Start by removing public Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access. If staff or vendors still need remote connectivity, route it through a secured VPN or zero-trust access service, require multifactor authentication (MFA), keep gateways and connecting devices patched, and restrict what each account can reach. A VPN is a gateway to protect—not proof that a connected device or user should be trusted.
How do I secure remote access to prevent ransomware?
Work through remote connectivity as an attack surface: identify what is exposed, close what is unnecessary, strengthen identity checks, and limit the damage a stolen account can cause. CISA’s #StopRansomware Guide advises against exposing remote desktop services to the web and recommends controls such as MFA, account lockouts, and logging.
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- Inventory access paths. List RDP hosts, VPN gateways, remote-access software, internet-facing services, and third-party connections. Disable services and ports that are not needed.
- Remove public RDP exposure. Do not leave RDP directly reachable from the internet. If it is operationally necessary, restrict which users and originating sources can connect, and mediate external access through a VPN, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), or zero-trust gateway.
- Require MFA. Enforce it for VPNs, remote-access services, and privileged accounts. Prefer phishing-resistant MFA where practical.
- Patch gateways and endpoints. Keep VPNs, network infrastructure, remote-access tools, and devices used to connect up to date. Prioritize known exploited vulnerabilities on internet-facing systems.
- Limit account reach. Use least privilege, separate administrator accounts from everyday accounts, and segment networks so a compromised account has fewer paths to other systems.
- Log and monitor access. Record remote logins, enforce account lockouts, and investigate unusual activity—including unexpected use of approved tools. Use application controls to block unauthorized remote-access programs and portable executables.
Should I expose RDP to the internet?
No. CISA’s direct guidance is: “Do not expose services, such as remote desktop protocol, on the web.” Publicly reachable RDP gives attackers an avoidable route to attempt access. Close unused RDP ports; when remote desktop is required, restrict access to approved users and sources and place an authenticated access layer in front of it.
Logging attempts and enforcing account lockouts can help identify and slow repeated access attempts, but they do not replace removing public exposure or requiring MFA.
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Is a VPN enough to protect remote access?
No. A VPN can provide a controlled path into an organization, but it does not make every connected user, device, or internal network safe. CISA states that “VPN access should not be considered as a trusted network zone” in its LockBit ransomware threat actor guidance.
Protect the VPN itself: limit external exposure and open ports, keep its software current, require MFA, and apply appropriate access restrictions. Also patch devices used to connect. A zero-trust access path or VDI may be an alternative where it better supports resource-by-resource access, but the choice still needs strong identity checks, patching, and useful session logging.
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What MFA should I use for remote access?
Require MFA for remote connections and privileged accounts, and favor phishing-resistant methods where feasible. CISA identifies FIDO authentication and hardware-based public key infrastructure (PKI) as examples. A FIDO2-compatible security key is one possible implementation, subject to compatibility with the organization’s identity provider and endpoints; the cited guidance does not endorse a particular brand or model.
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Compare the actual security and operational properties of the options you can support rather than treating a product category as a guarantee. Assess:
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- Whether the service exposes RDP or other services directly to the internet.
- How strongly it verifies identity and whether it supports MFA, including phishing-resistant options.
- Whether access can be limited to specific users and individual resources.
- How the gateway or agent is patched and supported.
- What session and login events it logs, and whether those records are usable in an investigation.
- Whether it fits the organization’s endpoints and operating requirements.
Whichever method is chosen, retain least privilege, segmentation, and monitoring. A VPN connection alone should not confer broad trust inside the network.
Why control authorized remote-access software?
Attackers may misuse legitimate remote-access tools, so banning unfamiliar software alone is not enough. Maintain an inventory of approved tools, monitor their execution, and use application controls to prevent unauthorized programs from running. Review vendor and third-party access as part of the same inventory, then remove connections that are no longer needed.
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What ransomware examples show—and do not show
CISA’s advisory on the Play ransomware group reports that the group used external-facing RDP and VPN services for initial access. That is a group-specific observation, not a measure of how often ransomware incidents generally begin through remote access. The cited guidance supplies no general percentage attributable to remote-access weaknesses.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 via USB and tap it to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
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