In short
Secure remote access means letting people reach business systems from outside the office while checking who they are, what device they use and what they need, and nothing more. Modern secure remote access solutions use zero trust network access, MFA and device posture so each user reaches specific applications rather than the whole network.
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What is secure remote access?
Secure remote access is the set of controls that lets staff, administrators and third parties use internal systems from home, on the road or at a customer site without exposing those systems or the wider network. A good design answers three questions for every connection: is this really the user, is the device fit to connect, and does this person need this system?
For years the answer was a remote access VPN with a password, sometimes with MFA. Today the usual answer is zero trust remote access: access is denied by default, then granted per application after identity, device and context are checked, with the applications themselves hidden from the internet. The NCSC describes this approach in its Zero Trust Network Access guidance, summarised on our NCSC ZTNA guidance page.
If you are looking for remote access software for IT support (remote control of a user's screen), our software licensing site covers that category. This page is about giving people secure access to systems.
The baseline: MFA, device posture and least privilege
Whatever product you choose, three controls do most of the work. They map closely to the NCSC's zero trust principles and its ZTNA design requirements.
- Multi-factor authentication: every remote sign-in should need more than a password. The NCSC's ZTNA guidance asks for phishing-resistant authentication such as FIDO2 credentials; if you cannot move everyone at once, start with administrators. Cyber insurers commonly ask about MFA on remote access.
- Device posture: check that the device is known and healthy (managed, encrypted, patched, running endpoint protection) before granting access. The NCSC lists device identity and device health among the core signals it expects most organisations to use, alongside user identity and user behaviour.
- Least privilege: give each user or group access to the applications they need, not to subnets. Review it when people change roles and remove it promptly when they leave.
Two more controls make the baseline complete: logging of allowed and denied access so you can investigate, and no inbound exposure, meaning private applications sit behind outbound-only connectors or a broker rather than open ports. Our page on ZTNA vs IAM explains why identity has to come first.
Secure remote access by use case
| Use case | Recommended approach | Example products we supply |
|---|---|---|
| Staff to private web apps | Client-based or clientless ZTNA with MFA and device posture | Cisco Secure Access, Check Point SASE Private Access, Trend Micro ZTSA Private Access, Exium SASE |
| Staff to file shares and thick-client or legacy apps | Client-based ZTNA; VPN as a service for server-initiated or unusual protocols | Cisco Secure Access (ZTNA and VPN as a service), Todyl SASE, NordLayer, Zero Networks Connect |
| Staff to office PCs, RDS and hosted desktops | RDP brokering with cloud authentication and no inbound ports | TruGrid SecureRDP |
| Administrators to servers (RDP and SSH) | Privileged access management with vaulted credentials, session recording and MFA before admin ports open | KeeperPAM and Keeper Connection Manager, Zero Networks |
| Suppliers and contractors | Access to named systems only, clientless and time-limited where possible | Check Point Agentless ZTNA, Cisco Secure Access clientless ZTNA, Zero Networks Connect (client-based, with MFA and segmentation) |
| Unmanaged and BYOD devices | Enterprise browser with private access and data controls, or clientless ZTNA | Island Private Access, Check Point Enterprise Browser, DefensX Premium+ |
Each use case is covered in more depth elsewhere on this site: agentless ZTNA for contractors and BYOD, secure remote desktop access for RDP, and the ZTNA providers hub for the platforms themselves.
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Use cases in more detail
Staff to applications
For employees on company devices, client-based ZTNA is the natural fit: the agent reports device health, the policy engine checks identity and posture, and access is brokered to each application. If you also want web and SaaS protection for the same users, an SSE or SASE platform covers both with one agent; see ZTNA vs SASE.
Administrators
Administrator access deserves its own design. A compromised admin account reaches everything, so combine ZTNA with privileged access management: credentials held in a vault and injected into the session, sessions recorded, and just-in-time access rather than standing rights. Keeper's PAM tools broker RDP, SSH and database sessions through a gateway that connects outbound only. Zero Networks takes a network approach, requiring MFA before administrative ports open on a host.
Suppliers and contractors
Third parties are where broad VPN access does most damage. Give each supplier access to the named systems they support, through a browser where possible, with MFA and a time limit. Zero Networks Connect lets you restrict third-party connections to specific systems and apply segmentation to them.
Personal and unmanaged devices
You cannot check the health of a device you do not manage in the same depth, so limit what reaches it. Enterprise browsers keep corporate data inside a controlled browser session and can block downloads, copy and paste, printing and screenshots; see Island Private Access.
How to secure remote access: a practical checklist
- Find every route in. VPN, port-forwarded RDP, remote support tools, supplier accounts and cloud admin consoles all count. Close what is not needed.
- Enforce MFA on every remote route, including service desks and supplier accounts.
- Manage company devices so posture can be checked, and decide how personal devices will be handled.
- Write access policy per application and group, starting from what people actually use.
- Replace network-level access with per-app access, app by app, keeping VPN as a service only for what cannot move.
- Protect administrators separately with privileged access controls and session recording.
- Log and review allowed and denied access regularly, and remove access promptly when people leave.
For the full project approach, see how to implement zero trust network access and our VPN replacement project guide.
Need help choosing?
We will recommend what fits your organisation and explain why, in plain English.
How we help
Forever Systems supplies the secure remote access platforms on this page, from ZTNA and SSE to RDP brokers, enterprise browsers and privileged access tools. We can map your users and use cases, recommend the right combination, run a pilot and help you migrate, with scope confirmed at quote. If Cyber Essentials is on your plan, we can help you show how remote access is protected; certification depends on your wider controls. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Explore Secure remote access
How Forever Systems helps with ZTNA and SASE
We are an independent IT and cyber security provider. We supply and support several zero trust access and SASE platforms, so we can recommend what fits how your people work rather than one vendor's answer to everything.
- Assess first: we look at your current VPN, firewall, identity set-up and the applications people need to reach before suggesting anything new
- Vendor-aware advice across ZTNA, SSE and SASE options, including Cisco Secure Access and Check Point Harmony SASE
- Pilots and phased roll-out: we can help you start with one group of users or one application, then extend access policy by policy
- VPN replacement: planning the move away from remote access VPNs, including identity provider integration and device posture checks
- Ongoing support: policy changes, licence reviews and renewals, with the details confirmed at quote
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. Pricing depends on users, features and term, so ask us for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is secure remote access?
Secure remote access is the combination of controls that lets people use business systems from outside the office while verifying who they are, checking their device and limiting them to the systems they need. Modern designs use zero trust network access, MFA and device posture rather than a network-wide VPN.
What is zero trust remote access?
Zero trust remote access denies access by default and grants it per application after checking user identity, device identity and health, and context. Applications sit behind a broker or outbound-only connectors, so they are not exposed to the internet, and access can be re-evaluated during the session.
How do you secure remote access for suppliers?
Give each supplier access only to the systems they support, through clientless or browser-based access where possible, with MFA, a time limit and logging. Avoid shared accounts and network-level VPN access for third parties.
Is a VPN still secure for remote access?
A VPN with strong MFA, device checks and tight rules is much better than one without, but it still places devices on the network and needs an internet-facing gateway. Most organisations are moving everyday access to ZTNA and keeping any VPN for a small number of legacy flows.
What is the difference between remote access software and secure remote access?
Remote access software usually means remote control tools for IT support or reaching a single PC. Secure remote access is the wider design for giving staff and third parties controlled access to business applications, using ZTNA, MFA and device posture.
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