Remote-access Guide

remote access alternatives to vpn

by Brendan Grimes Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Secure alternatives to VPNs for remote working

  1. Zero trust network access. Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) is essentially brokered access to applications and data...
  2. Secure access service edge (SASE). With a ZTNA model, according to Gracey-McMinn, every user and device will be...
  3. Software-defined perimeter. Often implemented within wider zero trust strategies, a...

TeamViewer. The TeamViewer solution offers remote access to devices as an alternative to VPNs, with speed, security, functionality, and cost advantages. TeamViewer is the most popular remote access service, with over 2 billion connected devices and 200 million active users.Apr 4, 2022

Full Answer

What is a VPN alternative and why do you need one?

Deploying a VPN alternative can enable an organization to improve visibility and security of their wide area network (WAN) while also increasing performance and teleworker productivity. What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? VPN solutions are designed to provide secure, remote access to an organization’s network.

Can virtual private networks be used to protect remote networks?

Virtual private networks have shortcomings when it comes to protecting remote network connections. These technologies can replace or supplement it. 7 VPN alternatives for securing remote... Top cybersecurity statistics, trends,...

What is a virtual private network (VPN)?

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are one of the most commonly used solutions for secure remote network connectivity. However, they have a number of limitations that negatively impact network performance and security.

What is the best remote desktop alternative?

My top recommendation for a remote desktop alternative is SolarWinds ® Dameware ®, offering an on-premises and a cloud version, both designed to facilitate the easy handling of remote desktop issues. What Is RDP? RDP, short for Remote Desktop Protocol, is a protocol developed by Microsoft.

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What can I use instead of a VPN?

Two of the most common choices are software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). SD-WAN is designed to be a more efficient alternative to the VPN. Instead of implementing point-to-point connectivity, SD-WAN provides optimal routing of encrypted traffic between a network of SD-WAN appliances.

How can I remotely work without VPN?

Remote Desktop Connection Without VPNOpen the Remote Desktop Connection program. ... In the window that pops up, click Show Option.Click the Advanced tab.Click Settings under the Connect from anywhere section.Use the following settings in the window that pops up: ... Click OK to exit the "RD Gateway Server Settings".More items...

Is remote access the same as VPN?

While having some similarities, VPN and remote desktop are functionally different things. A VPN will give you access to a network while remote desktop (or RDP) will give you control of an entire computer.

Is remote desktop better than VPN?

You should be able to remotely access network resources without performance or security issues. If you need a wide range of processes, functionality, and capabilities that aren't supported by VPN, an RDP solution is the better choice.

Should remote employees use VPN?

Your remote employees can safely access your company network Some company data may be too sensitive to share over an unsecured connection. A VPN allows your workforce access to internal IP addresses, local servers, shared folders, as well as remote access to machines.

Is RDP secure without VPN?

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Integrated in BeyondTrust Establishing remote desktop connections to computers on remote networks usually requires VPN tunneling, port-forwarding, and firewall configurations that compromise security - such as opening the default listening port, TCP 3389.

Why would you use RDS instead of VPN?

VPN – Virtual Private Network encrypts your data and masks the IP address so that no malicious hacker can access the data and detect your location. The data is decrypted only at the intended destination. RDS – In RDS, the data is stored on the remote server and not on the end-point device.

Which method of remote access is the most secure?

Implement a Secure Connection for Remote Network AccessWired Connection: A wired connection is the most secure method for remote network access.Home Wi-Fi: The second most secure network connection is using a secured home Wi-Fi connection.More items...•

Is RDP better than VNC?

In general, Remote Desktop Protocol is known to be more functional and faster than VNC. However, both RDP and VNC can be the best option for different users with different purposes in mind.

Is TeamViewer safer than RDP?

Is Teamviewer safer than RDP? When it comes to safety, RDP is more secure against hackers' attacks. This is because of the powerful encryption method RDP is featured with.

Is Chrome Remote Desktop a VPN?

Chrome Remote Desktop - A Better VPN and RDP Solution.

What is the difference between remote access and remote desktop?

Remote assistance is used to get technical help from a helper who is present at a different location than the user. 3. Remote desktop is mostly used by people who work from home or administrators who need to access machines remotely.

Can Teams work without VPN?

Yes, Teams does works without problems without a VPN connection and it also works without problems when you have the VPN working with the split tunnel configuration.

How can I get Outlook to work without VPN?

Settings for Outlook Anywhere On the “Microsoft Exchange” screen click on the “Connection” tab and click the “Connect to Exchange using HTTP” box. After you click and check the “Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP” box the “Exchange Proxy settings” button should come out of greyed out mode.

What are the risks of not using VPN?

7 Hidden Dangers of Free VPNsCompromising Your Security. One of the primary purposes of a VPN is to protect you from hackers. ... Tracking Your Online Activity. ... They Can't Unblock Netflix. ... Limiting the Amount of Data You Can Use. ... Slowing Down Your Internet. ... Bombarding You with Ads. ... Selling Your Bandwidth.

