Safer access saves money

Safer remote access and big cost savings…

For many organisations in this time of increasing austerity, cost savings are the only game in town. However, all organisations could save money, improve staff morale, and develop the way that they do business across all aspects of its operations. To find such an advantage in the provision of securely authenticated VPN access for staff and partners may not be as hard as you might you think…

Let’s face it, a cost saving is of much greater use when it is not a forced saving because it is likely it was done for other more beneficial reasons. However, cost savings at the expense of increased risk for IT is irresponsible and unnecessary.

Office space is costly yet much of the flexibility that is spoken about – especially by Government – comes from allowing staff to work at a time that suites them and from a growing variety of locations. Some organisation’s will already have made arrangements to securely authenticate (admit) remote workers to the IT resources that they need to do their job in way that suites them, their employer and above all, their customers and clients. But as with all things, a decision made some while ago needs to be reviewed for its continuing effectiveness – operationally and fiscally.

A recent example of this has been given by Coventry City Council. Following a reduction in council budgets, it decided to over-haul its existing remote access provision and as result has adopted CRYPTOCard's managed service which is called CRYPTO-MAS. Not only will this move allow more council staff to undertake more location-independent working, but it is expected to save the council tens of thousands.

In this case the savings arise by reducing Coventry's dependency on paid-for office-space as well as network security management costs. Initially the service has been rolled-out to 500 staff but it could be offered to 6,000 workers in the coming years as more staff is encouraged to securely access services remotely.

The new service offers two types of access. Firstly a restricted VPN for third parties, which is controlled in a granular fashion by the IT department to provide access and then VPN access for council staff providing them with their own familiar desktop whatever their location.

A perfect outcome – users are provided with the ability to work safely and flexibly as their role and lifestyle requires and the Council has improved the provision of Secure Remote Access and made a welcome cost saving.

Published by The IPstore – February 2011.