This guide is being sunset during fiscal 2024.
For some here at Town Hall, and at certain times, working remotely can be an option. The Town supports remote workers through a connection called Virtual Private Networking or vpn. A vpn establishes a secure connection between your computer or laptop and the Town's network. This connection is encrypted so no one outside our network can see what work is being done: passwords can't be identified, documents can't be read and work can be accomplished just like you were sitting at your desk. To utilize a vpn connection to the Town you will first need your supervisor to request an account be setup for you. This is typically accomplished through ITHelp, our online virtual HelpDesk.
Once your account has been established, we will typically setup your workstation here at Town Hall for a Remote Desktop Connection or RDC. This allows you to take over your workstation so that all your drives and files are available to you. RDC is not required for vpn connections; however, we have found it does make it easier for users to get work done as the environment is familiar. Once this is setup we will test the connection with you so that you know how to connect to your workstation.
We recommend connecting to the Town's network remotely as soon as possible to test your login. We do have a test connection at Town Hall that we utilize for just such a purpose; however, it is always good to test from your home to see what happens outside of Town Hall. If you are going on a business trip on behalf of the Town or for training please test your connection before the trip. It is much easier to troubleshoot while you're available then when you are offsite.
The Town maintains a number of laptops that can be temporarily assigned to you for remote work. These laptops are equipped with WiFi capability so you will need to connect to an established wireless network. Please check with us in advance to ascertain what you need and what is available. If you are traveling internationally please inform us so that we may change your Town issued phones plan to an international one.
Not all work being done remotely requires a vpn. Many of the Town's electronic communication services are available to us online such as email, Microsoft Office products, Employee Self Service (ESS), The Town's intranet, remote voicemail and more without requiring a vpn connection to Town Hall.