OK, I exaggerate a bit. But I just found out something so cool that will allow me to use my VPN less than I used to. Makes telecommuting that much easier!

But let me back up. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, VPN or Virtual Private Network, is the technology you probably use when you’re working at home to “tunnel” into your corporate intranet - so you can access your email, shared files, etc. This VPN technology is used because your home-based internet is probably not very secure. And your company does not want people getting into their network and their critical files, through your insecure environment.

Anyway, depending on your company’s implementation, to get into your VPN you might only need to type in your login and password. Or you might need to type a pin number into a device that gives you a one-time-passcode that you then have to type into your computer. Or you might need to use a device that stores a digital certificate, and need to type in the pin for that. Then you wait while a gateway is found and you connect.

This whole process may take a while. I do this every day. But I just found out that my email application (we use Microsoft Outlook) and my Instant Messenger  (we use Microsoft Office Communicator) can be setup to work outside the VPN. This means as long as I have internet access I can do email and IM with my coworkers without having to go to all the hassle of connecting to the VPN.

OK, when I work a full day at home, chances are I’m going to need to access corporate web pages or shared files that are only accessible internally. But if I just want to check email in the evening after the kids go to bed, and maybe IM my team member who is in Asia, I don’t have to worry about getting on the VPN first. How cool is that?!

And, I’ve just been asked by my team-mate to help him test the beta version of our new VPN software. That used to make me nervous, because if it didn’t work, I’d be stuck outside the VPN with no easy way to contact anyone for help. But now I can email or IM him if I have problems and get the issue resolved. <Big sigh of relief>

The technology just keeps getting better and better!

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