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.