Remote Assistance
What is remote assistance? With the advent of broadband and higher speed internet access it has become more practical for me to remotely control, demonstrate and diagnose my customers computers via the net.
I currently remotely manage the firewalls and ADSL routers of many of my clients, making sure they are protected from the outside world, or to enable them to access internal network resources whilst away from the office. This also enables me, using remote management software, to send files direct to their computers, update software, diagnose problems, watch the customer's screen as they demonstrate a problem, provide a commentry as they work, or even take control when they want me to demostrate things for them as they watch.
What about Security?
You might think
this presents a security risk, but the whole process is under my customer's
control. When we have finished a session, they simply click two boxes
and instantly no one can watch or control their computer until they
re-tick the boxes. Also even when control is enabled, I must supply
a username and password to be allowed to.
The main advantage is the assistance can be instantaneous as I don't have to drive to the customers site. It also means that I can run routine maintainance tasks when the customer is not using the machines.