 | Scott Petre
is the Vice-President and General Manager of Cox Business Services-Kansas (CBS-KS). He has been in the cable telecommunications for 22 years. In the early 90's, Scott managed the cable system upgrades which introduced fiber optics to the network, readying it for expanded channel capacity and high speed Internet services. Following that, he had the responsibility of launching Road Runner, which is Cox's high-speed Internet provider. CBS is an affiliate of Cox Communications, Inc., and is one of the largest providers of broadband service in the nation. Cox Business Services products include high-speed Internet solutions for businesses, data and video point-to-point transport systems, Virtual Private Networks, Web Hosting, E-commerce and business e-mail. Unlike other telecommunication providers who lease facilities from a telephone co., Cox owns and uses its own facilities, which allows Cox to serve its customers more effectively. CBS serves customers across Kansas, including Wichita, Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Coffeyville, Junction City, Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend and others. You can reach Scott at (316) 262-4270 or any of the sales or customer service reps at 316-858-4227 or 800-620-6196. |
Communications
2002-01-01 14:20:00
VPN technology
Answer: A VPN is an excellent way to provide a company's remote sites with a high-speed broadband connection secured by an encrypted tunnel to the corporate network. In addition, the user can also have access to high-speed Internet over the same connection. A VPN is a fast, secure, flexible and affordable way to boost productivity for remote users connecting to your main office network, deploying Intranets or connecting your business to suppliers, business partners and customers. A Virtual Private Network would also enable your company to employ talented people who prefer to work from home or who are simply located in a different city, which in turn can reduce overhead costs. According to the International Telework Association and Council, telecommuting reduces turnover by 20% on average, increases productivity by up to 22% and trims absenteeism by 60%.Basically, a VPN is a private data network that makes use of any IP network connection, maintaining privacy through the use of a tunneling protocol and security procedures. Traditional "Point-to-Point" network configurations require very expensive dedicated circuit connections compared to a VPN, which offers comparable connectivity for a much lower cost. To give you an example of costs, VPN connections start at around $100/month per remote site, including equipment and the high-speed Internet connection, compared to dedicated circuits which are generally much higher in cost.VPN pricing and technological capabilities can vary greatly from provider to provider. Availability can be a big issue so you first need to inquire if a provider can service all your locations. Then be sure and ask if the cost quoted includes equipment, installation, what the bandwidth allocation will be, and whether or not the service includes high-speed Internet access. The important thing is to explore a variety of options to find the solution that best meets your company's needs.
