Using Remote Access for Fun and Profit

Remote access, whether you are utilizing Remote Desktop, SSH, or any other tool, is a great way to stay productive even when out of the office. IT administrators can push updates and manage applications from anywhere in the world, and companies can save money by reducing costs for travel and other expenses. However, there are a few steps that should be applied to ensure that your remote access tool is protected as well as convenient.

First and foremost, the method used to access your infrastructure remotely should be secured. Ideally this means that access should always be done via VPN, and in the case of SSH access a secure root password should be in place at the server level as well to add an additional layer of defense. SSH also authenticates the host and the user to ensure that the appropriate person is accessing the server, once configured properly. Remote Desktop sessions for Windows are encrypted by default, though to add more protections the host server can use authentication through SSL access. By securing the connection used for remote access (and using a quality password) you can take advantage of the benefits of remote access while minimizing risks.

Now that your preferred method of accessing your server infrastructure has been secured, there are lots of things that can be done on the go, even on mobile phone if you are accessing the server at the command line level. Logs can be reviewed, applications can be installed and services can be started up - you can even modify your databases if you so wish. Mobile applications are available through both Google Play and the App Store, and while we won’t be reviewing which specific app you should use, there is a lot of freedom of choice to remotely manage your server. For Windows users Remote Desktop has a specific app created by Microsoft that is available in both app ecosystems. This means that it doesn’t matter if your admin uses iOS or Android - she can take advantage of remote access either way.