But if WAN acceleration and PC optimization still don't get your connection where it needs to be, then you may want to consider upgrading your teleworkers' connection speeds.

Bozich notes that "5Mbps to 7Mbps services are available to most folks. If you can get that level of service, then that's enough bandwidth to do pretty much anything, including voice and low-resolution video solutions."

Of course, this becomes trickier in rural areas where dial-up services are the only landline options available. In these cases, says Network World columnist and small business consultant James Gaskin, companies should consider investing in  connections to broadband global-area network for "portable broadband" access to remote locations.

Be sure to have a wireless backup option

Although wireline services are the most reliable and safe way to connect teleworkers to corporate WANs, even the best wireline networks go down from time to time. Thus, it's important for all employees working either at home or on the road to have access to a reliable wireless option that will safely give them access to corporate data. While in the past this has meant hooking on to unreliable and unsecure Wi-Fi networks, the advent of high-speed wireless technologies such as WiMAX, HSPA and EV-DO gives teleworkers the option of connecting to networks that offer good data speeds over a wide area.