The ability to access your e-mail and files from home (or from anywhere when you're working remotely) is critical to working successfully. Without that access, it's more difficult to stay in touch, collaborate with your coworkers, and work on the latest files. Explore this page to learn about some of the things to consider and tools you can use to access your e-mail and files, along with the pros and cons of using each. Depending on your situation, you may use all or just one of these methods. If you're just getting started, learn more about how to set up your network with Windows Vista. On This PageCheck with your IT departmentDepending on what your company's IT department has set up, there may be several tools you can use to connect to your corporate network and access the information you need to work from home. You should check with your IT department to see what methods you can use or if there is any special software you'll need to install. For example, some companies may require you to use smart cards to remotely access the corporate network. Outlook Web AccessIf your company uses Microsoft Exchange Server for their e-mail, you may be able to use Outlook Web Access (OWA). Outlook Web Access enables you to securely access your Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox from any computer with an Internet connection. You can check and respond to e-mail, send meeting invitations, manage your calendar, and see other Microsoft Office Outlook items. | • | Reading and responding to e-mail from any computer. You can access your mailbox without logging on to your corporate network. | | • | Managing your calendar. View your appointments and other upcoming meetings, especially if you're just checking e-mail and your schedule. | | • | Viewing your tasks. |
| | • | Sending or managing bulk e-mail and attachments. Handling large files or too many contacts can be slow. | | • | Accessing personal folders in Microsoft Office Outlook. You can't access Outlook folders you have saved at work. | | • | Accessing the corporate network. You will not be able to view files saved on the network or visit internal intranet sites. |
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More Information Virtual private networks (VPNs)Work on your home computer and have full access to the corporate network. You will have the complete functionality of your e-mail client and be able to access network shares and internal intranet sites. Using a VPN connection is one of the most secure ways to connect to the office. A VPN creates an encrypted digital "tunnel" between your computer and your office. | • | Working at home exactly as if you were at work. Feel as close as possible to working in the office. | | • | Accessing file shares and corporate intranet sites, along with your e-mail and calendar. | | • | Managing passwords and security settings from home. |
| | • | Accessing through dial-up connections may impact performance. | | • | More difficult than using Outlook Web Access to quickly check your e-mail and calendar. | | • | Must have all the applications you need installed on the computer you are using at home. |
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More Information Remote DesktopThe Remote Desktop technology in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate enables you to have full, secure access to your work computer through an Internet or network connection. Using your computer at home, you can connect to your work computer and see the files, programs, and resources exactly as you would if you were sitting at your desk in the office. In most cases, you will have to connect to the network (perhaps with a VPN) before you can use Remote Desktop. Note You cannot use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to computers running Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Basic N, or Windows Vista Home Premium. You can, however, connect from those editions of Windows Vista to computers running other versions of Windows. | • | Accessing work in progress on your office computer from home. | | • | Accessing applications you use at work without having to install them on the computer you use at home. | | • | Working from home without having limited functionality. |
| | • | May limit what types of network accesses you have. | | • | Accessing through dial-up connections may impact performance. |
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More Information Windows Mobile phonesWindows Mobile phones enable you to browse, send, and receive e-mail using Microsoft Outlook Mobile. You can keep up to date on your appointments and use the calendar to keep track of where you need to be. Work on files and documents with Microsoft Office Mobile. You can even have that information synchronized on your desktop computer when you get back to your office. | • | Receiving and sending important e-mail while you're away from your desk using Office Outlook Mobile. | | • | Quickly reading e-mail and deciding which messages need to be acted on and responding while deleting unnecessary e-mail. | | • | Checking your calendar for appointments. | | • | Accessing your contacts and acting on data from wherever you are. | | • | Viewing your tasks. | | • | Viewing and making critical edits on your files while you're away from your desk. |
| | • | Reading long e-mails. | | • | Managing large e-mail attachments. It's best to control the amount of data you download at one time. If you need more data, you can easily get it. | | • | Composing long e-mails. It's more efficient to let people know you have received their mail and will get back to them later. | | • | Making substantial edits to a file. Make the critical edits on your mobile device. |
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