Remote Access, Made Simple and Free (Or as Cheap as Possible)

With cloud servers and storage becoming increasingly mainstream. There has never been an easier time to stay connected with your computer, and your data no matter where you are. Within, I will cover some good basic methods for connecting yourself with your files and or your computer, no matter where you are.
Google docs is a fairly understated set of applications. They allow you to upload, store, edit and view your files from any computer or smart phone. If you need access to files for work, or spend a lot of time out of town, this could be an excellent option to take a look at. As with most things google, the service itself is free! This can also be useful for small businesses who need more advanced features like real time collaboration, or change tracking. The service is not only free, but also compatible with all current Microsoft
formats.

Storing sensitive items within google's servers can make some people nervous, and that is understandable. There are also options to access your data remotely, while it still resides on your computer. Logmein.com does just this. It allows you to access your computer from any web browser, and control it as though you were sitting right in front of it. This is an immensly useful feature for small businesses and end users. This company offers a few paid services, but both of the primary priducts that I will go over are completely free. Logmein basic is one of those, and it offers you a secure, encrypted connection to your computer from anywhere.
Another of their free services that is worth considering if you are a tad more computer savy is hamachi. This program allows you to remotely access your files that are shared over a local area network as though you were connected directly to the sharing computer. It is free for non-commercial use.
Disclaimer – Varnes Computers, and Andrew Varnes have no promotional affiliation with logmein.
Another excellent option is Dropbox, a company that will give you up to 2gb of online storage and sharing space for free.
Sharing your computers and files is easy! While the tools to do this with simplicity are not yet included with your operating system, it can be done by anyone with the right resources, without spending a dime.