I get asked about a good VPN regularly.
You want to know about
– how your OFS can access certain sites that are filtering by country
– how your OFS can log in to specific online tools
– how your OFS can access content restricted to your country only.
Years ago, I used to love solving problems like this. I’d research it, try things myself, and then have my OFS try things. I loved solving technical problems.
But the further along I got into my business, the more I valued my time.
Technical research takes time. And mental energy.
I want to spend that time and energy with my family.
So now, I ask 2 of my OFS, Jam and Dhec, for their opinions. They’re the guys who solve technical issues for me. Julia gathered their answers below
It can easily be resolved using 2 things.
1. VPN
With a good VPN, your OFS can mask their IP to show that they are accessing online tools from your country or, sometimes, even your state! This is also the same way some people are able to watch Netflix shows not meant to be shown in their own country.
VPN’s (virtual private network) are cheap. You can pay $3/month for your OFS to use one. I don’t have a specific VPN to recommend and almost any recommendations you find online will be affiliate driven. Just try one and see if it works. If it doesn’t move on to the next one.
While many tools can work with VPNs, there are some that are able to detect VPNs and will block any attempts by your OFS to use them. For this another way employers were able to resolve this is using a Remote Desktop connection.
2. Remote Connection Tool/Remote Desktop.
The simplest setup for this is to have a second computer in your location set to receive a remote desktop request. The OFS will then connect to that computer and use that computer as if it is their own. Since that computer is already in your location using your own internet connection, this allows the OFS to navigate and use the tools without issues.
Another advantage of this is even if your OFS loses connection, the remote desktop (the computer in your office) will still have the tools available once they reconnect.
Remote desktop also has the advantage for employers with Static IP connections to have their OFS use the remote desktop with the static IP address. This is useful for tools that require IP address registration for access.
A remote desktop can also be done with an on-site server or using a cloud server (https://aws.amazon.com/workspaces/) if you have the infrastructure or budget for it. The good thing about this setup is the security. It can also be cost-effective if you have a lot of processes that you need to run online. However, if your or your OFS’ internet connection is bad, you will experience lag or have repeated disconnections.
If you have other solutions (or questions about this), I’d love to hear them.
I’ve used both of these solutions in the past with good success.
John