The Various Types of Secure Remote Access Solutions

The Rapid Adoption of Remote Work

The number of hybrid and remote workers has grown significantly in recent years. Research found that 28.2% of full-time employees are hybrid workers, spending some time outside of the office working. The pandemic accelerated this trend, as organizations had to quickly adapt to remote work for public health reasons. But with many benefits on offer for both organizations and employees, hybrid work is here to stay.

For organizations, recent statistics show that: 

• 90% of CEOs reduced costs after adopting hybrid work models.
• 77% of employees who incorporated remote work for at least some of the time improved their productivity. 

Plus, enabling remote work allows organizations to hire based on talent alone, tapping into the global labor market without having to consider geographical restrictions.

For employees, hybrid and remote work offer increased flexibility, improved work-life balance, and reduced or no commuting costs. Previously, the ability to work outside of the office was seen as a privilege. Now, it is becoming an expectation and a key factor in where top talent chooses to work. Research shows 91% of employees prefer fully or almost complete remote work practices.

How Remote Work is Transforming Enterprise IT

The rapid shift to remote work is transforming how organizations operate and how they approach cybersecurity. Remote work combined with increased cloud adoption and the use of personal devices for professional work, known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), is reshaping enterprise IT infrastructure. 

In the past, companies could rely on perimeter-based security models, protecting their data and systems within a centralized office network. Once users begin to need access outside of the office, this model needs revising. However, as secure remote access requirements grow from a few remote employees to large-scale hybrid workforces, this model needs an overhaul.

Most modern organizations’ IT infrastructure and attack surface are significantly different today than they were pre-pandemic. Large numbers of remote employees now connect from home networks, shared Wi-Fi, and personal devices, extending attack surfaces and creating many new entry points for cybercrime. 

Unfortunately, the same technologies that make remote work possible can also be exploited by cybercriminals for a range of attacks. Leading threats targeting remote workers include:

• Phishing and Credential Theft: Attackers trick users into revealing login information, most commonly through fake emails.
• Insider Threats: Employees intentionally or accidentally provide unauthorized access to business systems.
• Ransomware Attacks: Malware that encrypts data until a payment is received for restoration.
• Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: Intercepting traffic over unsecured networks.
• Exploited Remote Access Protocols: Utilizing weak or outdated protocols for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
• Unsecured Personal Devices: Poor BYOD policies leading to compromised endpoints that introduce malware into corporate networks.

Maintaining protections while expanding access to sensitive corporate systems requires adopting scalable, secure remote access solutions designed to extend enterprise-grade protection beyond the traditional office environment. Modern secure remote access solutions offer a range of advanced protections and benefits, including:

• Consistent Security Policies: Unified protection across all networks and devices employees use.
• Data Protection: End-to-end encryption, granular access controls, and secure authentication methods that prevent unauthorized access.
• Regulatory Compliance: Data protection and privacy compliance while enabling remote workers to access necessary information.
• Business Continuity: Consistent and fast access for off-site employees, even if there are network disruptions.

Centralized Management: Simplifies oversight of remote employees for IT teams.

How Does a Secure Remote Access Work

At its core, secure remote access is about enabling employees to safely connect to corporate systems and data from any location, over any network, and using almost any device. To provide remote users with the same trusted access to resources they would have in the office, but using public networks requires various security controls.

A comprehensive, secure remote access solution should integrate multiple layers of protection, including encryption and authentication, to establish trust at every stage of the connection. Rather than relying on the outdated perimeter model, modern approaches take a holistic, identity-based approach, validating the user as well as the device and network they’re connecting from:

• Identity Verification: Typically involves multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and integration with identity and access management (IAM) systems. By verifying user credentials across multiple factors, organizations greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
• Device Verification: Secure remote access solutions also evaluate what device is being used. To access corporate systems, devices must comply with security policies, such as active endpoint protection and encryption. Some systems use device posture checks before granting access, ensuring only compliant endpoints connect to corporate resources.
• Network Verification: Even with verified users and devices, the network connection itself must be secure. Encrypted tunnels, commonly implemented through VPN solutions, ensure that data travels safely between endpoints and internal systems. These methods protect against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Key Technologies for Robust Secure Remote Access

Modern secure remote access solutions utilize different combinations of technologies that work together to protect users, devices, and data from cyber threats. Each of these key technologies plays a distinct role in ensuring that remote connectivity remains reliable and secure, no matter the location or device in use. 

