Program on client and data on a remote server requires a VPN and will not work. Data must be local because of the slow connection. Accessing a database over a VPN can result in corrupt data.
These are all good suggestions, but let me move back to the original question:
How to set up a remote office and use the host office. LogMeIn can only access one computer at a time. Yes, you can access several computers of which AC would be on, but then there are these issues:
-- First, if there are ten users at the remote office, there must be ten clients at the host office IF you want all ten to be active at the same time.
-- Each remote client would have to choose a host client, which would mean that this client would need to be available. Imagine a host user being logged off when the remote user tried to access his or her computer.
-- There are just too many variables in place.
-- Not to mention the EVERYDAY connections of LogMeIn, meaning, while secure, would still be using a 3rd party server which allows someone there to do something sinister.
Now, let's keep things simple. Let's have one Terminal Server (like a giant client but not being used by anyone at the host office. It allows multiple connections at once and would allow a very safe connection with RDC (if you are now using the new software that connects via port 443). The user at the remote facility opens his or her computer and clicks twice, once to open RDC/P on his or her compuer and once to select Connect. With a script this could be one connection. The connection takes about four to five seconds, rather than opening a browser, typing in a username and password (likely saved to be fair), choosing your client computer and logging in.
A terminal server setup is much easier to maintain as if there is an issue with a connection, there is one computer to go to.
VPNs are slower and can corrupt data on the host sever side.
Also with TS, you can continue to upgrade TS and the server so that you can add RAM or CPU, etc. on one machine, a machine designed for this exact thing, rather than having to upgrade individual clients if you want better performance.
