C# conditional using block statement

One option, which is somewhat nasty but would work, based on the fact that the C# compiler calls Dispose only if the resource is non-null:

protected void ValidateExportDirectoryExists()
{
    using (useNetworkAccess 
               ? new Core.NetworkAccess(username, password, domain)
               : null)
    {
        CheckExportDirectoryExists();
    }
}

Another alternative would be to write a static method which returned either null or a NetworkAccess:

private Core.NetworkAccess CreateNetworkAccessIfNecessary()
{
    return useNetworkAccess
        ? new Core.NetworkAccess(username, password, domain)) : null;
}

Then:

protected void ValidateExportDirectoryExists()
{
    using (CreateNetworkAccessIfNecessary())
    {
        CheckExportDirectoryExists();
    }
}

Again, I'm still not sure I don't prefer the original... it really depends on how often you need this pattern.

The using statement is a shortcut to avoid "finally" blocks and should only be used when it makes the code easier to follow. In your case I would write the following code. It may not be as brief as some of the other versions, but is much more straight forward.

protected void ValidateExportDirectoryExists()
{
    Core.NetworkAccess access = useNetworkAccess ? new Core.NetworkAccess(username, password, domain) : null;    

    try
    {
        CheckExportDirectoryExists()
    }
    finally
    {
       if (access != null)
       {
           access.Dispose();
       }
    }
}

If you repeat this pattern in many methods you can break out the pattern

protected void OptionalNetworkCall(Action action)
{
    if (useNetworkAccess)
    {
        using (new Core.NetworkAccess(username, password, domain))
        {
            action();
        }
    }
    else
    {
        action();
    }
}

protected void ValidateExportDirectoryExists()
{
    OptionalNetworkCall(CheckExportDirectoryExists);
}