Remote maintenance is remote access to IT systems for maintenance, diagnostics, and administration — by internal administrators or external service providers. Tools such as SSH, RDP, TeamViewer, or vendor-specific VPN access enable this without physical presence.
Remote maintenance carries significant risks: the access channel can be compromised, service-provider accounts can be misused, and activities are harder to monitor than on-site work. Security measures include multi-factor authentication, time-limited access, session recording, approval by internal staff, and encrypted connections. ISO 27001 Annex A (A.5.18, A.8.2) requires controlled access rights — remote maintenance accounts are among the most sensitive.