looks like i'm a few months late on the post.. ha!