VPN vs Remote Desktop: Securing Remote Access to Your Server

Remote access to business infrastructure needs to be both convenient and secure — these two approaches solve that differently.

VPN Access

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel into your private network, after which you access resources as if you were physically on-site — strong security, but requires proper configuration and maintenance.

Remote Desktop

Remote desktop protocols let you control a specific machine directly over the internet — convenient, but historically a frequent target for brute-force attacks if exposed without additional protection.

Best Practice

Combining a VPN with remote desktop access (rather than exposing remote desktop directly to the internet) significantly reduces the attack surface.

Further Reading

• SSL Certificates
• Talk to Our Security Team
• Get Cyber Safe – Government of Canada