---
title: "Secure Remote Access to Active Directory"
description: "Enforce secure remote access with access controls at the AD authentication level. Learn more about MFA & SSO for remote and hybrid workforces."
locale: "en"
updated_at: "2025-06-17T13:38:12.194Z"
canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/userlock/solutions/secure-remote-access"
---

# Secure remote access to Active Directory

_Use Case_

Secure every remote connection with access controls that work offline, without a VPN, and without a domain connection. With UserLock, deploy a secure remote access solution built for Active Directory (AD) environments. For your employees in the office, at home, and everywhere in between.

## Why remote access security is hard to get right

A hybrid or remote workforce is now the norm, but risky remote access isn’t always easy for IT to control. 

You need to enforce and audit remote access security just like you do for in-office logins.

Security gaps put your corporate network, sensitive data, and compliance standing at risk. 

- Users bypass the virtual private network (VPN)
- RDP is exposed
- AD alone can’t enforce context-based restrictions
- MFA fails when users are offline

## How UserLock secures remote access

Give IT full control to secure remote connections without slowing users down or increasing overhead. 

- Enforce granular MFA
- Apply contextual access controls
- Set limits on sessions
- Maintain policies when offline and off-network

UserLock sits at the Active Directory authentication layer thanks to a custom Windows credential provider. Built for AD, UserLock lets you set access policies by AD user, group, and OU. 

**It’s easy to use, easy to scale, and keeps IT in control.**

## Total access security for remote work

### Enforce MFA for remote access

Apply multi-factor authentication (MFA) to verify AD identities, no matter where they logon. IT controls when and how often to prompt for MFA, and can adjust frequency by connection type (Remote Desktop, RD Gateway, VPN, IIS, SaaS, UAC, etc.). Set different MFA policies for different AD users, groups, and OUs.

### Control SaaS access with single sign-on (SSO)

Extend access controls to SaaS access with UserLock SSO. Users log in once with their on-prem AD identity, and UserLock SSO federates that authentication to SaaS apps.

### Block risky access with context-aware controls

Apply smart access controls based on login context: device, location, IP address, session type, and number of concurrent logins. Support zero trust network access (ZTNA) principles and privileged access management (PAM).

### Monitor remote sessions in real time

Track and respond to remote sessions as they happen to prevent unauthorized access. Real-time visibility means faster response and fewer blind spots.

### Audit AD identity access

Get accurate insights on all AD account access with tamper-proof, searchable audit logs.

### Prove compliance

Create clear reports of which AD user account accessed what, when, and from where. No matter if users connect from a domain-joined machine or a personal device. Prove security measures are in place to secure remote access and prevent data breaches.

## Why security teams choose UserLock for remote access security

#### Easy to use MFA at logon

Add hardware, TOTP, or push-based MFA at the credential provider level. Verify every interactive and remote logon before a user session starts.

#### Contextual access policies

Restrict logons by workstation, IP address, time of day, geolocation, or concurrent session count. Policies follow AD users, groups, and OUs, making setup easy and audits clean.

#### Built for on-prem AD

Bring modern controls to on-prem AD, terminal servers, and legacy apps. Keep infrastructure costs down.

#### Central policy management

Manage MFA policies and session limits across Remote Desktop, RDP, VPN, IIS, SaaS connections.

#### Instant visibility and response

See who logs on, where, and how in real time. Block, log off, or disable an account with one click.

#### Auditing & reporting

Capture every access event (or attempted access) in tamper-proof, searchable logs. Report on user session history, MFA events, administrator actions, and more to satisfy requirements.