Remote-access Guide

3 considerations for remote access

by Marcellus Streich Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The 7 most important remote access software considerations

  1. Security considerations. It could be argued that security should not be considered a “feature” per se, but more of a...
  2. Remote audio. Having the ability to hear audio from a remote computer can come in very useful, in particular if you...
  3. Consider what platforms you need to support. Compatibility across...

Remote access is a versatile tool with many different capabilities and uses across industries.
...
The three that we see as most essential are:
  • End-to-end encrypted connections.
  • Detailed audit logging of all sessions.
  • Multi-factor authentication for additional layers of protection.
Feb 11, 2021

Full Answer

What are the different options for secure remote access?

Let’s look at a few of the common options for secure remote access: A common remote access technology in use today is the IPsec VPN. A piece of software called a VPN client is installed on the end user’s computer and is configured with details about the target network, such as the gateway IP address and a pre-shared security key.

What is remote access technology and how does it work?

A common remote access technology in use today is the IPsec VPN. A piece of software called a VPN client is installed on the end user’s computer and is configured with details about the target network, such as the gateway IP address and a pre-shared security key.

Should you allow remote working access to your workplace?

In normal circumstances this is fine, because on a normal working day most of the data traffic is entering the office rather than leaving it. Adding remote working access to an office IT system turns this on its head and stresses the weaker outgoing data capacity.

What do I need to set up a remote key exchange?

Multiple parameters, including IP address, domain name, key ID, authentication mode, a suitable encryption algorithm, and an efficient hash function, all need to be configured to properly establish connectivity with remote machines and to be able to exchange the necessary authentication keys and data.

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What do you need to consider when determining your remote access needs?

The remote user must be authenticated according to your company. Smart Card or certificate authentication with a password when establishing the connection is recommended for user identification. If normal credentials are used please have a good password policy or combine this with two-factor authentication.

What are security considerations for remote users examples?

Five Remote Access Security Risks And How To Protect Against ThemWeak remote access policies. ... A deluge of new devices to protect. ... Lack of visibility into remote user activity. ... Users mixing home and business passwords. ... Opportunistic phishing attempts.

What are the three types of remote connections?

Remote Access Control MethodsDirect (Physical) Line. The first direct remote access control that can be implemented is a direct line from a computer to the company's LAN. ... Virtual Private Network. Another method which is more common is establishing a VPN. ... Deploying Microsoft RDS.

What are the features of remote access?

Most Important Remote Desktop Features: The Complete ListUnattended Access. ... Multi-Session Handling. ... Multi-Window Control. ... Built-In Chat. ... File & Clipboard Transfer. ... Auto Reboot & Reconnect. ... Restart in Safe Mode. ... Log Off/Log On & Switch User.More items...•

What are the security considerations?

The Security Considerations Assessment (SCA) process ensures security-related vulnerabilities are considered across a range of activities and processes within an organisation. This includes physical, personnel, cyber and cross-cutting security measures.

What are the risk of remote access?

Many remote access security risks abound, but below is a list of the ones that jump out.Lack of information. ... Password sharing. ... Software. ... Personal devices. ... Patching. ... Vulnerable backups. ... Device hygiene. ... Phishing attacks.

What is remote access?

Remote access is the ability for an authorized person to access a computer or network from a geographical distance through a network connection. Remote access enables users to connect to the systems they need when they are physically far away.

What is remote access security?

Secure remote access refers to any security policy, solution, strategy or process that exists to prevent unauthorized access to your network, its resources, or any confidential or sensitive data. Essentially, secure remote access is a mix of security strategies and not necessarily one specific technology like a VPN.

How does a remote access work?

Remote access simply works by linking the remote user to the host computer over the internet. It does not require any additional hardware to do so. Instead, it requires remote access software to be downloaded and installed on both the local and remote computers.

Why is remote access important?

With remote access, employees can safely work from any device, platform, or network at their home office or abroad. Remote desktop functions allow them to remotely access important files and share their screen for meetings and troubleshooting.

How do you implement remote access?

