Remote access network

Managing a remote access network

A recent survey reports that 88% of employees want to work outside the office at least some of the time.¹ This shift to a hybrid workforce – accelerated in 2020 by the pandemic – is reshaping the way businesses think about the workspace. It’s also rewriting the playbook for IT teams charged with managing and securing a remote access network.

The work-from-anywhere trend requires networking technologies that support the remote network experience while promoting productivity for workers and security for network, data and transactions. Hybrid workplace technology must provide remote workers with the same resources as their in-office counterparts. To solve these challenges, your IT teams can turn to Spectrum Enterprise for fully managed services that provide flexible solutions for networking, security, remote access and network visibility in one seamless package.

The challenges of supporting a remote access network

Implementing a hybrid infrastructure that combines both on-premises and remote access networks presents IT teams with unique challenges. It requires teams to deploy, integrate, secure, manage and troubleshoot across ever-changing users, devices, applications and locations.

Securing remote access connections is critical, but a lack of visibility and control makes this task highly complex. Devices in remote offices usually lack the same level of protection as devices in corporate offices, and security teams may be unable to scan these laptops, tablets and smart phones for vulnerabilities or viruses. Activity of remote users is more difficult to monitor, making it difficult to block user access to malicious URLs and to enforce acceptable content policies. Poor security hygiene often results in reuse of passwords and unpatched devices in remote offices.

On top of security concerns, IT teams must also address the need for access to cloud applications and communications tools that help remote workers stay connected to colleagues, customers and partners. Legacy networking hardware and services are often not up to this challenge – they can quickly become rigid, expensive to operate and difficult to manage when large numbers of workers move off-site.

Scalability is a challenge as well. As workforces become more distributed and as new business opportunities arise, bandwidth requirements for remote access networks are bound to evolve as well. To meet the needs of bandwidth-intensive applications and cloud-based collaboration tools, IT teams need access to scalable network connectivity solutions where bandwidth can be adjusted quickly and easily.

Spectrum Enterprise Managed Network Edge

Spectrum Enterprise addresses the challenges of remote access networks with Managed Network Edge, a modular, all-in-one solution that simplifies deployment and management of your organization’s network. Managed Network Edges combines connectivity, equipment and network management to improve security, flexibility and scalability. With solutions tailored to meet the exact needs of your business, this managed services offering simplifies the task of deploying hybrid workplace technology to ensure secure remote access.

Managed Network Edge offers a range of features to support work-from-anywhere employees.

• Remote Access gives mobile workers simple, secure access to your network from any device, anywhere, anytime.
• Teleworker is an easy-to-install network appliance that gives remote workers the same network performance, security and data prioritization they experience been working within corporate offices.
• Security and routing features include an up-to-date firewall and unified threat management capabilities, along with application-aware routing that provides more reliable performance.
• WiFi services connect employees and visitors to next-generation WiFi that delivers greater speed, performance and reliability.
• Cameras offer valuable insights into customer behavior patterns while protecting locations.
• Switching prioritizes traffic on the datalink and network layers through cloud-managed, enterprise-grid switching.
• SD-WAN enables you to seamlessly and automatically connect multiple locations.
• Virtual Edge offers seamless access to cloud-based, business-critical applications through secure connectivity to cloud service providers.

Benefits for your remote access network

Managed Network Edge delivers significant advantages for your IT teams as they strive to support remote workforces.

• Enhanced performance. Give your remote and mobile employees secure access and high-performance connectivity to your entire network from laptops, tablets and mobile devices.
• Streamlined processes. Simplify IT management by working with a single, trusted provider for integrated nationwide connectivity, security and network management.
• Connectivity options. Choose the speed and bandwidth you need with dedicated connections on Spectrum Enterprise’s private fiber network.
• Reduced IT burden. Reduce administrative time for your IT team with a network that’s tailored to your needs.
• Stronger security posture. Keep pace with emerging security risks and changing network requirements while relying on automated updates to enhance your security posture.
• Instant visibility. Rely on our integrated control panel for faster, better decision-making and greater visibility into usage and performance.

Why Spectrum Enterprise?

Spectrum Enterprise is a national provider of scalable, fiber technology solutions that serve communications service providers and the nation’s largest businesses. Our wholly owned fiber network is engineered for growth and is the foundation of everything we offer. Our portfolio of solutions include:

• Internet offerings that reliably connect employees with speeds up to 100 Gbps.
• Networking solutions that ensure reliable connectivity to every business location as well as private and public clouds. Our offerings include hybrid WAN solutions, Managed SD-WAN, Managed Router Service, and Managed WiFi.
• Voice and Unified Communications technologies that enable workers to connect from anywhere and collaborate how they want.
• TV solutions that inform, engage and entertain viewers in hospitality, healthcare, education, government, and other industry verticals.

FAQs

What is a remote access network?

A remote access network provides secure, reliable connections to a company’s private network for employees working outside the office. A remote access network includes remote internet access as well as security solutions to protect remote users, data, applications and the business.

What are the challenges of managing a remote access network?

IT teams have less visibility into the activity of remote users, complicating their efforts to monitor, manage and secure a remote access network. Ensuring adequate bandwidth for remote users is a challenge, as is relying on legacy technology to provide access to modern applications and cloud resources.


^{1 "}Ride the Remote Revolution to Future-Proof You Business," Lenovo, March 22, 2021.