Tag: remote access software

Get Remote Access Security

Now that hackers and online perpetrators have come up with new ways to compromise someone’s network security, not even the biggest and most established companies are exempted from these advanced attacks and incursions. In line with this, cyber criminals are starting to prey on compromised credentials coming from teleworkers and remote access vendors. In today’s article, we’ll show you some of the biggest security incidents that have happened due to compromised remote access technology.

Remote Access

Remote access is a technology that provides users with the ability to connect to off-site computers over a remote desktop connection. Once the connection is established, the users can now access and control the remote computers as if they were sitting in front of it. They can manage apps, install updates, and even perform certain administrative tasks. With this, certain computing tasks can be simplified, eliminating the need for the physical presence of the users to get a task done.

Businesses use remote access to allow employees to gain access to certain office resources outside of working hours. With this, business functions can still be pushed through no matter the situation is.

Remote access Software also helps with the employees overall productivity. It allows them to stay productive at work even outside of a central work location Team leaders and managers can also use remote access to conduct remote meetings and presentations.

Remote Access Security Threats

1. Endpoint Devices – Businesses that allow employees to complete their work functions outside of the office are more likely to experience a security incident. Employees who utilize their personal devices to work remotely can exploit the vulnerabilities of their companies corporate networks. The problem with this practice is that not all of your employees devices are safe enough to connect to your network. Some of them may have their own security flaws that can infect your private system.

2. Poor Remote Access Policies –Without strict and strong policies backing up the use of remote access security, you are setting up your business to failure. It is important for companies to impose effective policies and rules that can manage and monitor the activities of employees who are working remotely.

This includes limiting user access where everyone is not entitled to connect to your network outside of the office. Failure to implement such rules and protocols can disrupt the security of your network, making it easy for hackers and online perpetrators to cause massive security incidents and breaches.

3. Weak Login Credentials – Some companies, especially small ones, put a small amount of effort when it comes to strengthening their remote access codes and passwords. This kind of poor practice can help hackers and cybercriminals gain entry to your system and cause a major security havoc. That’s why businesses are encouraged to implement strong passwords such as the utilization of two-factor authentication to ensure that no malicious attacks can enter your corporate network.

Security Incidents Linked to Remote Access

1. Healthcare Sector – According to a report released by Threatpost, three healthcare organizations had their databases compromised due to poor implementation of remote desktop protocol (RDP) in regards to the utilization of Windows Remote Desktop, a free remote access tool released by Microsoft. This resulted in the acquisition of 655,000 healthcare records across Georgia, Farmington, Missouri, and Central/Midwest United States. It was found later that these documents were sold on the deep dark web.

2. Target Breach – In 2013, massive retailer Target has been subjected to a massive attack due to remote access. The attack caused a major security havoc where as many as 70 million credit and debit card information have been acquired from their private systems. It is later found that hackers were able to steal those card details through the poor implementation of login credentials of its remote access vendor HVAC.

3. Verizon – One of the most widely known reports of a massive security incident through remote access was reported in 2011. According to its Data Breach Investigations Report, 88% of all the hacking incidents that were recorded from its system were linked to remote access services. Some of these services were reported to be Virtual Network Computing (VNC) and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It was also later found that in 2010, 95% of the malware infections recorded that time were linked to remote access technology.

Conclusion

Many of today’s major security breaches and incidents are linked to remote access technology. That’s why businesses that allow their employees to access their corporate networks outside of the office need to be more extra cautions when it comes to granting remote access security.

Related Resources:

However, the high demand for such technology has paved the way for hackers to come up with new ways to exploit its vulnerabilities and cause major security havoc to private networks and systems. That’s why businesses that are looking to invest in one needs to understand how crucial it is to secure remote access.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of tips for you to secure remote access.

What is Remote Access?

Remote access, or sometimes referred to as remote desktop, is a type of technology that provides users with the ability to connect to remote endpoints via a remote connection. Once connected, the users can now access and control any remote computers from an off-site location. They can perform several computing tasks a person sitting in front of the remote endpoints can.

With remote access, the need for the physical presence of the user to get a task accomplished is eliminated. This means the user can perform several tasks such as app management and software installation on the remote computer without his physical intervention.

Modern businesses use remote access to enhance their overall productivity and efficiency. With remote access, employees who may be bombarded with requests outside of working hours can still have access to their important office resources in order to address such unforeseen demands. Employees who also can’t be at their office physically can use remote access to complete their daily work functions outside of a central work location.

IT professionals use remote access to provide off-site support to clients across the globe. With this, the long travel times and travel-related expenses are eliminated. Managed service providers (MSPs) also use remote access to manage and assess a bunch of remote endpoints connected to a specific private network.