How to use Remote DesktopSet up the PC you want to connect to so it allows remote connections: Make sure you have Windows 11 Pro. ... Use Remote Desktop to connect to the PC you set up: On your local Windows PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection.

How can I remotely access a computer?

Set up remote access to your computerOn your computer, open Chrome.In the address bar, enter remotedesktop.google.com/access .Under “Set up Remote Access,” click Download .Follow the onscreen directions to download and install Chrome Remote Desktop.

What are the security risks of remote working?

Top Security Risks of Remote WorkingGDPR and remote working. Remote work means an employer has less control and visibility over employees' data security. ... Phishing Emails. ... Weak Passwords. ... Unsecured Home Devices. ... Unencrypted File Sharing. ... Open Home WiFi Networks.

What security considerations do you think are important for users accessing their company desktops remotely?

Why do I need to secure remote access?1) Assume threats will occur.2) Create a telework policy.3) Encrypt sensitive information.4) Designate and secure specific remote work devices.5) Employ user authentication.6) Set up a VPN.7) Manage sensitive data securely.8) Collaborate with third-party partners and vendors.

How do you keep security when employees work remotely?

Remote Work Security Best PracticesEstablish and enforce a data security policy. ... Equip your employees with the right tools and technology. ... Frequently update your network security systems. ... Regulate the use of personal devices. ... Institute a “Zero Trust” approach. ... Make sure all internet connections are secure.More items...

How do I make remote access secure?

Basic Security Tips for Remote DesktopUse strong passwords.Use Two-factor authentication.Update your software.Restrict access using firewalls.Enable Network Level Authentication.Limit users who can log in using Remote Desktop.

What is remote access technology?

A common remote access technology in use today is the IPsec VPN. A piece of software called a VPN client is installed on the end user’s computer and is configured with details about the target network, such as the gateway IP address and a pre-shared security key. Each time the user wants to connect to the corporate network, they start the VPN client, which creates a secure connection to the corporate firewall.

Which operating system do you need for client?

Clients are required to use either the Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Microsoft’s Operating Systems.

Is there more configuration required on the firewall when setting up the client to be published?

There is more configuration required on the firewall when setting up the client to be published.

Is VPN required for telecommuting?

Being able to connect securely to your corporate network from a remote location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is important, and it may be required by your job if you are a telecommuter. There are some remote access technologies that are widely used, but some new methods have recently emerged that have the ability to change how we work.

Does IT need to touch each machine?

The IT department does not need to touch each machine that needs remote access. Network administrators can set up granular security policies for specific resources on the corporate network, even down to a single web-based application. Software clients are available for mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads.

Is DirectAccess going to be widespread?

DirectAccess is not going to gain widespread adoption until the OS licensing requirements are revised and the networking is reworked to be more straightforward. While IPv6 is the future of networking, we currently live and work in an IPv4 world, especially on the LAN (as of May 2014, IPv4 still carried more than 96% of Internet traffic worldwide, according to Google ). Setting up a new remote access technology should not require one or more potentially expensive projects before it can be deployed.

IIoT driving OEM business models

The IIoT has revolutionized the way business owners view their production environment by providing the capability to acquire real-time data from machines and devices in the field so that business owners can efficiently monitor and control production processes.

Challenges using VPN & RDC

Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), the latter using Virtual Network Computing (VNC), are two common methods used to remotely access machines and equipment at field sites.

Cloud-based secure remote access

Cloud-based remote access is a new type of remote access solution that enables flexible remote access to field machines. The network topology of a cloud-based remote access solution is composed of three components: remote gateway, cloud server, and client software.

Ease of use

Plug and play remote access without technical configuration. In a cloud-based remote access solution, security parameters, such as the hash functions, encryption/decryption algorithms, etc., are configured automatically.

Flexibility and scalability

Client software isn’t limited to a specific hardware platform. As long as they have an active client account, users can download the client software to any laptop/PC and have remote access from anywhere and at any time.

Conclusion

OEMs and machine builders require a secure, easy-to-use, and scalable remote access solution to enable on-demand remote access to machines deployed in the field. The traditional VPN and RDC solutions are cumbersome and require IT/networking knowledge as well as changes in the security/firewall policies.

