AccessMyLan

The world of mobile computing has traditionally been the domain of road warriors and gadget geeks with money to spare. Reduction in size has usually brought with it a dramatic increase in price when it comes to laptops but that has all changed with the introduction of the netbook and the fully featured operating systems they ship with.

A netbook is a small laptop type computer which is designed to allow access to the Internet and applications with the benefit of a small form factor and increased battery life.  Many of these machines come with Intel Atom processors and solid state hard drives generating very little heat and making them very efficient.

With offerings from ASUS, HP, DELL and many others the netbook market is exploding. The price of such a device now starts at around the $200 mark for an entry level model with a Linux based operating system and wifi connectivity.  For a small increase in price you can have a netbook with a built in webcam and on-board 3G modem giving a total communications station for a fraction of the cost of a traditional laptop.

Once a device like this is coupled with a mobile Internet connection and a VPN or other remote access solution you have a mobile work force who can accomplish all of their daily duties from any location. The ROI of such a solution is very compelling even when using a traditional laptop and data connection as the entire cost of the deployment can often be recouped within a few months due to increased productivity. Now factor in the lower cost of a netbook and suddenly the story is even more attractive.

These devices often come with small storage capacities as the idea of remote storage and application access has now become a reality.  The IT managers security concerns regarding how to prevent data theft when the very nature of a laptop means it could be anywhere at any time have provided many a sleepless night.  With the networks and the secure connectivity which is provided by solutions such as AccessMyLan it is now possible to have what is essentially a terminal in the field which stores nothing and simply connects back to the office where security of stored information is far easier to manage.

Many operating systems are now available which boot “fresh” every time and provide a simple user interface with no stored user data.  These operating systems provide a launchpad to the company network and its resources while remaining secure and cost effective.

In my next post I will outline a method for deploying a complete mobile workforce with access to select company resources in a manner that is secure and cost effective further cementing the idea that mobile working is indeed for the masses.