SMEs join the big boys with remote networking

SMEs will be able to securely connect 100 remote workers to a company's IT network, after a deal between Avaya and BTopenworld.

Before now, only companies with their own IT departments had this capability, but now SMEs will have access to BT's public IP network because of Avaya's virtual public network (VPN) hardware

According to Linda Coleman, business development manager at Avaya, security is ensured because the call goes through a three-tier encryption process.

She added that the network services and solutions company secured the deal after successful trials with BTopenworld customers in the south of England earlier this year.

The new service is part of BTopenworld's broadband internet package targeting SMEs, and allows remote workers to dial in to their head office via PSTN, ISDN or ADSL lines.