Why is it important to switch to remote teaching?

Switching to remote teaching and learning is a dramatic change from ‘business as usual’ for institutions that have provided a consistent experience for generations.

Is it easier to control content?

Now, more than ever, there is a tremendous amount of information available for free or at a very low cost. The “what” of instruction has never been easier to access both in-person and from afar. As a matter of fact, it’s now easier to get overwhelmed with too much content.

Why is remote access not required?

Remote access to machines and equipment is typically not required on a continuous basis and hence can be used on an as-needed basis to minimize security issues and reduce costs , especially in cases where remote connectivity is based on a volume-dependent pricing option, such as with cellular technology.

What is remote access for machine builders?

Some machine builders have adopted traditional remote access methods such as Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) to improve their service levels and to provide quick response times for their customers. However, these traditional remote access solutions have various limitations and constraints that prevent machine builders from achieving their maximum service potential.

What is cloud based remote access?

Cloud-based remote access is a new type of remote access solution that enables flexible remote access to field machines. The network topology of a cloud-based remote access solution is composed of three components: a remote gateway, a cloud server, and client software. Remote gateways are connected to field equipment in order to remotely access and control them. Client software is installed on the engineer’s PC or desktop. The cloud server can be installed on a cloud-based platform such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. The remote gateway and client software will both initiate outbound secure connection requests to the cloud server.

What is VPN and RDC?

VPN and RDC solutions can facilitate secure connections to remote machines. However, many of these solutions lack the flexibility or the intelligence to meet the specific needs of industrial machine builders. The five key elements that such machine builders have to consider when they use VPN and RDC solutions are: ...

How to achieve a higher level of security?

One way to achieve a higher-level of security is to have different pre-shared keys or X.509 certificates for each VPN tunnel. When the number of VPN tunnels/connections required are few, it is easy to manage the keys or certificates for these connections. However, as the number of VPN tunnels grows, it becomes very hard to manage these keys and certificates. When VPN servers or client systems are changed, certificates have to be regenerated. When a certificate expires, a new certificate has to be assigned and reloaded to the system, which further complicates maintenance.

What is a RDC?

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), the latter of which uses Virtual Network Computing (VNC), are two common methods used to remotely access machines and equipment at field sites.

Does VPN have a limit?

VPN servers typically have a limitation on the number of VPN tunnels they can support. When a business grows, more and more machines and devices are connected to the network with an increasing number of engineers supporting business operations. This leads to an increase in the number of VPN connections required.

What changes are needed to accommodate remote working?

Some big changes have to be made to the company’s operating procedures to accommodate remote working. New rules have to be quickly drafted and approved by the organisation’s management team. And in this rush, many safeguards are likely to be missed, overlooked or downplayed. If the organisation is inexperienced with IT systems then the management team needs to be aware of the significant and new risks that remote working opens up.

What are the risks of remote working?

The first of the major headline risks of Remote-Working is an increased risk of data leakage.

Why is extra care needed when using personal computers?

If the decision is made to use personal computers, then extra care needs to be taken, because there is a real chance of delivering ransomware into the office network and allowing company data to leak out.

Why do companies need remote working?

Right now, there is an urgent need for many companies to setup remote working for their staff so that they can continue their day-to-day business operations in the face of calls for medical isolation and advice to restrict movement of people around the country.

What happens when an employee works remotely?

When employees works remotely they are stepping outside of the normal day-to-day office environment, which itself prevents a lot of risky IT behaviour. In the office, employees are going to be observed doing something unwise, such as bringing in an external USB drive and connecting it to an office computer, or adding another printer to the office network and printing off a lot of company documents.

Can authorised employees gain access to a remote work site?

Inevitably, any openings that we make to let authorised employees to gain access can sometimes be exploited by bad operators. If these remote working access routes are unmonitored or not well protected then the risk of a cyber-security break-in is significant.

Is it safe to do something quick without consideration?

Doing something quick without the proper amount of consideration is risky and not advisable.

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