Remote access — get in, get work done, stay secure

If you connect to your office from home, a cafe, or while travelling, remote access is what makes that possible — and it's also a common way attackers get in. This page gives clear, practical steps you can start using today to keep accounts, devices and data safe when you work from somewhere else.

Quick steps to secure remote access

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account that offers it — a password plus a phone app or hardware key stops most account takeovers. Update your devices and apps regularly; security patches close holes attackers exploit. Avoid public Wi‑Fi for sensitive tasks; if you have to use it, turn on a trusted VPN before you log in. Pick strong, unique passwords and store them in a password manager instead of reusing the same one across sites. Turn off remote access services you don't need, like open RDP or unused SSH ports, so there are fewer doors to lock.

Limit access by role: give users only the systems they need and remove access when it’s no longer required. Monitor remote logins and check access logs for unusual times or IP addresses. When someone leaves a team, revoke credentials and change shared passwords right away. Finally, teach everyone to recognise phishing — most remote access breaches start with a click on a fake login link.

Tools and setups to consider

VPNs are a basic way to secure traffic; choose a company-grade VPN or your organisation's managed service, not a free public VPN. For stronger control, look into Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) or identity-aware proxies that verify every connection instead of trusting being on the corporate network. For remote desktop needs, avoid exposing RDP directly to the internet — use a jump host, VPN, or a remote access gateway that adds MFA and logging.

Use SSH keys for server access rather than passwords, and protect private keys with a passphrase. For shared or third-party support sessions, prefer solutions with session recording and permission controls so you can review who did what. Keep backups of critical systems offsite and test restores — if remote access is how you manage servers, you must be able to recover without it.

Small teams can improve security quickly: enable MFA, update devices, and require a company VPN. Larger organisations should add endpoint protection, conditional access policies, and regular audits of remote access logs. Whatever your size, make secure remote access part of onboarding so people start right away.

Want a quick checklist? Turn on MFA, install updates, use a password manager, enable a VPN or ZTNA, and remove unused remote services. Do those five things and you block the easiest attacks while keeping remote work smooth and reliable.