Below are the key technologies that form the foundation of robust, secure remote access.

Remote Access Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Remote secure access VPN solutions have been the primary technology for connecting to an internal network while off-site. The technology creates an encrypted tunnel between the user’s device and the corporate network, ensuring that sensitive information transmitted over the internet remains confidential. With VPN solutions, authenticated users alter their IP address such that they appear to be connecting from within the corporate network. Therefore, they receive all of the same access privileges as if they were in the office.

There are various types of VPNs based on different protocols, such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPsec, and SSTP, that provide differing levels of security and scalability. Although traditional remote access VPN solutions remain widely used, they can pose security and networking challenges, particularly when managing large remote workforces and modern cloud architectures.

Remote Desktop Connection

Another solution is remote desktop connection, which allows users to control a computer or virtual environment across a network. This allows remote users to work as if they were physically present in the office, with access to all necessary applications and files. Remote desktop connection requires strict security controls to mitigate the risk of abuse and unauthorized access.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

A more modern approach to secure remote access is the adoption of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) frameworks, which utilize identity-based security controls for users requesting access to corporate resources. Based on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” ZTNA continuously authenticates users and devices before granting access. This minimizes lateral movement within the network and significantly reduces the attack surface. It also provides access at the application level rather than allowing users to access the entire network.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

SASE is a cloud-native framework that combines networking and security functions into a unified service. ZTNA is a critical component of SASE frameworks alongside other security and networking technologies: Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS). This combination offers a unified security solution for modern organizations, providing a comprehensive suite of protections for users, applications, and data, regardless of where they are located.

This makes adopting a broader SASE network security architecture a popular solution for secure remote access, in particular for cloud-first enterprises. The framework supports high-performance, secure access for globally distributed workforces.

Endpoint Security

Endpoint security is a critical component of any secure remote access strategy. Utilizing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, device encryption, and continuous monitoring to detect anomalies or signs of compromise ensures that only safe and compliant devices remotely connect to corporate resources. Endpoint security is particularly important for organizations utilizing BYOD policies.

Remote Access Protocols

Remote access protocols form the technical backbone of many connectivity solutions. They provide a set of rules for how data is sent between internal resources and external devices. This includes enforcing encryption standards and authentication processes. With various remote access protocols to choose from, organizations can select the best option for their needs and maintain secure remote access, reducing their exposure to network security threats.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

IAM solutions verify users to enforce access control policies. They manage digital identities and define user permissions across systems and applications. By integrating IAM with secure remote access solutions, organizations can enforce least-privilege policies, strengthen authentication through MFA, and streamline verification processes through Single Sign-On (SSO).

Data Encryption

Data encryption ensures that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users with the required decryption key. Implementing encryption technologies, both in transit and at rest, protects critical data from interception and tampering. This makes it a core technology for remote secure access solutions, where sensitive data is transmitted across unsecured networks.

VPNs vs ZTNA and SASE

For many years, VPNs were the default technology for enabling remote access. They provided a secure, encrypted tunnel between remote users and the corporate network, effectively extending the organization’s perimeter to include external devices.

However, as businesses shift to cloud-first operations and globally distributed workforces connecting from a wide range of networks and devices, traditional VPNs now show limitations. VPN solutions often create network bottlenecks and higher latency as traffic must be backhauled through centralized networks for security and access controls. This limits scalability as network infrastructure reaches capacity at peak periods.

Beyond performance issues, VPN solutions also create network security issues in the current threat landscape. These include a number of documented VPN vulnerabilities, a lack of visibility into user activity, and extended attack surfaces as VPNs provide broad network access. This allows attackers who compromise VPN connections to move laterally throughout the network, compromising many systems from a single exploit.

