Without switching entire programs to web-based versions (“Software as a Service”), there are three basic models available for those “working from home” without major changes in a firm’s infrastructure.
In the first model, you install some sort of program on your office PC (such as GoToMyPC, Splashtop or LogMeIn) and use it to access your computer at work. When you “work remotely” you are actually working on your office PC: only the screen showing what you are doing is transmitted back and forth to your home PC/laptop. You have access to all the programs that currently are on your office PC. In this scenario, you are paying for the individual program each user has (or a firm-wide license). This is by far the easiest to set up: you buy the program, download it on your office PC, set up a login/password and you are done.
A second model is a “Terminal Server” or “Citrix” installation (rebaptized “Remote Desktop”). This works similarly to the first option, except that you are working from a central server and not your office machine. Again, you have access to all programs that have been installed on the terminal server. If this is not already set up, you are not likely to be able to get it installed and configured in the near future. This model tends to be fairly expensive to implement.
Worldox Web offers a third, browser-based, option. You do not necessarily have a program installed on your PC (although more about that later). You open a browser and enter a website (such as worldox.firmname.com). You log in and are connected to your in-house Worldox document store and upload/download files. You work on the files locally (as opposed to the first scenario where the actual work is done on your office PC) and upload them when you are done. This means you can work from anywhere - a PC at the home of a family member you are visiting, Starbucks (not recommended), etc. In this scenario, you ONLY have access to Worldox, not other office-based programs that may or may not be installed locally.
You can also install the “Worldox Web Agent” on your laptop/home PC which integrates with Word, Acrobat, etc. so that when you open a document in Word, it automatically opens the web browser, you login (if you aren’t already logged in) and open the file directly from your in-house Worldox. This eliminates the manual download/upload scenario since it is taken care of automatically.
Worldox Web takes some installation (creating an IIS server), but not nearly the equivalent of a Citrix Terminal Server. It might offer an good option for some firms.