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Working remotely in AE/AO and our financial hardship policy

This support note applies to:

  • AE Tax Manager (NZ)

  • AO Classic (NZ)

  • AO Tax (NZ)

  • AE Tax (NZ)

  • AO Assets Live (NZ)

  • AE Assets Live (NZ)

  • AO Assets Live (AU)

  • AE Assets Live (AU)

  • AE Statutory Reporter (NZ)

  • AE Statutory Reporter (AU)

  • AO Statutory Reporter (AU)

  • Workpapers (NZ)

  • AO Workpapers (AU)

  • AE Workpapers (AU)

  • AO Practice Manager (NZ)

  • AO Practice Manager (AU)

  • AE Practice Manager (NZ)

  • AE Practice Manager (AU)

  • AE Document Manager (NZ)

  • AE Document Manager (AU)

  • AO Document Manager (AU)

  • AO Classic Document Manager (AU)

  • AO Classic Document Manager (NZ)

  • AO Document Manager (NZ)

  • PDF Manager (AU)

  • PDF Manager (NZ)

  • AE System Release (NZ)

  • AE System Release (AU)

  • AE Reporter (NZ)

  • AE Reporter (AU)

  • AE MAS (NZ)

  • AE MAS (AU)

  • AE Assets (AU)

  • AO Corporate Compliance (AU)

  • AE Assets (NZ)

  • AE Corporate Compliance (AU)

  • AE Accounts (AU)

  • AE Investments (AU)

  • Insolvency (AU)

  • AO Classic Tax (AU)

  • AO Classic Practice Management (AU)

  • AO Classic General Ledger (AU)

  • Profiles (AU)

  • AE Tax Series 6 & 8 (AU)

  • AE Tax (AU)

  • AO Tax (AU)

Article ID: 49548268

MYOB Financial Hardship Policy

In an unprecedented situation like COVID-19, we're here to help you in any way we can. If you're facing financial difficulties, talk to us asap. See MYOB Financial Hardship Policy.

Working remotely

If you need to work from home, you can access MYOB AE/AO remotely with minimal disruption.

What are my options?

  • Remote desktop connection using a VPN to a:

    • terminal server/remote desktop server, or

    • desktop computer in your practice.

  • Remote access applications such as TeamViewer.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

We don't recommend using a VPN to connect to your office computer which runs MYOB AE/AO.

A VPN should only be used in conjunction with an RDP connection to a workstation or server that is physically in your office

Ensure you assess each of these options and choose the right one depending on your business needs. MYOB can't provide support or recommendations beyond the information in this article.

You may also see software performance and speed issues with remote access. There are a number of reasons for this, such as your internet connection and office network setup.

The sections below contain technical information. Talk to your IT provider if you need help setting up.

Remote desktop connections

What is it?

A remote desktop connection lets you connect to another computer—generally a terminal server or remote desktop server. Access MYOB AE/AO by viewing the remote computer session on your local computer.

What do I need to do? 

Many practices already use these setups. If not already enabled, your IT provider may be able to configure your network and your terminal server to allow remote desktop connections from outside of your network.

We recommend you don't access the Remote Desktop outside your Office network without being connected to a VPN and with 2FA enabled. Once connected from outside your network, you can remotely access the computer that's running AE/AO.

Performance Considerations

When connecting remotely, you may find your software isn't as fast as you're used to when you're working on it in your office. There are a number of factors that can limit the software performance. For example, the internet connection speed.

Remote desktop server

A remote desktop server connects multiple users at once. It keeps each user's details separate, but each user shares the processing and memory capabilities of the server.

I have a remote desktop server

Your IT provider can configure your network and firewall. This will allow users from outside your network to connect to the remote desktop server inside your network.

You may also need to make other changes, such as Active Directory user permissions and Group Policy Objects. Your IT provider can provide instructions on exactly how to establish a connection from your computer at home.

Do I need to configure anything in AE/AO?

As you're connecting to the computer inside your office network that has AE/AO installed, you don't need to configure anything.

I don't have a remote desktop server

You can set up a remote desktop server. You'll need to take into account hardware or software expenses. You'll also need to configure your firewall and network to allow remote access to your remote desktop server.

Your IT provider can provide instructions on how exactly to establish the connection from your computer at home.

Do I need to configure anything in AE/AO? 

You'll need to configure AE/AO to run on a remote desktop server or terminal server. Call our support team for information on how to install the workstation components on a remote desktop server.

Remote desktop connection to individual comptuers

You can make a remote desktop connection from outside of your network to computers in your network. Windows has an inbuilt way of making a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection. You can use this to connect to your desktop in the office.

What do I need to do?

Your IT provider needs to configure a VPN connection to your network with the required port forwards and firewall rules. This is to allow remote desktop connections to enter your network, and then get directed to specific computers in your office.

Remote access applications

What is it?

Remote access applications connect to a host computer, letting you work as though you were sitting at the computer at your office. This is because it actually uses your PC in the office. This works similarly to remote desktop connections.  

Here are some examples of applications that can connect remotely to your computer:

  • TeamViewer

  • LogMeIn

  • WaykNow

  • VNC

  • RemotePC

  • Splashtop.

When considering the applications above, we recommend upgrading to a subscription/license that enables 2FA access.

We're not necessarily recommending any of these applications, and we don't provide any support for them. 

Many of these solutions have costs or may have limitations in how long you can connect. Research which application is best for you. Consider your business needs and other factors such as security, usability and cost before making a decision. You'll also need specific firewall configurations to let them connect. For example, port forwarding, or opening specific ports for specific protocols.

If not already enabled, your IT provider can configure your network and your terminal server to allow remote desktop connections from outside of your network.

Remote printing

Connecting remotely using VPN and remote desktop

When you connect to your office computer using a VPN and remote desktop connection, you can print as if you were on your office network.

Make sure you can see your home printer on your printers list in Control Panel.

If you can't see your home printer on the list, you'll need to enable the printer in the Local Resources tab in the Remote Desktop Connection window. Ask your IT provider if you need help.

Connecting using remote access applications

If you're using remote access applications such as Teamviewer, you'll need to configure your home printer as per the remote access software you're using. Ask your IT provider if you need help.
Technical considerations on your home computer

Your home computer may not have the same level of configuration as your business/work computer. 

We recommend the following configurations to be considered on any home computer that you want to connect to your business/work network.

Supported Windows versions

Windows 8

Windows 8.1

Windows 10

Supported macOS

(MYOB AE/AO is not supported locally on macOS but you can remotely connect to a Windows environment to run MYOB AE/AO using methods mentioned in this article)

 

Mountain Lion OS X 10.8.x.

Mavericks OS X 10.9.x.

Yosemite OS X 10.10.x.

El Capitan OS X 10.11.x.

Sierra macOS 10.12.x.

High Sierra macOS 10.13.x.

Mojave OS X 10.14.x.

Catalina OS X 10.15.x

Other considerations

The device is fully patched/updated with the latest security updates.

A paid subscription for Antivirus/Malware protection

 VPN considerations

We recommend the 2FA/MFA activated to establish the VPN connection.

 Block SMB traffic over the VPN link and lockdown to RDP only. This will remove the risk of infected data being transferred to your business network.

You can download the latest RDP client (inbuilt on a Windows PC) from the Apple Store.

Last but not least

Backups

It's essential that you have a backup plan for your data (not just MYOB data).

It's more important than ever to invest in a cloud backup solution. In an event like a lockdown, where you can't access physical storage such as external USBs and other devices, a cloud backup will let you access your data for restoring.

Speak with your IT provider for recommendations for backup plans.