Remote Ready

Blog

  • Remote Access Security: 10 Practical Steps for Small Teams

    Last updated: November 2026

    Remote access is convenient for you, and for anyone who gets hold of your login. Attackers know that a remote desktop account or a VPN device leads straight into a company, which makes these tools a popular target. The good news: a handful of settings stops most attacks, and none of them require an IT department.

    Why remote access is a target

    Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, one of the largest annual studies of real security incidents, shows where attackers get in. Stolen or abused credentials were the starting point of 22% of breaches, and exploited vulnerabilities of 20%, an increase of 34% compared to the year before.

    Remote access equipment played a big role in that rise. VPN appliances and other edge devices accounted for 22% of the vulnerability exploitation in the report, up from just 3% a year earlier. Only about 54% of those vulnerabilities were fully fixed during the year, and the median time to fix them was 32 days.

    In plain terms: attackers try stolen passwords first, and unpatched remote access devices second. The steps below target exactly those two weaknesses.

    10 steps to secure remote access

    1. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere

    This is the single most effective step. With two-factor authentication, a stolen password alone is not enough to log in. Enable it on your remote desktop tool, your VPN, your email and every admin account. Prefer an authenticator app or security key over text messages.

    2. Use a unique, long password for each account

    Reused passwords are how one leaked login turns into a breach somewhere else. A password manager makes unique passwords painless for the whole team.

    3. Never expose Remote Desktop directly to the internet

    Opening Remote Desktop ports on your router so you can connect “directly” invites automated attacks around the clock. Use a remote desktop tool that connects outward, or put Remote Desktop behind a VPN.

    4. Patch VPNs and remote access tools quickly

    Given how often edge devices are exploited, treat updates for your VPN, firewall and remote access software as urgent. Turn on automatic updates where possible, and subscribe to your vendor’s security notices.

    5. Give everyone their own account

    Shared logins make it impossible to see who did what, and impossible to remove one person’s access without locking out everyone else. Each user gets their own account, even in a team of three.

    6. Limit who can reach what

    Not everyone needs access to every computer. Give people access only to the devices they actually use, and keep admin rights for the few who need them.

    7. Be careful with unattended access

    Unattended access lets someone connect to a computer when nobody is there. Turn it on only for computers that truly need it, and switch it off on devices nobody uses remotely anymore.

    8. Keep logs and review them

    Most business remote access tools log who connected, when and from where. A quick monthly look helps you spot logins at strange hours or from unexpected countries.

    9. Protect the devices people connect from

    A secure connection does not help if the laptop on the other end is infected. Keep work devices updated, use built-in disk encryption and avoid logging in to work tools from shared or public computers.

    10. Remove access the day someone leaves

    Former employees, freelancers and IT suppliers often keep access for months simply because nobody removed it. Add remote access to your offboarding checklist and review all accounts every quarter.

    Quick checklist

    • Two-factor authentication on every remote access, VPN and admin account
    • A password manager in use by the whole team
    • No Remote Desktop ports open on the router
    • Automatic updates on VPNs, firewalls and remote access tools
    • One account per person, with only the access they need
    • Unattended access limited to the computers that really need it
    • Logs reviewed monthly, accounts reviewed quarterly
    • Access removed on the last working day of anyone who leaves

    Frequently asked questions

    Is remote desktop software safer than a VPN?

    For a small team that only needs to reach a few computers, remote desktop software is often safer, because it does not require open ports and gives each user access to specific devices only. A VPN gives broader network access, which is powerful but needs careful patching and management.

    What is the biggest remote access risk for small businesses?

    Stolen passwords. They are the most common way attackers get in, which is why two-factor authentication is the first step on this list.

    How often should I review remote access accounts?

    Review them at least every three months, and immediately whenever someone joins, changes role or leaves.

    Do free remote desktop tools have the same security?

    Not always. Free tools may lack business features such as detailed access controls, logging or central account management. Check which security features are included before you rely on a free plan for work.