Ways to Secure Remote Access

As stated a while back, businesses that are looking to use remote access need to know how to secure it against unwanted threats and attacks. Failure to implement remote access safely can cause you a massive security incident. Here are a few security tips on you how to secure remote access effectively.

• Limit User Access – You are more likely to invite online perpetrators to launch attacks to your system when your network is opened to be accessed 24/7. You need to ensure that the use of remote access should be disabled when not in use. As much as possible, remote workers or employees who need to access your network outside of the office are the ones who can access your network remotely.
• Strengthen Passwords – Poor implementation of passwords can help hackers gain entry to your system without your knowledge. The sad reality is that most businesses nowadays don’t put a lot of effort into strengthening their remote passwords and credentials. To ensure that your login credentials are strong enough to validate all access attempts, try to use two-factor authentication instead of a regular password. Since it has two login identifications, it will be harder for attackers to gain entry to your system remotely.
• Secure Endpoint Devices – Sometimes, malware infections come from the endpoint devices of your employees. The devices they use to connect to your network may have their fair share of security flaws that can disrupt the security of your system. As much as possible, require them to install anti-malware software that can combat viruses and types of malware that can harm your network. Also, provide them with security protocols and measures that can help them connect to your corporate network securely.
• Invest in Secure Remote Access Solutions – All these tips wouldn’t matter if you’re not invested in a secure remote access platform. Make sure that the remote access solution you’re keeping an eye on has the ability to encrypt remote sessions that can prevent hackers from recording any confidential interaction between the local and remote servers. Also, choose the one that can create a session confirmation for every access attempt made on your network. This ensures that access made on your server is well authorized and authenticated.

Conclusion

Whether we like it or not, remote access has now become a target ground for modern hacking and online theft. That’s why securing this technology is crucial for your company’s security and protection. With secure remote access, you can maintain a safe environment where a massive security incident is less likely to happen.

Related Resources:

If you want your business to maintain a safe environment away from threats and malicious malware, then know how to secure remote access. In this guide, we’ll show you a few security tips on how you can secure such technology.

What is Remote Access?

Remote access, or sometimes referred to as remote desktop, is a technology that connects two computing devices from physically separate locations. With the help of this technology, a user can access and control his endpoint machine from a distant spot. The primary aim of remote access to allow users to perform several computing tasks without their physical interventions. Once connected, any user can now use apps, install updates, and even manage files on the remote computer using remote computer access.

As stated a while back, many organizations nowadays give their employees the right to access their private networks outside of working hours. This helps them maintain business opportunities and enhance their overall productivity rate. With remote access, any business demands can be addressed quickly even if an employee is on leave and is not working in a central work location. This also helps employees complete their daily work functions even if something impedes them from being at their office.

IT professionals can also benefit from using remote access. This tool can help them provide off-site support from anywhere at any time. With remote access, long travel times and expenses related to travel can be eliminated. In the end, it helps them simplify their work functions by providing them with a faster and more effective approach to providing technical support.

How to Secure Remote Access?

As a business, it is important for you to come up with security measures that can protect your business from the threats that come with the utilization of remote access. Here are a few practical ways on how to ensure the safety of remote access.

Secure Endpoint Devices

Your network is as safe as the devices that have access to it. That’s why it is crucial for businesses to ensure the safety of all endpoint devices that can connect to their networks remotely. The problem with these employee-owned devices is that there is no guarantee that they are at par with your company’s security standard. Some of them may have their fair share of security issues and flaws that can ultimately disrupt the overall security of your network.

Before allowing your employees to use their personal devices, it is important to communicate with them about the security policies you have in your company. Make sure you set security guidelines and limits on how they can securely connect to your network using their personal endpoints. Furthermore, it is important for you to require them to install anti-malware software that can combat threats and viruses. You can also ask them to update their devices regularly with the latest security features and patches.

Limit User Access

If your network is opened to be accessed at all times, chances are, you are more likely to expose your network to a bunch of security threats online. Make sure to limit the number of resources that can be accessed by your employees outside of the office. This will ensure that all of your confidential files and information are kept private and concealed. Also, make sure that only those who need to connect to your network remotely are given the chance to use remote access.

System administrators should also have their own limits when it comes to accessing remote endpoints outside of working hours. This means that their access should be disabled temporarily if they are not administering a bunch of remote devices connected to your network. By putting access limits in places, you are also establishing a clear boundary between your network and outsider threats. Closing your network for access attempts can lessen its risks of falling victim to a bunch of security threats found online.

Conclusion

Not all threats can harm your network easily. They may exploit its weaknesses, but it’s going to take them a handful of effort in order to take down your system. That’s why businesses that are looking to invest in remote access need to be cautious and knowledgeable enough to combat such attacks.

Related Resources: