Remote-access Guide

nist guidelines for remote access

by Dr. Taurean Rodriguez IV Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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NIST also recommends placing remote access servers at the network perimeter and defines four types of remote access methods: Tunneling servers provide administrators control over the internal resources for remote worker access at the network perimeter. Portal servers that run the application client software on the servers themselves.

Full Answer

What is NIST Special Publication 800-46 Revision 2?

This bulletin summarizes highlights from NIST Special Publication 800-46 Revision 2, Guide to Enterprise Telework, Remote Access, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Security, which helps organizations protect their IT systems and information from the security risks that accompany the use of telework and remote access technologies.

What are the NIST guidelines for remote work security?

Below are key guidelines recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST) in supporting standard users, privileged administrators, BYOD and third parties. Plan remote work-related security policies and controls based on the assumption that external environments contain hostile threats.

How to develop a remote work security policy?

Develop a remote work security policy that defines telework, remote access, and BYOD requirements. Remote work security policies should define the forms of remote access permitted, the types of devices that can be used and the type of access allowed for each type of remote worker.

How to mitigate remote work security threats?

Mitigating client device loss or theft includes encrypting the device (e.g. hard disk encryption), and not storing sensitive data on client devices altogether. For mitigating device reuse threats, use strong and multi-factor authentication. Develop a remote work security policy that defines telework, remote access, and BYOD requirements.

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What are the security requirements for remote access?

7 Best Practices For Securing Remote Access for EmployeesDevelop a Cybersecurity Policy For Remote Workers. ... Choose a Remote Access Software. ... Use Encryption. ... Implement a Password Management Software. ... Apply Two-factor Authentication. ... Employ the Principle of Least Privilege. ... Create Employee Cybersecurity Training.

What is considered remote access?

Remote access is the ability for an authorized person to access a computer or network from a geographical distance through a network connection. Remote access enables users to connect to the systems they need when they are physically far away.

What are the two types of remote access server?

Remote Access Methods1- Remote Access Server: It's one server in organization network that it is the destination of all remote access connections.2- Remote Access Client: All computers that remote connect to network, called remote access client or remote computer.More items...•

Can someone remotely access my computer when IT's off?

Without appropriate security software installed, such as anti-malware tools like Auslogics Anti-Malware, it is possible for hackers to access the computer remotely even if it is turned off.

What does it mean when you call someone and it says please enter your remote access code?

What is a remote access code? It is a code or a password that a user enters to gain access to a private network or server. It is a form of authentication that either permits or blocks an access attempt from entering a corporate system.

How can I tell if someone has remote access to my computer?

How to Know If Someone is Accessing My Computer Remotely?Way 1: Disconnect Your Computer From the Internet.Way 2. ... Way 3: Check Your Browser History on The Computer.Way 4: Check Recently Modified Files.Way 5: Check Your computer's Login Events.Way 6: Use the Task Manager to Detect Remote Access.More items...•

What is remote login explain with example?

Remote Login is a process in which user can login into remote site i.e. computer and use services that are available on the remote computer. With the help of remote login a user is able to understand result of transferring result of processing from the remote computer to the local computer. Figure – Remote login.

What are remote devices?

Remote Device means any device acceptable to us from time to time that provides for the capture of images from Items and for transmission through the clearing process.

Where should a remote access server be placed?

Intermediate remote access servers connect external hosts to internal resources, so they should usually be placed at the network perimeter. The server acts as a single point of entry to the network from the perimeter and enforces the telework security policy. If remote access is needed to a particular sub-network within the organization, there are generally two options: 1) place the remote access server at the edge of the sub-network, where the sub-network joins the full network; or 2) place it at the perimeter of the full network and use additional mechanisms to restrict the teleworkers to only be able to access the specified sub-network. The value of placing the remote access server at the network perimeter versus the sub-network perimeter differs for the four types of remote access methods:

Why is remote access important?

The security of remote access servers, such as VPN gateways and portal servers, is particularly important because they provide a way for external hosts to gain access to internal resources, as well as a secured, isolated telework environment for organization-issued, third-party-controlled, and BYOD client devices. In addition to permitting unauthorized access to enterprise resources and telework client devices, a compromised server could be used to eavesdrop on communications and manipulate them, as well as a “jumping off” point for attacking other hosts within the organization. Recommendations for general server security are available from NIST SP 800-123, Guide to General Server Security. Remote access servers should be kept fully patched, operated using an organization-defined security configuration baseline, and managed only from trusted hosts by authorized administrators.

