Item: TeamViewer
Rating: 9
Author: Michael Haberkern

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

TeamViewer is currently being used for two of our big vendors, their use is so they can gain access into their servers and applications in our environment. For security reasons, we do not install directly on the infrastructure, but rather have a dedicated computer that it runs on and the local IT team is required to RDP into the appliance and servers

Pros and Cons

TeamViewer is very good at allowing the local install to stay "alive". When I say that I mean, the access ID doesn't change, so the vendor doesn't have to type in the access code every time they want access. The only thing they need to enter is the password, so its ease of use is good
TeamViewer has a local FTP\SFTP\File transfer agent so it can send files to the local install, which is very helpful
The install and runtime takes up very little CPU and Memory

Its launch time can take longer than other remote access apps.
There are times the app doesn't launch when clicked and you need to kill the services in task manager to get it to work

Return on Investment

Fast vendor access is a plus
Easy and little work for the local IT team to get the vendor(s) going
Can be a little slower than other comparable apps to launch\load

Alternatives Considered

Citrix ShareFile, Join.me, LogMeIn Pro and Bomgar Remote Support Software

TeamViewer, as currently used is probably the best of the applications I have used, right up there with Bomgar. With Bomgar, we are actually administrating, and we love the back-end features of Bomgar, i.e. I can access the remote servers\workstations on the back-end without the user knowing. I do not know if TeamViewer possesses that functionality since we are more on the receiving end as the vendors run it.

Other Software Used

Bomgar Remote Support Software, Join.me, Citrix ShareFile

Likelihood to Recommend

We like that the client install can stay live and the vendor has the access code. This can be helpful for vendors that don't have direct or VPN access into their appliance(s) and/or servers. This is a very easy workaround and I think it works well. Local IT has very little work to do to get access for the vendor, the only thing they need to do is pass along the password. However, if the app hasn't died or is always running, the passcode will stay the same, so the vendor can remotely work many times throughout the day without local IT assistance.

TeamViewer is preferred

Overall Satisfaction with TeamViewer