    Next step

    Go through the checklist above with your team this week, starting with two-factor authentication. Still choosing a tool? Our comparison of the best remote desktop software shows which options support the security features on this list, and our remote access guide explains the basics.

    Sources

  • Best Remote Desktop Software for Small Teams (2026)

    Prices checked: November 2026. Prices change often and can differ by region, so always confirm on the vendor’s website before you buy. We do not earn a commission from any tool on this page.

    Choosing remote desktop software looks easy until you compare the pricing pages. One vendor charges per user, the next per connection, a third per technician, and two of the best-known names quietly block their free version as soon as you use it for work. This comparison cuts through that for teams of one to twenty people.

    The short answer

    For most small teams, Splashtop offers the best value for paid remote access. If you need a free tool for business use, choose Chrome Remote Desktop for simplicity or RustDesk if someone on your team can run a server. TeamViewer and AnyDesk are strong products, but they cost noticeably more for small teams.

    Quick comparison

    Tool Best for Starting price Free for business use?
    Splashtop Best value for small teams $6/month (Solo, billed annually) No
    Zoho Assist Supporting customers and colleagues Free plan, paid from $10 per technician/month (annual) Yes, limited free plan
    TeamViewer Broad IT support and device management $24.90/month (Remote Access) No, personal use only
    AnyDesk Fast, lightweight sessions $28.90/month list price (Solo, billed annually) No, personal use only
    ConnectWise ScreenConnect IT providers and support desks Around $30/month (One, billed annually) No
    Chrome Remote Desktop Simple free access Free Yes
    RustDesk Free and self-hosted Free (paid server edition available) Yes
    Windows Remote Desktop Windows Pro offices Included with Windows Pro Yes, with Windows Pro

    How the pricing models differ

    Before you look at individual tools, it helps to understand what you are actually paying for, because this matters more than the headline price.

    • Per user: you pay for each person who connects, often with a limit on the number of computers. Splashtop works this way.
    • Per connection: you pay for how many sessions can run at the same time, regardless of how many people share the licence. This is the TeamViewer and AnyDesk model, and it can get expensive as soon as two people need to work at once.
    • Per technician: common in support tools such as Zoho Assist and ScreenConnect. You pay for each person giving support, not for the computers being supported.

    Also note that several vendors, including Splashtop and AnyDesk, only offer annual billing on their remote access plans.

    The tools in detail

    1. Splashtop: best value for small teams

    Splashtop’s Remote Access Solo plan costs $6 per month, billed annually, for one user and two computers. The Pro plan is $8.25 per user per month and covers more computers per user, which suits a small office where each person needs to reach their own desktop. Performance is strong, it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, and the per-user model stays predictable as you grow.

    Choose it if: you want reliable, affordable access to your own work computers. Skip it if: you need a free option.

    2. Zoho Assist: best for supporting others

    Zoho Assist is built for helping people, whether that is a colleague or a customer. Its free plan covers one technician and five unattended computers. Paid plans start at $10 per technician per month when billed annually, or $12 when billed monthly. If you already use Zoho Desk or another help desk, the integrations save time.

    Choose it if: you regularly support clients or a small team. Skip it if: you mainly need access to your own computers.

    3. TeamViewer: the broadest feature set

    TeamViewer is the best-known name in remote access and covers everything from quick support sessions to device management for larger IT teams. Its Remote Access plan starts at $24.90 per month for a single user. The free version is for personal use only, and TeamViewer actively detects commercial use.

    Choose it if: you need its advanced management features or your clients already use it. Skip it if: budget matters and you only need basic access.

    4. AnyDesk: fast and lightweight

    AnyDesk is known for responsive sessions, even on slower connections. The Solo plan lists at $28.90 per month and is billed annually. As with TeamViewer, the free version may not be used for work.

    Choose it if: speed on weak connections is your priority. Skip it if: you need several people to connect at the same time on a small budget.

