Remote Access

One of the strongest advantages of Lync Server is that it offers users a completely seamless and consistent user experience regardless of location. Users who travel and use a hotel’s public Wi-Fi have access to the exact same features as users in an office that use the corporate network. This consistent experience is provided without a VPN connection or manual client configuration changes by the user, which allows all features to work from any location.

A Lync Server endpoint is aware whether it connects internally or externally by means of service (SRV) records in DNS, so users don’t need to make any changes to their client configurations depending on their locations. When a user is remote, the signaling is performed over the standard HTTPS port 443, so it is secure and accessible from almost any remote network.

This feature is similar in function to the Outlook Anywhere feature, which has existed for Outlook users since Exchange 2003. Just as users have come to expect Outlook to function identically whether inside or outside the office, remote users have full access to the Lync Server feature set. They can view presence, exchange IMs, host or attend web conferences, share desktops, or perform A/V conversations. This even extends to Enterprise Voice users who can make and receive phone calls with their office numbers from anywhere in the world across the Internet.