Every year around the same time retailers begin to advertise their back-to-school sales, IT vendors start to pick up the pace of new product introductions. Lately there have been a slew of telework-oriented announcements - including new products and services for bolstering security, simplifying remote access and trimming expenses. Here are a few that caught my eye.

• Small-office security. I set up the wireless network in my home and found configuring the security provisions to be the toughest part - mainly because the default settings seemed to circumvent using authentication. I'm sure many small-business users, teleworkers and consumers can relate. To help such users simply and adequately secure their wireless LANs, start-up Electronic Lifestyle Integrator (ELI) offers an appliance that combines network functions with a hosted security service. The service automatically updates the appliance's built-in anti-virus, content-filtering and anti-spam applications - as many as 30 times a day, according to company executives. To find out more, check out the full story by my colleague, John Cox.
• Wi-Fi security help. In a similar vein to start-up ELI's wireless security appliance is new Wi-Fi software from security veteran McAfee. It, too, is aimed at easy security setups. McAfee Wireless Home Network Security works to keep unwanted users from accessing WLANs or tapping into packet streams. The software automatically sets up encryption keys on Wi-Fi routers and the PCs connected to them, and then rotates the keys every three hours, according to McAfee.
• Remote access services. Citrix Online's GoToMyPC service lets IT execs give part-time or occasional teleworkers an easy way to securely access files and applications on their corporate PCs from home - or access home-based content on days they work in the corporate office. Now service provider BT is offering the Citrix service to its small business broadband users. It's a one-stop-shopping kind of deal: BT customers can bundle the GoToMyPC remote access services with BT's broadband services and keep it all on one monthly bill.
• DSL deals. Verizon is the latest to offer $15-a-month DSL service, like SBC earlier this year. The entry-level service provides between 128K bit/sec and 768K bit/sec of bandwidth. Verizon also is debuting a new DSL bundle with partner Yahoo that combines broadband Internet access with some of Yahoo's content and features. The co-branded offering includes e-mail and entertainment features, as well as a security software suite to protect users from viruses, spam and spyware.

Are there any telework-oriented products or services on the horizon that have caught your eye? If you've seen something new and different, I'd love to hear about it.