Remote access is a fact of modern care operations. Administrators check on systems from home, billing staff work remotely, corporate teams support multiple facilities and IT vendors fix problems without driving to your building. Done well, it improves flexibility and response time. Done poorly, it is one of the most common ways attackers get in.
Security agencies including CISA have repeatedly warned about attacks that begin with exposed remote desktop services and weak or stolen credentials. This article explains the main options and how to use them safely.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a remote device and your network. Once connected, the device can reach internal resources as if it were in the building. It is flexible but powerful: a compromised VPN account can give an attacker broad access.
Remote desktop lets a user see and control a computer at the office from elsewhere. The common built-in protocol, RDP, is convenient but dangerous if exposed directly to the internet.
Many organizations now use hosted applications that users reach through a web browser with their own sign-in, reducing the need for a VPN.
IT providers and vendors use tools that allow technicians to control computers for troubleshooting. These must be tightly controlled.
Opening remote desktop directly to the internet. Automated scanners continually look for exposed RDP and try stolen or guessed passwords. If remote desktop is required, put it behind a VPN or a secure gateway.
Remote access without multi-factor authentication. A password alone is not enough for any path into your network.
Shared accounts and vendor logins. You cannot tell who connected or when.
Always-on vendor tunnels. Access should be enabled when needed and closed afterward, or at least restricted and logged.
Personal remote access apps installed by staff. Free tools set up without approval can bypass your protections.
Unpatched VPN and firewall devices. These internet-facing systems are targeted quickly after vulnerabilities become known.
Using home computers with no protection. An infected personal device can carry malware into your network.
Apply it to every remote path: VPN, remote desktop gateway, cloud portals and support tools.
Every person gets their own login, with permissions limited to what they need. Disable accounts promptly when people leave, and review them regularly.
Instead of letting every remote user access the entire network, restrict connections to the specific systems required. A billing employee does not need access to the camera network.
Prefer facility-managed laptops with encryption, endpoint protection and automatic updates. If personal devices are allowed, set minimum standards and consider using a managed virtual desktop, so data stays in your environment and not on the home computer.
Keep VPN appliances and firewalls updated, disable unused features and monitor for vendor security advisories. Use strong encryption settings.
Record who connects, from where and when. Set alerts for unusual patterns, such as sign-ins from unexpected countries, repeated failures or access in the middle of the night. HIPAA's Security Rule expects review of system activity.
Grant vendors time-limited accounts, require that they use your approved tool, and ask them to notify you when they connect. Include security expectations in your contracts.
Use automatic timeouts, disable copying files to local drives where practical and block unnecessary features.
Telehealth and remote clinicians: use approved, secure platforms with business associate agreements, and make sure staff work from private spaces.
Work from home: provide guidance on home network security, shared family computers and screen privacy.
Travel: advise staff to avoid public Wi-Fi without protection, and to report lost devices immediately.
List every way someone can connect from outside, including vendors.
Confirm that none of them rely on a password alone.
Make sure no remote desktop services are directly exposed to the internet. An external scan can verify this.
Review the list of remote accounts and remove those no longer needed.
Confirm that gateway devices are current on updates.
Test that alerts fire when unusual sign-ins occur.
UnityCare IT can scan your network from the outside to see what is visible, review your remote access methods and help you move to a safer model. If you are unsure how your vendors or staff connect today, we can find out and help you tighten it up.
Call or text: 405-285-3845
New customers: start@unitycareit.com
Existing customers: support@unitycareit.com
Address: UnityCare Technologies, 2524 N Broadway Ste 554, PMB 947974, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-4172