When you’re designing remote-access networks for teleworkers and traveling employees, the type of connection drives the technology selection, such as whether to choose a data link or a network layer connection. By analyzing the application requirements and service provider offerings, you can choose the most suitable of a wide range of remote-access technologies. Typical remoteaccess requirements include the following:

■ Data link layer WAN technologies from remote sites to the Enterprise Edge network. Investment and operating costs are the main issues.

■ Low- to medium-volume data file transfer and interactive traffic.

■ Increasing need to support voice services.

Remote access to the Enterprise Edge network is typically provided over permanent connections for remote teleworkers through a dedicated circuit or a provisioned service, or on-demand connections for traveling workers. Remote-access technology selections include dialup (both analog and digital), DSL, cable, and hot-spot wireless service.