Remote Access Tools: 10 Secure Options for IT Support, Remote Work and Unattended Systems

Remote access is now a standard business capability, and it is also a favorite target for attackers who abuse exposed or poorly secured tools. Treat the choice as a security decision first. NIST SP 800-46 Rev. 2 gives guidance on securing telework and remote access technologies, and NIST SP 800-207 frames zero trust principles that apply to any remote session.

We reviewed ten products from the Remote Access Software category using SaaSPodium listing data and vendor documentation. Because pricing changes and many vendors sell by quote, we describe pricing models rather than quote figures. For related reading, see our four-way remote access comparison and our report on the BeyondTrust zero-day.

How to Choose a Remote Access Tool

Choose by use case first: attended support, unattended access to servers, or employees reaching their office PC. Then verify security controls, platform support, logging and licensing, because those decide whether a tool is safe and affordable at scale.

• Authentication: multi-factor authentication, SSO and device approval.
• Encryption and logging: encrypted sessions and exportable audit trails or session recordings.
• Access model: attended sessions, unattended agents or both.
• Platform coverage: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android clients.
• Licensing: per technician, per endpoint or per concurrent session.

Avoid exposing raw remote desktop ports to the internet. A brokered tool with MFA and logging is almost always safer than open RDP or VNC.

TeamViewer Remote

TeamViewer Remote is a widely used remote connectivity product for support sessions and unattended access across many device types. It suits organizations that need broad platform reach and a mature ecosystem.

See the TeamViewer Remote listing. Confirm current license tiers and concurrent-session limits with the vendor.

• Architecture: cloud-brokered sessions with desktop and mobile clients.
• Access: attended and unattended connections.
• Fit: IT support teams and distributed businesses.

Splashtop

Splashtop provides high-performance remote access and support for individuals, IT teams and MSPs, with native clients across desktop and mobile platforms. It is often shortlisted for responsive sessions and straightforward packaging.

Learn more at Splashtop and on the SaaSPodium listing. Compare plans carefully because remote support and remote access are often licensed separately.

• Architecture: cloud-brokered sessions with native clients.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile, per its listing.
• Fit: SMBs, schools and MSPs.

ConnectWise Control

ConnectWise Control, marketed as ScreenConnect, is a self-hostable or cloud remote support and access tool popular with MSPs. It offers session customization and scripting for technician workflows.

See the ConnectWise Control listing. Self-hosting gives control but makes you responsible for patching the server promptly.

• Architecture: web console, relay and agents.
• Deployment: cloud or self-hosted.
• Fit: MSPs and help desks.

BeyondTrust Remote Support

BeyondTrust Remote Support focuses on secure, audited support sessions with privileged access controls. It targets enterprises and regulated organizations that must prove who accessed what.

Read the listing and our coverage of the recent vulnerability affecting this product line, which shows why patching remote support appliances is urgent.

• Architecture: appliance or cloud with session policy controls.
• Security: audit logging and permission models as documented.
• Fit: large help desks and regulated industries.

RealVNC Connect

RealVNC Connect delivers cross-platform remote access built on VNC technology from the original creators of the protocol. It is practical for mixed Windows, macOS, Linux and embedded fleets.

Review the RealVNC Connect listing and the separate RealVNC listing to see which edition matches your needs.

• Architecture: VNC-based connections with cloud or direct options.
• Platforms: wide OS coverage, including Linux.
• Fit: IT teams with heterogeneous devices.

NoMachine

NoMachine offers fast remote desktop access for Windows, Mac and Linux, with a freemium model for individuals. It is a strong choice when responsiveness on graphics-heavy or Linux desktops matters.

See the NoMachine listing and test latency over your real networks.

• Architecture: server on the remote machine with a client application.
• Pricing type: freemium, with paid enterprise products.
• Fit: engineers, designers and Linux users.

GoToMyPC

GoToMyPC lets individual users reach their office computer from home or travel with a simple setup. It targets personal remote work rather than large-scale IT administration.

Check the GoToMyPC listing. Per-user pricing becomes costly if you need to cover many machines.

• Architecture: cloud-brokered connection to a host PC.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac and mobile.
• Fit: individual remote workers.

ISL Light

ISL Light is an enterprise remote desktop and support product with options for on-premises deployment. It appeals to organizations with data residency or air-gapped network requirements.

See the ISL Light listing and ask the vendor which deployment model your region supports.

• Architecture: server-brokered sessions.
• Deployment: cloud and on-premises, per the vendor.
• Fit: organizations with strict hosting rules.

UltraVNC

UltraVNC is a free, open Windows remote control tool based on the VNC protocol. It works for labs and small environments, but it needs careful hardening before any internet-facing use.

Read the UltraVNC listing. Place it behind a VPN or gateway and keep it updated, since free tools lack managed security features.

• Architecture: VNC server and viewer.
• Pricing type: free.
• Fit: technical teams comfortable with manual configuration.

Jump Desktop

Jump Desktop is a remote desktop client and connector that supports multiple protocols for personal and small-team use. It is easy to adopt but not designed for enterprise auditing.

Browse the Jump Desktop listing to compare its features and pricing type with your needs.

• Architecture: client with a host connector.
• Platforms: Apple and Windows devices, per its listing.
• Fit: individuals and small businesses.

Securing Remote Access After You Buy

Buying a secure tool is not enough; configuration decides your exposure. Enforce MFA, restrict who can connect to which systems, log every session and patch the remote access software as soon as vendors release fixes.

• Require SSO and MFA for every technician and user account.
• Use least privilege: grant access to specific machine groups, not the whole fleet.
• Record or log sessions for servers and privileged systems.
• Subscribe to vendor security advisories and patch within days, not months.
• Disable unused remote tools; attackers often abuse legitimate software already installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most secure remote access tool for business?
No single tool is most secure for every case. BeyondTrust Remote Support and ISL Light emphasize audited, controlled access, while any tool becomes risky without MFA, least privilege and prompt patching. Match controls to your compliance needs.

How much do remote access tools cost?
Pricing models vary from free and freemium options such as UltraVNC and NoMachine to per-technician, per-endpoint or per-user subscriptions. Get a quote at your expected technician and device count, and check whether support and access are licensed separately.

Can I replace a VPN with a remote access tool?
Sometimes. Brokered remote access tools expose a single machine or session rather than a whole network, which can reduce risk, but they do not replace network-level access for every application. Evaluate your use case against zero trust guidance before removing a VPN.