    5. ConnectWise ScreenConnect: built for IT providers

    ScreenConnect is a favourite of managed service providers and in-house support desks. The One plan costs around $30 per month on annual billing, with higher tiers that add session recording and more concurrent sessions. It offers a lot of control, but it is more than most freelancers need.

    Choose it if: you run IT support for several clients. Skip it if: you just want to reach your own desktop.

    6. Chrome Remote Desktop: the simplest free option

    Chrome Remote Desktop is free, has no paid tier and works on Windows, Mac and Linux through a browser. You only need a Google account. It lacks features such as detailed permissions and session history, so it suits solo workers and quick help sessions better than growing teams.

    7. RustDesk: free, open source and self-hosted

    RustDesk is open-source software you can run on your own server, which keeps your connection data under your control and makes it free for business use. A paid server edition adds management features. You do need someone comfortable with setting up and maintaining a server.

    8. Windows Remote Desktop: already included in Windows Pro

    If your office computers run Windows Pro, Microsoft’s Remote Desktop is already paid for. It works well inside a company network or over a VPN. Never make it reachable directly from the internet, because exposed Remote Desktop ports are a favourite target for attackers.

    Which one should you choose?

    • Solo freelancer reaching your own office PC: Splashtop Solo, or Chrome Remote Desktop if you want free
    • Small office of 3 to 20 people: Splashtop Pro
    • You support clients or colleagues: Zoho Assist, or ScreenConnect if you are an IT provider
    • You want full control over your data: RustDesk, self-hosted
    • Your clients already standardised on a tool: follow them, usually TeamViewer or AnyDesk

    How we compared these tools

    We looked at published pricing and plan limits, the rules for free and commercial use, supported platforms and the security features each tool offers, such as two-factor authentication and access controls. Prices were checked in November 2026 using vendor pages and independent pricing trackers. We will update this page as prices change.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best free remote desktop software for business?

    Chrome Remote Desktop and RustDesk are both free for business use. Chrome Remote Desktop is easier to set up, while RustDesk gives you more control because you can host it yourself. The free versions of TeamViewer and AnyDesk are for personal use only.

    Is Splashtop cheaper than TeamViewer?

    Yes, for most small teams. Splashtop starts at $6 per month for one user, while TeamViewer’s Remote Access plan starts at $24.90 per month. The gap grows when several people need to connect at the same time.

    Do I need remote desktop software if I use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?

    Often not for daily work, because your files and apps are already online. Remote desktop software remains useful for software that only runs on one office computer, and for supporting colleagues.

    Which remote desktop software is the most secure?

    Security depends more on how you set up a tool than on the brand. Choose a tool that supports two-factor authentication and access logs, then follow our remote access security checklist.

    Next step

    Picked a tool? Before you install it on your team’s computers, take ten minutes for our remote access security checklist. It covers the settings that stop most attacks. New to the topic? Start with our practical guide to remote access.

    Sources

  • What Is Remote Access? A Practical Guide for Small Teams

    Last updated: November 2026

    It is 7:40 in the morning and Sarah, a freelance accountant, is at the airport. A client needs a signed report before nine, and the file sits on the desktop of her office PC, forty kilometres away. Five years ago that meant a missed deadline. Today she opens her laptop, connects to that office PC in under a minute, sends the report and boards her flight.

    That is remote access in one scene. This guide explains how it works, which type suits a small team, and what to set up so that the same convenience does not become a door for attackers.

    What is remote access?

    Remote access is the ability to use a computer, its files or a company network from another location, over the internet. You see and control the remote device, or you reach its files and applications, as if you were sitting in front of it.

    For small teams, remote access usually solves one of three problems:

    • Working away from the office: reaching your own desktop, files or business software from home or on the road
    • Supporting others: helping a colleague or customer by taking over their screen to fix a problem
    • Managing devices: updating, restarting or troubleshooting computers without being on site

    How remote access works

    Every remote access setup has three parts: the device you work from (the client), the device you connect to (the host) and a way for the two to find each other safely.

