Q. We are a group practice in the north-west and are planning to set up a remote access to the practice server. We are planning to use our home PCs/laptops. Do you have any advice for us?

A. There are a number of GPIT Q&As on remote access, please go to www.gpit.ie/faq and do a search for 'logmein'. You will turn up three articles that deal with remote access.

I guess I would be worried about lots of home laptops and desktops remotely accessing your practice server. You are only as secure as the weakest link in security terms. If some of the home computers are used by family for gaming, downloads of music, video and movies, and general internet browsing, then they are exposed to viruses, malware and Trojan horses. You should only remote access your practice server through a designated computer that has up to date antivirus software, an up to date operating system and is only used for work purposes.

You really don't want to compromise your data by opening it up to lots of insecure computers. The internet has become a much more hostile place in the past couple of years. I would recommend you to take advice from your hardware or software supplier or an information security specialist.