Remote network access: How to easily access your local LAN

In a world where work happens anywhere, seamless and secure remote network access is no longer a luxury—it's a must-have. Businesses need to keep their hybrid employees connected to critical internal resources. And they must do so without overstraining IT teams or putting their sensitive data and reputations at risk.

Whether you're managing remote desktop access, virtual machines, file servers, or network devices, the challenge remains the same: how do we provide reliable, secure local network access without the logistical and security headaches?

Enter Cloud LAN—a modern approach to remote access that combines simplicity with robust security. In this article, we’ll break down the traditional pain points, explore alternatives, and show why Cloud LAN stands out as a smarter network security solution for modern businesses.

What is remote network access?

Remote network access solutions allow users to securely connect to physical or cloud-based networks—or specific devices—from anywhere in the world via the internet. This technology enables employees to access company resources, such as internal servers, printers, or desktop environments, as if they were physically present in the office.

For instance, whether you're launching a remote desktop session or managing shared drives, remote access ensures seamless interaction with internal infrastructure without being tied to a specific location. Thus, teams can work from home, on the road, or across borders.

This capability is fundamental for enabling hybrid work, supporting branch offices, and securely collaborating with contractors or vendors. It’s also crucial for ensuring that globally dispersed teams have reliable access to the local apps, files, and systems they need to do their jobs.

Key solutions for remote network access

When it comes to implementing remote network access, IT teams often weigh several options. Let’s explore the most common:

• Traditional Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPNs create a secure tunnel between the user and the company network. By masking the user's IP address, VPNs allow remote connections to appear as if they originate from within the internal network. While effective for security, traditional VPNs can be slow and require manual configuration.
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): RDP allows users to control a remote computer or server via the remote desktop connection. It’s useful for accessing applications or files hosted on a central machine, but exposing it to the public Internet may introduce vulnerabilities.
• Static IP address and port forwarding: Some IT teams assign a static IP address to devices and manually configure port forwarding to allow external access. While this works for certain setups, it’s notoriously difficult to manage at scale and poses security risks if not properly secured.

Why traditional remote access methods fall short

Despite being widely used, traditional remote access tools have critical limitations—especially when applied to fast-growing or remote-first organizations.

• Complex configuration. Legacy VPN appliances, hardware firewalls, and remote desktop gateways require manual setup, network configuration, and ongoing provisioning. This creates an administrative burden and increases the risk of misconfigurations if user counts grow or change frequently.
• High maintenance and overhead. Traditional infrastructure demands constant upkeep. IT teams must patch VPN servers, troubleshoot remote access failures, and monitor performance across on-premise hardware, driving up costs and resource allocation.
• Security concerns. Exposing RDP to the internet, misconfigured VPN tunnels, or weak segmentation policies can all leave organizations vulnerable to breaches. These tools often rely on outdated encryption standards or credentials, increasing the overall attack surface.
• Limited scalability. Most traditional solutions weren’t built for the hybrid or remote-first era. As companies grow and teams become more distributed, these tools often can’t keep pace with modern workforce needs.

Security factors to consider in remote access solutions

Security should be at the heart of any remote network access decision. Here’s what to keep in mind when evaluating solutions:

• Data encryption: Ensure all remote desktop connections and data in transit are encrypted using modern standards.
• Network access control: Role-based permissions, Device Security Posture (DPS), and location policies are vital to prevent unauthorized access.
• Network segmentation: Avoid exposing your entire local network to every user. Instead, use segmentation to limit access to only what’s necessary.
• Visibility & monitoring: Real-time logs and traffic analysis help detect suspicious behavior early.

Many legacy tools offer piecemeal versions of these protections, but they often lack seamless integration or require additional software and manual setup.

Cloud LAN: A simpler way to access your local network remotely

Here’s where Cloud LAN changes the game. Cloud LAN simplifies remote access by creating a virtual private network between enrolled devices.

With NordLayer’s Cloud LAN (previously called Smart Remote Access), users can connect directly to remote devices—computers, tablets, or mobiles—running supported operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS). It’s a secure way to access and interact with other devices as if they were on the same local network, no matter where they actually are.

It’s ideal for remote troubleshooting, file sharing, virtual desktop use, or collaborating across distributed endpoints—without exposing your broader infrastructure.

Setting up remote access with NordLayer Cloud LAN

NordLayer makes remote connectivity simple—without the usual complexity of network reconfiguration. Cloud LAN securely links distributed devices into a virtual private network, enabling direct access from anywhere.

Getting started is easy. Just create a Virtual Private Gateway, add your team members, and enable Cloud LAN in the Control Panel. Admins can also manage access via user groups, integrate with identity providers (like Okta, Azure AD, or Google Workspace), and monitor device posture and activity.

Cloud LAN is fast to set up, secure by design, and intuitive to manage—ideal for teams looking to simplify remote collaboration without relying on outdated or overcomplicated remote desktop solutions.