Koldov Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Hi All, So, I have been asked to provide home remote access to SIMS for the Head... I have looked through various posts with some amazing solutions, but most of them are obviously overkill for one user. This will not be something that is going to be offered to anyone else. I have VERY limited knowledge of remote access solutions (read LogMeIn), especially ones to work such sensitive software in real time and using live databases. I have only ever used remote desktop across site and know nothing about what running terminal services entails so please be gentle... I have not been involved in using VPN or VNC or connecting to an external IP which I don't even know. We are running SIMS on a 2008 (not R2) server. It's a big ask I know, but 'Help me EDUGEEK, you're my only hope....' Also if anyone knows any 'quick and dirty' solutions that they would rather not discuss openly, please feel free to PM me... Kol.
cscc Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Check out teamviewer: TeamViewer - Free Remote Control, Remote Access & Online Meetings Install client at either end and you're good to go.
fiza Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 @Koldov - Are you part of any grid for learning? For us London Grid provide RAv3 (Remote Access v3) and part of this is the cisco vpn client. works well for us.
cscc Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 I’m sure the head can justify purchasing a license on behalf of the school if it’s so important.
jmak Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Check out teamviewer: TeamViewer - Free Remote Control, Remote Access & Online Meetings Install client at either end and you're good to go. Be careful with data protection on this. I think that sometimes the risk / benefit ratio is overplayed bearing mind the limited impact of the data potential being exposed. However, with SIMS, there is a lot of personal data impacted. In this scenarion I would be looking for a system with 2 factor authentication or saying no. 1
Koldov Posted January 15, 2014 Author Posted January 15, 2014 @fiza - No, nothing that I'm aware of. I’m sure the head can justify purchasing a license on behalf of the school if it’s so important. A license for the Cisco VPN thing? Sure it's possible. What is the benefit over the TeamViewer or LogMeIn? Kol.
cscc Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) @fiza - No, nothing that I'm aware of. A license for the Cisco VPN thing? Sure it's possible. What is the benefit over the TeamViewer or LogMeIn? Kol. TeamViewer is just an effortless solution for remote access, something even a head teacher wouldn't struggle to use. As it’s not private use as pointed out above it would require the most basic license purchasing. With regards to encryption: http://www.teamviewer.com/en/help/14-How-secure-is-TeamViewer.aspx Edited January 15, 2014 by cscc
GeekyPete Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Try centrastage it's free for 5 computers. IT Remote Management Software:One Platform For Every Device
Koldov Posted January 15, 2014 Author Posted January 15, 2014 Well, I know it's only blurb, but: TeamViewer: All TeamViewer versions use full encryption. Encryption is based on 2048bit RSA private/public key exchange and 256 Bit AES session encoding. This uses the same security level as https/SSL and is considered completely safe by today's standards. The key exchange also guarantees that the data channel is completely encoded from client to client and that any routers or servers in between (including our routers) are unable to read or analyze the data stream. Security and privacy have always been a top priority during development. LogMeIn: Security The same encryption used by online banks. With LogMeIn, your computers are secure with 256-bit SSL encryption for all connections, from user account settings to authentication. Looks legit? @jmak - How much more security are you proposing? I feel another learning curve approaching! Kol.
Koldov Posted January 15, 2014 Author Posted January 15, 2014 Also, how are these solutions to run SIMS? Installed on the server and running an instance of SIMS.net there or installed on the users desktop (which must be left running) and used as an RDP solution? Kol.
cscc Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Also, how are these solutions to run SIMS? Installed on the server and running an instance of SIMS.net there or installed on the users desktop (which must be left running) and used as an RDP solution? Kol. For TeamViewer you would install the client on a desktop running SIMS, note down the client session details and get the head to take them home. The head would then install TeamViewer on a machine and connect using the details noted down. The computer would obviously have to be left on at school. I would recommend using a desktop to host the school side connection unless you’re comfortable giving the head remote access to your MIS server.
sted Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 For TeamViewer you would install the client on a desktop running SIMS, note down the client session details and get the head to take them home. The head would then install TeamViewer on a machine and connect using the details noted down. The computer would obviously have to be left on at school. I would recommend using a desktop to host the school side connection unless you’re comfortable giving the head remote access to your MIS server. or set up a client os vm on a server should exactly take up a huge amount of resourcs that way it can left on without any thought involved and use gpo so they cant turn it off
chazzy2501 Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Teamviewer is can be used but the user has to leave their personal desktop computer logged in and running.
number34 Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Teamviewer is can be used but the user has to leave their personal desktop computer logged in and running. With Logmein the default setting I use is to have my desktop switched on, the login is handled by Logmein. It will do a wake on lan but I have not bothered. I do use Logmein Pro and also use Logmein Ignition on my iPhone and Ipad.
vikpaw Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 I would firstly ask what's it for? Reading data, editing data? There are some sophisticated solutions that might be useful for the basics. Groupcall Emerge gives you access to data. @Schoolcomms have an app coming out - see it at BETT. Capita also have an app. Logmein works really well for full control and there is a free app for ipad / iphone which is nice. Similar to teamviewer i guess. I also heard about something called Splash yesterday which is supposedly really good. It's much better to do that for remote control, of either the desktop or a VM desktop for that purpose, and you want to avoid VPNs or terminal server solutions. It just depends what they actually want to do. There are also advanced services like SLG from Capita, TASC, Bromcom etc, but would work out expensive for only the Head to use, the app solutions might work out better and cheaper though more limited. Personally i'd opt for logmein.
Gatt Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Teamviewer is can be used but the user has to leave their personal desktop computer logged in and running. No you don't - true the PC has to be running, but the user doesn't need to be logged in In TV's options - The General Tab allows you to start TV with Windows, and the Security tab allows yo to lock it down to specific TV users
tombry Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 We use the Herts Grid's VPN solution with RDP - works great, and is fully secure end to end. Also doesn't require the computers in school to be logged in, only on.
edutech4schools Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Think you will want two form authentication or you might get bitten if data gets breached.
Koldov Posted January 15, 2014 Author Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) Ok, maybe I just don't know about it then! We have a London grid, a Herts grid.... Anyone aware of a Bedfordshire grid? Luton grid? Anything? Also, someone else has mentioned two-step, do any of these Grid provided RDP/Cisco vpn solutions offer this level of security? Kol. Edited January 15, 2014 by Koldov
vikpaw Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 ... LogMeIn: Security The same encryption used by online banks. With LogMeIn, your computers are secure with 256-bit SSL encryption for all connections, from user account settings to authentication. Looks legit? @jmak - How much more security are you proposing? I feel another learning curve approaching! Kol. I saw something similar on an MIS's website : 'bank-grade security' - but, who trusts banks these days?
colacao82 Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Think you will want two form authentication or you might get bitten if data gets breached. Wouldn't the username/password for the VPN/Team Viewer, then the password for the Windows login, then the password for SIMS login be enough authentication?
vikpaw Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Most people end up using the same password, changing one character or just writing it down, not to mention telling their kids, so they can go online and do something. Two factor is nicer if you can get it. So just knowing the password(s) isn't enough, unless you have the physical token, phone, app etc.
tombry Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 The Cisco VPN isn't two factor, but it's what the LA recommends here, so I use it. I've used TeamViewer for myself, but I prefer the VPN/RDP solution for working in SIMS.
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