Provision remote access without security gaps

Before you kick off setup, take a few minutes to review the remote access documentation and video guide. It covers how to enable Remote Desktop on your work PC (Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop), how to connect from another device using Remote Desktop Connection, and basic troubleshooting steps. Reviewing this upfront means you won't hit unnecessary snags during setup.

Fill out the remote access request form with the specific details IT needs. Include your employee ID, your direct manager's name, the exact systems you need (email, CRM, file shares, etc.), and a clear business justification for why you need remote access in your role. Be specific - requests like 'I need access to everything' will get rejected. The more specific you are, the faster you'll get approved.

As the direct manager, you'll review and approve the remote access request. Check that your employee actually needs access to those specific systems for their job, and make sure they understand what's expected of them when working remotely. IT can't move forward without your approval, so if the justification isn't clear enough, push it back for clarification rather than guessing.

Your IT security team needs to evaluate the request against company security policies and compliance requirements. Figure out if VPN access is needed, whether MFA has to be enabled, and if any of the requested systems hold sensitive or regulated data that requires extra controls. Document any security conditions that must be met before you can grant access - don't skip this step.

Now it's time to provision the approved remote access. You'll be creating or updating VPN credentials, setting up multi-factor authentication tokens, installing required security software on the remote device, and granting the right permissions. Test all the connections before handing off to the user - don't assume it works, verify it works from outside the office network.

Run a training session with the employee so they're confident using their new remote access setup. Walk through the VPN connection process step by step, show them how MFA works, and go over the remote work security policy - what's acceptable, how to handle data, and what to do if something looks off. Give them written docs with connection instructions, troubleshooting tips, and the IT helpdesk contact. Have them do a test connection while you're watching to make sure everything actually works. Don't mark this complete until they can access all their approved systems on their own.