Remote access

What is secure remote access and why is it important?

Secure remote access for employees allows authorized users to connect to their corporate network on authorized devices from remote locations. The goal is to prevent unauthorized access, protect data confidentiality, and preserve the integrity of the devices.

Secure remote access has evolved from a requirement for a few remote employees to a necessity for organizations of all sizes. As businesses adapt to remote work, especially with the growing use of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, their attack surfaces are rapidly expanding. Users accessing sensitive resources from more locations on more devices means more security risks are involved. Keep reading to learn why secure remote access for employees is so crucial.

What are the security risks of remote access?

Remote access poses various security threats, including unauthorized access, data breaches, malware infections, and compromised sensitive information. Here's why remote access can introduce these risks to your network:

VPN risks: While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt a user's connection to a network, they are not immune to threats. Without strong protection for secure remote access, VPNs can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or steal data.

Expanded attack surface: As organizations allow more devices to connect remotely, organizations increase the number of entry points for potential cyberattackers. This results in an expanded threat surface, making the network more vulnerable to attacks.

Human error: It's easy for employees with little security training to make mistakes like not updating devices, overlooking best security practices, failing to follow corporate security policies, or falling for phishing scams. However, these errors can cause serious consequences, such as network breaches or data exposures.

Phishing and malware: Remote access can be exploited by cyberattackers using phishing emails or malware attachments. Once a user clicks on these deceptive links or downloads malicious files, the attacker can gain a foothold in the organization's network.

Privileged access vulnerabilities: Power users have privileged access to critical systems and data. If their remote connections aren't secured, attackers can exploit these accounts to gain access to sensitive information, compromise security systems, and disrupt critical operations.

How do I secure my device for remote access?

To secure your devices for remote access, keep them up to date with the latest security patches, use strong passwords, avoid using public Wi-Fi, and use robust multi-factor authentication (MFA). Maintaining security hygiene is key to ensuring that only healthy devices access your organization's network and resources.

How does secure remote access work?

Granular, role-based access policies: Before users can connect, administrators set up access policies to determine who has access to what. Users are granted access to specific resources based on their roles within their organization so that sensitive data is only available to those who need it. In the event of a breach, an attacker can only move as far as the compromised user is authorized to, minimizing potential damage.

Strong authentication: Secure remote access requires strong authentication beyond usernames and passwords. MFA requires users to verify their identity before connecting to a secure remote access VPN, using a combination of factors like biometrics, passcodes, or security tokens. MFA helps ensure that only trusted users can gain secure remote access.

Secure remote access VPN: Secure remote access VPNs establish secure connections to the corporate network through strong authentication and encryption with application-specific access. However, traditional VPNs allow users full access to a network's resources, putting the entire network at risk if a breach were to occur. Effective VPNs designed for zero trust network access (ZTNA) offer granular access controls to restrict connections to the specific applications trusted users need.

Endpoint session monitoring: Secure remote access tools like security service edge (SSE) or extended detection and response (XDR) monitor user and device behavior in real time, flagging anomalous activities. These tools can block access, require additional verification, send alerts to security personnel, or execute other responses.

What is the safest way for remote access?

The safest way to utilize secure remote access involves a combination of security tools and practices, including:

• Secure encryption through a secure remote access VPN or secure remote access proxy
• Strong authentication with MFA or single sign-on (SSO)
• Regularly updated security protocols
• Endpoint security software
• SSE and secure access service edge (SASE) security

Is remote access more secure than VPN?

Strong remote access solutions can offer stronger security than traditional VPNs. While VPNs create secure tunnels for data transmission, remote-access solutions offer a wider range of security for safe remote connectivity. They enforce zero-trust policies, strict access controls, multi-factor authentication, device health checks, endpoint visibility, and more to protect your organization's data, users, and devices. 

What are secure remote access solutions?

Secure remote access can be enabled by implementing a combination of technologies. To choose the best remote-access solutions for your organization, look for those that offer strong authentication and authorization, secure encryption, granular access controls, logging and monitoring, and endpoint protection.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA enhances security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of identity verification before gaining access to the organization's on-premises or cloud-based applications. This layered approach helps ensure that even if one credential is compromised, additional security measures stand in the way of would-be attackers.

Single sign-on (SSO)

SSO streamlines user authentication by allowing individuals to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. This secure authentication method works in tandem with MFA to simplify remote users' experience and reduce the risk of password-related breaches.

Endpoint security

Endpoint security employs solutions like endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) to protect devices connecting to a network. EDR technology monitors endpoints for malicious activities, while XDR detects and responds to threats across endpoints, networks, clouds, and applications for broader coverage.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions

IAM systems enable security administrators to manage user identities and their permissions within a network. IAM tools like user provisioning, directory services, privileged access management, and role-based access controls help ensure users access only the resources they are authorized for.

Secure remote-access VPN

VPNs protect connections between remote users and an organization's network using encrypted tunnels. Shielding data in transit defends the confidentiality of sensitive information from potential attackers. A secure remote-access VPN aligns with zero trust network access principles, integrates with strong authentication tools, and allows for role-based access to authorized resources.

Secure service edge (SSE)

SSE provides diverse security functions for cloud-delivered remote access security solution built on the principles of zero trust network access. Features vary by vendor, but advanced SSE services like Cisco Secure Access deliver secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), firewall as a service (FWaaS), and more. These are supplemented by data loss prevention (DLP), DNS security, and remote browser isolation (RBI).

Network access control (NAC)

NAC systems determine which devices and users can connect to a network's on-premises and cloud systems—and to what extent. To maintain network security, NAC tools assess user behavior and device health, enforce access policies, block threats, and allow only compliant devices and trusted users to connect.

Secure access service edge (SASE)

SASE is an architecture that delivers converged network and security-as-a-service capabilities, including SD-WAN and cloud-native security functions such as  secure web gateways, cloud access security brokers, firewall as a service, and zero-trust network access.