Often overlooked is that this connectivity should include telephone services as well as data. Remote users should be able to use advanced phone features as well as intercom and conference with colleagues. They should be able to make inexpensive long distance calls using company least-cost solutions. And of course, they should be able to make these calls over their primary connection, which will have been optimized in terms of cost and bandwidth.

There are many proprietary solutions on the market for simultaneous voice and data, each with their own disadvantages. Most split voice and data at levels 1 or 2. But the correct solution is to deploy the best possible IP connection at level 3, and run a standard voice protocol such as H.323 at level 5.

In most localities either DSL or cable is usually the best choice for tethering a SOHO office to an ISP. Other possibilites are wireless or ISDN. It's even possible to use a highly asymmetric solution with a V.90 modem, though this will mandate one of the voice compression options: G.723, G.729 or GSM.

ISPs offering enhanced Quality of Service options may be an attractive alternative, as the public Internet is subject to delays which may or may not be acceptable.

To secure privacy, packets may be encrypted at the desktop or at the ISP. This is often referred to as VPN, for Virtual Private Network. It may be simpler, but cost a bit more to choose the ISP's VPN solution. On the other hand, encryption at the desktop requires more administration.