What is the key component of controlling access to network communications and protecting their content?

major component of controlling access to network communications and protecting their content is the use of cryptography. At a minimum, any sensitive information passing over the Internet, wireless networks, and other untrusted networks should have its confidentiality and integrity preserved through use of cryptography. Federal agencies are required to use cryptographic algorithms that are NIST-approved and contained in FIPS-validated modules. The FIPS 140 specification, Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules, defines how cryptographic modules are validated.24 It is important to note that for a remote access system to be considered compliant to FIPS 140, both sides of the interaction must have passed FIPS 140 validation. Many remote access systems, such as SSL VPNs, support the use of remote access client software from other vendors, so there may be two or more distinct validation certificates for a particular remote access system.

What is a health check for telework?

After verifying the identity of a remote access user, organizations may choose to perform checks involving the telework client device to determine which internal resources the user should be permitted to access. These checks are sometimes called health, suitability, screening, or assessment checks. The most common way of implementing this is having the remote access server perform health checks on the teleworker's client device. These health checks usually require software on the user’s device that is controlled by the remote access server to verify compliance with certain requirements from the organization’s secure configuration baseline, such as the user’s antimalware software being up-to-date, the operating system being fully patched, and the user’s device being owned and controlled by the organization. Fewer health checks are generally available on mobile devices, but an important check usually provided is to determine if a mobile device has been rooted or jailbroken, which can have serious negative security implications.23

What is remote desktop access?

remote desktop access solution gives a teleworker the ability to remotely control a particular PC at the organization, most often the user’s own computer at the organization’s office, from a telework client device. The teleworker has keyboard and mouse control over the remote computer and sees that computer’s screen on the local telework client device’s screen. Remote desktop access allows the user to access all of the applications, data, and other resources that are normally available from their PC in the office. Figure 2-3 shows the basic remote desktop access architecture. A remote desktop access client program or web browser plug-in is installed on each telework client device, and it connects directly with the teleworker’s corresponding internal workstation on the organization’s internal network.

What is a portal in remote access?

A portal is a server that offers access to one or more applications through a single centralized interface. A teleworker uses a portal client on a telework client device to access the portal. Most portals are web-based—for them, the portal client is a regular web browser. Figure 2-2 shows the basic portal solution architecture. The application client software is installed on the portal server, and it communicates with application server software on servers within the organization. The portal server communicates securely with the portal client as needed; the exact nature of this depends on the type of portal solution in use, as discussed below.

What is a telework document?

The purpose of this document is to assist organizations in mitigating the risks associated with the enterprise technologies used for telework, such as remote access servers, telework client devices (including bring your own device [BYOD] and contractor, business partner, and vendor-controlled client devices, also known as third-party-controlled devices), and remote access communications. The document emphasizes the importance of securing sensitive information stored on telework devices and transmitted through remote access across external networks. This document provides recommendations for creating telework-related policies and for selecting, implementing, and maintaining the necessary security controls for remote access servers and clients.

What is remote work security?

Remote work security policies should define the forms of remote access permitted, the types of devices that can be used and the type of access allowed for each type of remote worker. The policies should also cover how remote access servers are administered and how their policies are updated. Organizations should make risk-based decisions about ...

What is cloud native service?

Using the cloud-native service, administrators can leverage the cloud-native service to effortlessly provision and deprovision access to virtual machines, applications and services with granular role-based access profiles.

What is check point corporate access?

By supporting a variety of protocols, Check Point Corporate Access enables secure access to databases (SQL), administration terminals (SSH) and remote desktops (RDP). Integrating with any Identity Provider, its lightweight Privileged Access management (PAM) module offers built-in SSH server key management to ensure the security of an organization’s crown jewels.

Does remote desktop access involve remote access?

Remote desktop access does not involve remote access servers, so there is no issue with the placement of the remote access server. Direct application access servers run the application server software on the servers themselves. Placing them at the network perimeter has a similar effect as the remote access user is only running applications on ...

What is NIST 800-171?

The security guidelines outlined in NIST SP-800-171 are intended for use by federal agencies in their agreements with contractors and other non-federal organizations.

What is zero trust data access?

The Zero Trust Data Access architecture of FileFlex Enterprise can greatly aid in compliance with NIST access control requirements as outlined in SP-800-171v2 for remote access and sharing.

Does Fileflex support ZTDA?

Yes Supports Compliance. FileFlex delivers this requirement within its secure ZTDA platform down to the file & folder level micro-segmentation. Users are bound to accounts, accounts are authorized and managed by administration for all data access controls.

