<< VPN (Virtual Private Network) might be an option. >>
VPN, which essentially extends your office network across the internet to anyone with the IP address and correct login credentials, has two problems. The first is that networked applications (like R:Base or any other file-server based database) will operate at WAN instead of LAN speeds. I'd be surprised if they were usable at that speed. The second is that you are essentially expanding your network to anyone's home PC who has the correct login credentials. If that PC is infected with malware you're opening other machines on your network to a possible source of infection. I know someone who uses VPN to attach to an office network, then remote desktops to his PC to use a file-server database. In this case the performance is fine (since he's using remote desktop, not running the database locally on his machine), the VPN is used only to secure the connection back to the office network. I've advised him to shut down the VPN and instead install a Terminal Server box (he'll actually install this on an existing underutilized server, avoiding the need for new hardware) backed by RSA token authentication for remote user logins. -- Larry