VPN pros and cons

VPN technology can be relatively inexpensive, especially with free or low-cost VPN packages. In these offerings, users simply access the VPN service, complete secure access procedures and enter the desired domain, such as a website address. More costly VPN technologies are likely to be used for large corporate networks.

1. Smart DNS

Smart DNS provides a proxy server resource for additional protection of a user's identity by masking a user's ISP-generated DNS address with a different address -- generated by the Smart DNS device -- before sending the user request into the internet.

2. The Onion Router

The Onion Router ( Tor) network protects user data by encapsulating the data in multiple layers of secure encryption -- using the Onion Protocol -- as it routes the data from sender to receiver. The Tor process ensures that a user's identity is protected from ISPs and advertisers.

3. Lantern

The Lantern network provides end-to-end security by encrypting all data traffic as it passes through Lantern servers. It differs from Tor in that it does not facilitate anonymity across the internet. It features higher-speed browsing and provides access to blocked websites and applications.

Planning considerations for VPN alternatives

The following are guidelines for planning a change in VPN technology or if the user is relatively new to VPNs:

What is VPN client?

A VPN client is installed on the users’ devices – laptops, smartphones, tablets – to connect over the Internet to a server in the headquarters. Once connected to the server, users gain access to the corporate network and from there to the applications they need for their work. The obvious choice for enterprises to address ...

Is VPN a non-trivial project?

The project itself is non-trivial and may take a while to deploy, especially in affected regions. Finally, VPN is using the unpredictable public Internet, which isn’t optimized for global access. This is in contrast to the benefits of premium connectivity, such as MPLS or SD-WAN, available in corporate offices.

What is VPN in business?

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? VPN solutions are designed to provide secure, remote access to an organization’s network. They create an encrypted connection between the client – typically implemented as software on an employee’s computer – and a VPN gateway within the enterprise network. VPNs encrypt traffic flow between ...

What is VPN alternative?

VPN Alternatives for Business. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are one of the most commonly used solutions for secure remote network connectivity. However, they have a number of limitations that negatively impact network performance and security. Deploying a VPN alternative can enable an organization to improve visibility and security ...

What is SD WAN?

SD-WAN is designed to be a more efficient alternative to the VPN. Instead of implementing point-to-point connectivity, SD-WAN provides optimal routing of encrypted traffic between a network of SD-WAN appliances. Secure SD-WAN solutions are designed to add the required security as well by integrating a full security stack into an SD-WAN appliance.

Is VPN a secure remote access solution?

As organization’s IT infrastructure increasingly moves off of the corporate LAN, VPN solutions are growing less effective as a secure remote access solution (especially for teleworkers working from mobile devices ). Secure SD-WAN and SASE provide a secure, high-performance alternative to legacy remote access solutions.

Does VPN protect against malware?

A VPN provides no protection against malware, data exfiltration, or other security risks. Unless an organization has a full security stack deployed between the VPN and the enterprise network, infected remote machines can be used as a stepping stone to attack the enterprise network.

What is splashtop remote access?

Splashtop is designed to give users seamless, secure remote access to their computers from any device, e mbracing BYOD. With its industry leading remote desktop technology running through a secure SSL (AES-256) tunnel, Splashtop allows users to access their PC and Mac desktops via their Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Chromebook devices as if they are sitting in front of their computers or servers. You get all the benefits of RDP/VPN without the issues and complexities mentioned above. Also, it takes only minutes to set up.

What are the problems with RDP?

Common problems of using legacy remote access means through RDP over a VPN include: 1 The BYOD trend poses an increased security risk (60% of employees use a smartphone for work) 2 Difficulty setting up, maintaining, and scaling for more users 3 Poor user experience with connectivity and lag issues

Is VPN 24/7?

Dept of Homeland Security (DHS) warned, ” As VPNs are 24/7, organizations are less likely to keep them updated with the latest security updates and patches.” (March 13, 2020) No – Painful to setup and use VPN and RDP; VPN can take 20+ seconds to connect, and RDP is often slow. Corporate access uses corporate bandwidth.

Is RDP slow or human friendly?

User Productivity. Ease of Use. Splashtop. Click & connect – fast remote connections. Traditional VPN / RDP. No – Painful to setup and use VPN and RDP; VPN can take 20+ seconds to connect, and RDP is often slow .

Does splashtop use RDP?

Common problems of using legacy remote access means through RDP over a VPN include: Splashtop offers a RDP / VPN alternative solution that greatly simplifies remote access setup for IT and easy usability for employees/end-users.

What is VPN used for?

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are one of the most common online security tools, used to hide a user’s internet protocol (IP) address or geographical location. Most VPNs create a tunnelled and encrypted connection that will use a separate IP address generated by the VPN server.