What are the NIST Guidelines for Zero Trust Architecture?

Instead of defining zero trust in terms of perimeters in some way, NIST SP 800-207 outlines the NIST standards for zero trust and defines Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) in terms of the following basic tenets that should be adhered to and implemented:

What are the standards and best practices for cybersecurity?

Their cybersecurity standards and best practices address interoperability, usability, and privacy and include the Computer Security Resource Center, the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), and the Small Business Cybersecurity Center. They have established standards and guidelines for cybersecurity, privacy, risk management, and information security including Zero Trust.

What is the least privilege principle?

Least privilege principles are applied to restrict both visibility and accessibility.

Does network location imply trust?

Network location alone does not imply trust. Organizations need to protect information even if it is accessed over the Internet, or if it is located on cloud-based assets that are not located on the enterprise-owned network.

Is an asset inherently trusted?

No asset is inherently trusted. The enterprise evaluates the security posture of the asset when evaluating a resource request and should apply patches/fixes as needed or deny service if the asset is subverted

Why should teleworkers use only network features?

Most teleworkers need to use only a few of these features. Because many attacks are network based , PCs should use only the necessary networking features. For example, file and printer sharing services, which allow other computers to access a telework PC’s files and printers, should be disabled unless the PC shares its files or printers with other computers, or if a particular application on the PC requires the service to be enabled.15 Other examples of services that might not be needed are IPv6 protocols and wireless networking protocols (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, NFC [Near Field Communication]). Consult the PC’s hardware and OS documentation for guidance on which network features should be disabled; if still unsure, seek expert assistance.

What devices do teleworkers use?

Many people telework, and they use a variety of devices, such as desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets, to read and send email, access websites, review and edit documents, and perform many other tasks. Each telework device is controlled by the organization, a third party (such as the organization’s contractors, business partners, and vendors), or the teleworker; the latter is known as bring your own device (BYOD). This publication provides recommendations for securing BYOD devices used for telework and remote access, as well as those directly attached to the enterprise’s own networks.

What is telework security?

An important part of telework and remote access security is applying security measures to the home networks to which the telework device normally connects.6 A major component of home network security is securing other PCs and mobile devices on the home network. If any of these devices become infected with malware or are otherwise compromised, they could be used to attack the telework device or eavesdrop on its communications. Consequently, teleworkers should ensure that all devices on their home networks are secured properly. Teleworkers should also be cautious about allowing others to place devices on the teleworkers’ wired and wireless home networks, in case one of these devices has been or will be compromised. Teleworkers also need to be aware of the risks of using external networks and of the procedures for connecting their telework devices, including BYOD devices, to the organization’s own networks.

What are the threats to telework?

These threats are posed by people with many different motivations, including causing mischief and disruption, and committing identity theft and other forms of fraud. Teleworkers can increase their devices’ security to provide better protection against these threats. The primary threat against most telework devices is malware. Malware, also known as malicious code, refers to a computer program that is covertly placed onto a computing device with the intent of compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the device’s data,

Is there a 100 percent solution to computer security?

As explained in Section 2, no 100 percent solution exists for computer security; it is simply not possible to thwart every single attack. PCs should use a combination of software and software features that will stop most attacks, particularly malware. The types of software described in this section are antivirus software, personal firewalls, spam and web content filtering, and popup blocking. Changing a few settings on common applications, such as email clients and web browsers, can also stop some attacks.

Do teleworkers need to be aware of their network?

Teleworkers should be aware that networks other than their home networks are unlikely to provide much protection for their telework devices and communications, such as a laptop using a wireless hotspot at a coffee shop. For example, external networks may not encrypt network communications, making them susceptible to eavesdropping, particularly for wireless networks. Telework devices on external networks are also often directly accessible from the Internet. Some networks provide partial protection, such as blocking specific types of communications usually associated with malicious activity and checking communications for the most common known threats, such as widespread worms or spam messages.

Do teleworkers need remote access?

As described in Section 2, teleworkers may have to install remote access software onto their BYOD PCs or configure software built into the PC’s OS. This software should be configured based on the organization’s requirements and recommendations. In many cases, the remote access software will be preconfigured by the organization so that teleworkers do not have to be concerned about configuring it. In general, remote access software should be configured so that only the necessary functions are enabled. Teleworkers should also ensure that whenever updates to the remote access software are available, that they are acquired and installed. If the organization provides the updates, teleworkers should make sure that they will be notified when updates are available.

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