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In the past VPN always sounds like a complicated enterprise solution; a solution that will be an expensive and complex means of remote access. GoToMyPC and various other online products seem like a cheap quick way for smaller businesses to get remote access. This may be true in the past, but as VPN become more ubiquitous it appears there may be a shift. Before we start dissecting, it probably makes sense to go over the two options. |
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General cost for such a setup would be $250 - $500 for a VPN device and maybe a few hours of IT consulting time to set it up for a single remote user.
GoToMyPC is an online remote access tool. You install a piece of software on the computer you want to access remotely, then login to the web interface remotely to get to your desktop.
It is by far a nice, simple and elegant solution. There is however some cost involved, usually around $20 per month per computer, whether you use it or not.
What is the difference between the two approaches? I think the best way to explain it is, one is renting of remote access while the other is owning you own remote access. GoToMyPC is structured so you pay each month. VPN setup is one where you pay once and it works for you from then on. You can do the math to figure out what is more cost effective in the long run; you can probably use $700 as a good figure for a simple VPN setup.
The other thing to keep in mind is for an owned VPN, it starts to make much more sense monetarily when more than one user wants to remote in. Since a VPN setup can allow you to scale up to 10 users without much more cost involved.
Also if you have a server, a VPN will allow you to access it in different more effective ways then your GoToMyPC. One of the main one is directly opening drives and being able to move files over from the server, instead of a “desktop control” solution.
One thing that GoToMyPC doesn’t mentioned much is the cost of keeping your computer on all the time. The main issue with that is not the power drain, but the wear and tear of leaving a computer on 24/7 for months on end. Most computers do not have the robust power supply or hard drive. Also rebooting the computer does help performance for the daily use.
Lastly you have to consider some security factors. GoToMyPC is a system that depends on a login which is he key to your network. It can be logged in from anywhere at anytime. A VPN system requires more sophisticated client software and pre-shared keys to get going.
Depending again on your needs, GoToMyPC might be the perfect need for you, something that is quick and inexpensive and have some security questions. However as cost of VPN devices go down it is also become as inexpensive to setup and use without the monthly fees.Other related articles:
Understanding VPN
VPN Changing Working Habits
VPN Tips
Remote Access Deconstructed
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