Firms shun VPN remote access solutions

More than three and a half times as many businesses offer remote working compared with last year

Only about two per cent of businesses are using VPN remote access to underpin their mobility strategies, according to new research by Virgin Media Business.

In a study published today, the telco found that 98 per cent of firms are not benefiting from the technology, which enables employees to securely connect to the whole corporate network.

This is despite more than three and a half times as many businesses offering remote working options to their employees than was the case last year.

Virgin Media Business polled 5,000 companies, with 64 per cent revealing that they are now equipping employees to work out of the office, compared with only 14 per cent of businesses in 2010.

However, the firm warned that while many employers are embracing mobile technologies, many still have a long way to go.

It said that CIOs should aim to put in place a full remote working model that lets workers access any business information, regardless of their location.

"While it's great to see UK businesses embracing these benefits few are realising the full potential. A dongle or a smartphone may enable remote email, but without access to the company server, many workers will be held back from being truly productive on the move," said Andrew McGrath, executive director, commercial at Virgin Media Business.

The company also argued that the trend towards workforce mobilisation will result in the "death of the PC". The company expects that mobile internet use will outstrip desktop use by 2014.