What is VPN tunneling?

Most VPNs create a tunnelled and encrypted connection that will use a separate IP address generated by the VPN server. This makes it difficult for internet service providers (ISPs) to identify a user, and subsequently block their access. During a targeted throttling or partial shutdown, a block of IP addresses in a particular location ...

What are the advantages and disadvantages of smart DNS?

One main advantage of a smart DNS is that it only needs to reroute information about your location through a different network, instead of routing all your web traffic — a feature common with VPNs. This means that internet speeds when using a smart DNS are usually higher. One disadvan tage is that a smart DNS doesn’t always encrypt your information ...

What is smart DNS?

In the event that specific social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are blocked, a smart DNS (Domain Name Server) can disguise your location, allowing you access to restricted websites. The smart DNS reroutes a request through proxy servers that are located in other countries where the websites are supported.

Does smart DNS change IP address?

A smart DNS also doesn’t change your IP address. While this might be good for network speed, anyone with your network details can track your activity. An example of a smart DNS is Getflix, but there are also other options.

Did Mandla Tshuma use a VPN?

Mandla Tshuma, a journalist based in Zimbabwe, noted that he used a VPN to access the internet during a social media shutdown in January this year. “The person you were communicating with or source needed to have a VPN installed in their phone as well,” he said. “If not, then communication was still limited.”.

What is VPN control?

In enterprise environments, VPN’s lack of compatibility with the internal network and policy structure often prevent network visibility and get in the way of enforcing policies remotely. If policies are not applied consistently across all gateways, security suffers. In the more than 20 years that it has been around, ...

What are the downsides of VPN?

The most critical downside of a VPN is that it still passes web code to the local web browser. This opens the door for malware and spyware infiltration as well as data exfiltration and de-anonymization by third parties, which can defeat VPN’s very purpose.

What is OpenWRT VPN?

OpenWRT. OpenWRT allows you to manage your network with a heap of additional plugins like network-wide adblock, OpenVPN, and even Tor integration. It allows you to turn your router into a VPN hotspot for any device/client to connect to. It also enables you to transform a router into a file sharing hub, for seamless, secure document sharing.

What is Whonix VPN?

Whonix is based off of Debian and it leverages two counterpart operating systems, the workstation and the gateway.The workstation acts as the client and all traffic produced by it is forced into the gateway.

What are the pros and cons of anonymized network traffic?

Pros: Anonymized network traffic, middle boxes can’t see what you’re doing. Numerous relays before traffic lands at its destination. Traffic content is encrypted by layers (like an onion) Cons: Leaks can and have happened, through Tor misconfiguration and exit nodes specifically set up to monitor Tor traffic.

Can Whonix leak DNS?

Whonix ( Source: theintercept.com) Because of this security model, if the workstation is ever compromised through any means: exploits, malware, et al; even with root privileges, it is impossible for the user’s real IP address to be leaked. DNS and IP leaks are impossible with Whonix.

Is VPN more secure?

In the more than 20 years that it has been around, the limitations of traditional VPN have become obsolete. Yes, VPN can make connecting with networks and resources across the web more secure. In reality, though, it often doesn’t even live up to its fundamental promise ...

What is DRS in RDP?

With additional features built to go beyond those in RDP, DRS makes for a comprehensive and easy-to-use remote desktop connection manager alternative. Like RDP, DRS offers multi-platform remote access, with support for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers.

What is RDP in Windows?

Windows systems come with a built-in protocol for remote connections. Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) provides a graphical interface through which users can connect to a remote computer via a network connection. However, there are now several RDP alternatives on the market, designed to address potential functionality gaps.

What is DRS remote access?

Like RDP, DRS offers multi-platform remote access, with support for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. In an enterprise setting, for example, it can work across your Windows desktops, Linux servers, and Mac devices staff may connect with from home. That includes providing access to computers from Android and Apple devices including tablets, ...

What is terminals in Linux?

Terminals is an open-source remote desktop manager intended to manage the problem of controlling multiple connections simultaneously. It integrates RDP as one of the protocols it supports, but also works with VNC, VMRC, SSH, Telnet, RAS, Citrix ICA, and HTTP and HTTPs.

Does RDP save credentials?

While RDP lets you save and share credentials between teammates, it does not let you save credentials tied to a remote desktop gateway. Not only does Royal TS let you create objects and folders and dynamically allocate credentials, it also lets you link folders and connections to inherit credentials.

Can I use SSH on my iPhone?

Screens iOS allows you to control other computers from your iPhone or iPad, using an SSH connection. It can connect to Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows PCs, using the Screens Connect app. You can view the current session (e.g., for troubleshooting), or start a new session.

Can you connect to another computer with a remote desktop?

It allows you to connect to another computer using a graphical user interface, so you can interact with the remote machine. You can control a remote desktop session and delete or copy text between applications running on the host machine and the guest machine.

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