In reply to a post by jimbof:

In reply to a post by ashlez:

In our case the FTTP connection was an additional connection solely for home working (as required by policy due to sensitive nature of job role).

How is that even a thing? Is the line specially connected direct to a non-internet network at the ISP end?

If the avoidance of any kind of shared infrastructure is a requirement, it's hard to see how anything short of a direct leased line is acceptable, and even then... Sounds likely to me to be a policy crafted by someone who should know better.

Home worker setup includes a Cisco router configured with a permanent site-to-site VPN. No WiFi. Locked down to our individual laptop only. They used to provide the line themselves for home workers - now we have to provide it.

It's ridiculous - but I don't make the rules.

Edited by ashlez (Tue 30-Mar-21 17:51:02)

In reply to a post by dect:

Have you heard anything today about when they will be coming to do the install?

Yep - now 7th April.

In reply to a post by ashlez:

Home worker setup includes a Cisco router configured with a permanent site-to-site VPN. No WiFi. Locked down to our individual laptop only. They used to provide the line themselves for home workers - now we have to provide it.

It's ridiculous - but I don't make the rules.

As you say it's a nonsense - either the VPN works or it doesn't. So while you don't have a dedicated line for it, are you prevented from working?

In reply to a post by jimbof:

In reply to a post by ashlez:

Home worker setup includes a Cisco router configured with a permanent site-to-site VPN. No WiFi. Locked down to our individual laptop only. They used to provide the line themselves for home workers - now we have to provide it.

It's ridiculous - but I don't make the rules.

As you say it's a nonsense - either the VPN works or it doesn't. So while you don't have a dedicated line for it, are you prevented from working?

Still working - just office based instead.

All of what you’ve suggested IS done already though. They have a few job control centres around the country that monitor the jobs going out and if there’s any that may fail their time slot they pull in engineers from other areas, plead with people to do evening overtime etc. They try very hard and to be fair if you look at the stats for missed appointments they’re doing pretty well.

So why isn't it a business line if it is only for business use - a line solely for business use should not be on a residential tariff. Also, can't you connect the Cisco router to a spare port on your residential broadband router - then all of the business access can go via the Cisco VPN and all personal access goes out to the Internet as normal. I have a feeling your company is over spec'ing the solution and probably not because of security reasons (more likely because it makes the support easier for them but they blame it on security because that is easier to get staff to buy).