Patch-through access

Patch-Through Access refers to a security clearance used in various applications. According to the application, it may be regarded as a high or a low level security clearance.

• In telephony and some corporate/defense applications, Patch-Through is a low level clearance, only allowing the user to use the telephony station (router) as a method to be put through to another service, sometimes on a national phone network, but more often on a small telephony network owned by the company who provides the service, but not access any services local to the station, or modify the options of the station itself.
• In security and most other corporate applications, Patch-Through is a high level clearance, because it allows the user to utilise company funds in order to make external calls (usually to international or other high-rate locations). In this sense, Patch-Through is useful because it saves employees who work from home for having to get company rebates for expensive calls made on behalf of the company.