Remote access vs VPN — when you need which
Both terms are about working remotely, but they answer completely different questions — one connects you to the company network, the other to a specific computer.
What to know
What a VPN is
A VPN (virtual private network) creates a secure "tunnel" between your device and the company network, so from home or on the road you can reach resources as if you were sitting in the office — like a network drive or an internal app.
What remote access is
Programs like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or Remote Desktop (RDP) connect you directly to one specific computer and let you control it — that's not the same as access to the whole company network.
When a VPN alone is enough
If all you need is to reach files on the company server or log into an internal system from your own laptop, a VPN alone is usually enough, with no need to connect to a specific computer.
When remote access alone is enough
If you want someone to see your office computer's screen and help solve a problem, you need a remote access program, not necessarily a VPN.
When you need both
Sometimes, to remotely reach a computer in the office from outside the company network, you first need to join that network through a VPN, and only then connect to the specific computer — a typical setup for remote work in larger companies.
Why it's worth telling these two apart
"My VPN isn't working" and "I can't connect to my computer" are two different problems for an IT team, each needing different troubleshooting. The more precisely you describe which one you mean, the faster you'll get help.
When it's a job for IT
- You're not sure whether your remote work setup needs a VPN, remote access, or both
- Your VPN is working, but you still can't connect to a specific office computer
- Remote access works, but you can't see resources that should be reachable through the VPN
- The company is growing and you need to set up a standard remote-work approach for the whole team
Want us to check it with you?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.