VPN solutions, although functional, no longer meet the speed, scalability, and security requirements of modern enterprises. To overcome the remote access challenges of VPNs, organizations are increasingly adopting ZTNA and SASE solutions. 

These next-generation architectures represent a fundamental shift in how secure remote access is implemented. Rather than securing a fixed network perimeter and tunneling in for remote access, ZTNA and SASE focus on securing the specific connections between users and each resource they need access to. This provides protection wherever users and resources reside, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or across multiple data centers.

ZTNA and SASE remote access solutions enable granular access control and eliminate lateral movement to reduce the impact of compromised connections. Plus, by moving security controls to the network edge, data doesn’t have to be backhauled to centralized networks or data centers. SASE networking capabilities determine the optimal route for data to travel between two points, thereby reducing latency and improving the user experience.

Benefits of SASE over traditional VPN solutions include:

• Granular Access Control: ZTNA enforces the principle of least privilege by granting access only to individual applications, not entire networks. This minimizes lateral movement and potential exposure if an account or device becomes compromised.
• Improved Network Performance: Top SASE solutions leverage a global network of cloud-based points of presence (PoPs) to route traffic more efficiently, eliminating the need for VPN backhauling and improving latency for remote users worldwide.
• Enhanced Security Posture: By continuously verifying user identity, device health, and context before granting access, ZTNA and SASE strengthen network security while also enabling policies to adapt dynamically to emerging threats.
• Scalability and Cloud Readiness: ZTNA and SASE solutions scale easily to accommodate growing remote workforces and cloud workloads, making them ideal for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Unified Security and Networking: SASE integrates multiple security functions into a single, cloud-delivered framework that simplifies management while maintaining robust protection.

In short, the evolution from VPNs to ZTNA and SASE marks a shift from securing the network to securing the connection. This approach aligns with how organizations now operate: distributed, dynamic, and cloud-centric.

6 Secure Remote Access Features to Consider

There are a number of features to look for when evaluating secure remote access solutions for your organization. The best solutions combine strong network security controls with fast remote connectivity for the best possible user experience. 

Below are the essential features to look for in any modern secure remote access platform:

1. Strong Encryption: Encryption is the foundation of secure remote access. Only consider solutions with advanced encryption standards, such as AES-256 and TLS 1.3, and protection for data both in transit and at rest. 
2. Multi-Factor Authentication: MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity using at least two methods. By combining various factors, MFA dramatically reduces the chance of unauthorized remote access even if a password is compromised.
3. Role-Based Access Control: RBAC ensures that users only have access to the specific systems and data they need to perform their roles. This “least privilege” model limits potential damage in case of an account breach. Secure remote access solutions with integrated RBAC capabilities help minimize attack surfaces.
4. Endpoint Security Integration: A robust, secure remote access solution should integrate seamlessly with endpoint protection tools, such as EDR platforms. This ensures that only compliant, safe devices are granted access to critical resources, preventing compromised endpoints from introducing malware or other risks into the corporate network.
5. Logging and Audit Trails: Comprehensive logging and audit trails provide visibility into who accessed what, when, and how. These records are invaluable for detecting suspicious activity, conducting forensic investigations, and maintaining compliance with security standards.
6. Scalability and Cloud Compatibility: Modern enterprises need secure remote access solutions that can scale as they grow. Cloud-compatible architectures, such as SASE, offer on-demand scalability, allowing organizations to quickly add remote users while maintaining performance and consistent security policies. This flexibility ensures business continuity and optimal performance for both on-site and remote teams.

Building a Bulletproof Secure Remote Access Strategy

Check Point offers VPN and advanced SASE solutions that fit the remote access requirements of any enterprise. Whether you have a small number of remote users and want a VPN solution to provide off-site access without updating your network and security infrastructure, or you want to be on the cutting edge of secure remote access with best-in-class SASE technology, Check Point has you covered.

Learn more about our secure remote access solutions and what would work best for your organization by talking to a Check Point expert today.