6 Best Remote Access Tools Built for IT Professionals

Working remotely has completely changed the way that IT departments handle their systems, making remote access software an integral component of daily life. The modern IT pro needs much more than just basic screen-sharing programs; they require software that has strong security, automation, user controls, and device management. 

If you’re troubleshooting servers, helping out remote workers, or deploying updates for several systems at once, having the right platform makes everything much easier and faster.

Features like permissions control, scripting, multi-monitor functionality, and fleet management are what make professional tools stand out from others.  

This article will take a look at the 6 best remote access tools for IT professionals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Remote access tools have become essential for IT teams managing remote work, multiple devices, and complex support requirements.
• Professional-grade solutions offer advanced features like role-based permissions, automation, multi-monitor support, and centralized device management.
• Security, performance, scalability, and compatibility with existing infrastructure are critical factors when selecting a remote access platform.
• Tools like Splashtop, ManageEngine Endpoint Central, Kaseya VSA, and others serve different IT needs, from remote support to large-scale device management.

Splashtop

For IT professionals looking for a remote access tool for IT professionals, Splashtop leads this list by handling both the technical and operational sides of remote access without forcing a tradeoff between the two. Splashtop is designed to provide fast connections, even through constrained networks, which is vital when the technician is solving a problem and not wrestling with a lagging connection.

In addition to the connection itself, Splashtop delivers scale administrative depth for IT teams as well: role-based permissions, two-factor authentication, session recording, and centralized device management across an entire fleet of devices. This balance of performance and control helps to lower the operational overhead associated with managing many tools for connectivity and for oversight, particularly important for IT professionals managing access for multiple technicians or supporting tens or hundreds of endpoints.

A secure connection is only as strong as the protocol behind it, and IT professionals evaluating remote access tools often want to understand what is actually happening at the transport layer. The IETF’s secure connection protocol standards lay out current best practices for keeping that underlying connection resistant to interception and tampering, regardless of which vendor implements it.

TsPlus

Unlike the more common tools on this list, TsPlus doesn’t build a new connection method from scratch; it builds upon Windows Remote Desktop Services. That may be useful to save money on licenses, especially for companies that host multiple connections to a terminal server at once, as this may become pricey due to additional Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses.

The downside is that TsPlus embodies some of the limitations of the underlying RDS architecture, meaning that IT pros supporting a mixed bag of operating systems outside the Windows ecosystem could find its reach limited relative to tools designed as cross-platform solutions from scratch.

AnyViewer

AnyViewer is a great choice for IT professionals who require an unattended access value-based system and do not want to deal with a steep learning curve and complicated licensing structure. Given its free tier, it is not uncommon for smaller IT teams or solo administrators to turn to Ansible as their first step to remotely managing a small handful of machines without needing an enterprise commitment.

With increasing device counts, IT pros will begin to see missing elements in the administrative tooling of AnyViewer versus platforms designed for managing larger fleets. This pricing model is still applicable for moderate workloads; however, companies that manage dozens or even hundreds of endpoints require a more integrated solution. 

ManageEngine Endpoint Central

ManageEngine Endpoint Central combines remote access within a larger endpoint suite that also includes patching, software deployment, and device configuration. IT pros already using other products from the ManageEngine suite, like ServiceDesk Plus, frequently discover that because of this ecosystem approach, they have fewer vendors to track with less work.

Since the main purpose of Endpoint Central is to be a management solution with the remote access capability included in it, those IT staff who are only interested in having remote access to computers on an ad hoc basis without needing an endpoint management component can consider this software unnecessary for them.

Kaseya VSA

Kaseya VSA is an IT management console with remote monitoring that incorporates patch management and remote access, alongside customer-facing technicians using the tool to manage many client environments at once. The automation capabilities allow IT teams to script common maintenance tasks for large batches of endpoints rather than managing each device one at a time. 

Kaseya VSA is more complex and costly than you need if your IT professional only works within a single internal organization, vs an MSP Model. A very compelling use case comes forward in the scenario of multiple client environments, where automation and scale bring more value than a simpler, lighter tool.

Pulseway

Pulseway is different since it is a mobile-first tool, enabling IT employees to access alerts, run scripts, and launch a remote session from their phones or tablets. This type of mobile access can significantly improve the response time for IT staff who have to attend to an issue and are not sitting at a desk.

Centralized identity practices matter just as much as the connection method when IT professionals are managing who can authenticate into these tools in the first place. Microsoft’s identity access management basics outline the core concepts behind authentication and authorization that underpin secure access across any remote tool a team selects.

It is important to match the tool to your workflow

The six tools discussed above can be quite well categorized into two separate categories. Splashtop, TSPlus, and AnyViewer primarily work as remote access platforms that differ in terms of performance, licensing model, and level of administrative control. ManageEngine Endpoint Central, Kaseya VSA, Pulseway. These combine remote access with broader endpoint management or RMM platforms.

IT pros who want a dedicated, high-performance link with some pretty powerful administrative controls tend to prefer the first group. For those controlling bigger fleets, whether across lots of customers or wanting patching/automation conveniently wrapped in a remote access service, the second option is often far more appealing. In most cases, this is a more successful approach compared to choosing the best tool based on its features only.

FAQ

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