    Most modern remote desktop tools install a small program, often called an agent, on the host. That agent connects outward to the vendor’s servers. When you log in from your laptop, those servers introduce the two devices and, where possible, set up a direct encrypted connection between them. If a direct connection is blocked by a firewall, the traffic is relayed through the vendor’s servers instead.

    Because the host only makes outgoing connections, you do not need to open ports on your router. That is one of the main reasons these tools are safer for small teams than older setups that exposed a computer directly to the internet.

    The four main types of remote access

    Type What it does Best for Watch out for
    Remote desktop software Shows and controls a whole computer screen through an app or browser Freelancers and small teams, IT support Weak passwords, unattended access left open
    VPN (virtual private network) Puts your device on the company network as if you were in the office Teams with servers, shared drives or internal apps Unpatched VPN devices, which attackers actively target
    Built-in Remote Desktop (RDP) Microsoft’s own protocol, included in Windows Pro Windows-only offices with an IT person Never expose RDP directly to the internet
    Cloud apps and virtual desktops Your files and software live online, so any device with a browser works Teams that already work in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace Account takeovers if logins are not protected

    Many small teams combine two of these. A common pattern is cloud apps for daily work, plus remote desktop software for the few tasks that still need a specific office computer.

    Attended and unattended access

    Remote access tools work in two modes, and the difference matters for both convenience and security.

    • Attended access: someone sits at the remote computer and approves the connection, usually by sharing a one-time code. This is how most support sessions work.
    • Unattended access: you connect to a computer when nobody is there, for example your own office PC at night. The host is always ready, protected by your account login.

    Unattended access is the more powerful of the two, and therefore the one to protect most carefully. Turn it on only for devices you really need to reach, and always pair it with two-factor authentication.

    How to set up remote access in five steps

    1. Decide what you need to reach. One computer, a few shared files or a whole network? The answer points you to remote desktop software, cloud storage or a VPN.
    2. Choose a tool that fits your team size and budget. We compare the main options in our guide to the best remote desktop software.
    3. Install the host app on the computer you want to reach and set it to start automatically, so it stays available after a restart.
    4. Secure the account before you use it. Use a unique, long password and turn on two-factor authentication. Our remote access security checklist covers the rest.
    5. Test from outside your network, for example over your phone’s mobile data, before you depend on it on a trip.

    Common mistakes to avoid

    • Opening RDP or other remote ports on your router so you can connect “directly”
    • Sharing one remote access login across the whole team, so you can never tell who did what
    • Using a free personal licence for business work, which several vendors do not allow
    • Forgetting to remove access when an employee, freelancer or IT supplier leaves
    • Leaving unattended access enabled on computers nobody needs to reach anymore

    Frequently asked questions

    Is remote access safe?

    It is safe when it is set up properly. Use a reputable tool, protect every account with two-factor authentication, keep software updated and never expose remote desktop ports directly to the internet. Most incidents start with stolen passwords or unpatched devices, not with the idea of remote access itself.

    Do I need a VPN for remote access?

    Not always. If you only need to control one or a few computers, remote desktop software is usually simpler and safer for a small team. A VPN makes sense when people need access to shared drives, servers or internal applications on the office network.

    Can I use remote access for free?

    Yes. Chrome Remote Desktop is free, and open-source tools such as RustDesk can be self-hosted. Be careful with the free versions of commercial tools: TeamViewer and AnyDesk only allow them for personal use.

    What is the difference between remote access and remote support?

    Remote access usually means reaching your own devices. Remote support means helping someone else on their device, typically with their permission for each session. Many tools do both, but support-focused tools add features such as session codes, chat and ticketing.

    Next step

    Now that you know which type of remote access fits your situation, the next decision is the tool. Read our comparison of the best remote desktop software for small teams, with current prices and the free options that are actually allowed for business use.