Secure Remote Access to Parallels Virtual Machines: Port Forwarding and SSH Explained

This article was originally written in March 2024 and has since been updated with new discoveries and research in March 2026.

Virtual machines (VMs) are software-based computers that run inside a physical computer, allowing you to run separate operating systems simultaneously. Unlike cloud-hosted virtual machines, Parallels Desktop runs full operating systems locally on a Mac computer. 

This gives you performance, offline capability, and tight macOS integration. But it also means that when you need remote virtual machine access (or to access remote VM instances), you must take network security and configuration into account.

This guide is for developers, IT admins, and power users running VMs with Parallels Desktop, who want to remotely access their VMs while preserving security and data integrity.

Two tools show up again and again in secure remote VM access:

• SSH (Secure Shell): An encrypted network protocol for connections between networks over an unsecure network.
• Port forwarding: This functionality allows computers on your local network and on the Internet to connect to any of your virtual machines using shared networking mode.

Both SSH and port forwarding are common, powerful tools when used correctly.

The goal of this guide is to help you understand how to reduce risk and exposed ports while maintaining reliable remote access to Parallels VMs.

Why secure remote access to Parallels virtual machines needs a refresh

Remote work and hybrid teams are no longer temporary, with studies showing nearly 30% of employees permanently work in these models. Against this backdrop, many Mac-first organizations now regularly rely on virtual machines.

On modern Macs, especially Apple silicon systems, running Windows or Linux locally in Parallels Desktop has become a normal part of the workflow. But remote VM access is a different story, and it requires different protocols.

If you're looking for guidance, much of it is outdated: many older guides assume you’re working with public cloud VM access, which has insecure defaults.

But this guide addresses modern workflows and safety features relevant to remote virtual machine access, all of which are supported by Parallels Desktop.

What does remote access mean for Parallels virtual machines?

When we talk about remote desktop VM access in the context of Parallels Desktop, we’re referring to securely connecting to a virtual machine running locally on a Mac.

This is distinct from accessing a VM running locally on a Mac or a VM hosted on a server or in the Cloud.

Common Parallels remote access use cases include:

• Developers accessing Linux or Windows VMs from another machine.
• IT admins managing test or support environments.
• Power users needing occasional remote access.

If your VM lives on a Mac and you need to reach it remotely, this guide shows you how to do that safely, intentionally, and with minimal risk exposure.

Common ways users access Parallels virtual machines remotely

Once you decide to access a Parallels VM from another device, the next question is how. Here’s how the most common approaches compare.

1. Remote Desktop (RDP) to Windows VM

If you’re running a Windows VM, the most obvious option is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which is built into Windows. For internal networks or VPN-protected environments, RDP can be convenient. But it becomes risky if exposed, because you’re then opening up the entire Windows environment to risk.

For Parallels users, especially on laptops that move between networks, directly opening RDP to the internet is almost always the wrong choice. If you must use it, consider patterns like RDP over SSH instead of exposing RDP directly.

2. VNC and similar tools for Linux VMs

Linux users turn to a variety of tools for remote access. While they provide flexibility, they also typically have weaker default configurations than modern SSH setups (such as unencrypted sessions or simple password authentication). If VNC is required, treat it over an SSH tunnel as a baseline rather than a nice-to-have.

3. SSH-based access

For most technical users, SSH (Secure Shell) should be the foundation of remote virtual machine access. When configured properly, SSH provides:

• Encrypted communication.
• Strong authentication (especially with SSH key authentication).
• Fine-grained access control.

To reduce your risk of surface attacks, you can:

• Expose only SSH.
• Use SSH tunneling to securely reach internal services.
• Restrict authentication to keys instead of passwords (including private-public key SSH patterns).

A simple way to think about it: SSH is the one door you keep well-guarded, and everything else stays behind it. If you combine key-only authentication with tight access controls (limited users, limited source IPs, and no unnecessary forwarded ports), you get remote VM access that’s both reliable and hard to abuse, without turning your Parallels setup into an open-to-the-internet experiment.

What should never be exposed directly to the internet?

As a general rule:

• Do not expose RDP directly to the public internet.
• Do not expose VNC without encryption and access controls.
• Do not open broad port ranges “temporarily.”
• Do not rely on default passwords.

Treat those don’ts as non-negotiable guardrails: once a service is reachable from the public internet, it will be found and tested. If you need remote access, use a safer wrapper (VPN, a bastion/jump host, or SSH tunneling) so you keep your attack surface small and your access intentional.

Why exposing Parallels VM ports directly is risky

The moment RDP, VNC, or SSH ports are reachable from the internet, they’re no longer private. They become part of a constantly scanned global surface, where they can be discovered.

This is risky because:

• Exposed ports are discovered automatically by scans. You don’t need to be targeted personally to be attacked.
• Even with strong passwords, services exposed to the internet are subject to brute-force login attempts, credential stuffing, and enumeration attacks targeting known usernames.
• Firewall configuration mistakes on macOS hosts and guest VMs can expose you to more risk than you might realize.

Even temporary access scenarios require highly secure patterns. Security incidents rarely start with sophisticated exploits. They start with small, unreviewed openings that leave a VM vulnerable to automated scans. In addition, factors such as NAT traversal can inadvertently broaden reachability if routing rules are misunderstood.

Secure defaults for remote access to Parallels virtual machines

If you’re remotely accessing Parallels Desktop virtual machines, here are basic recommendations for default settings and practices:

• Apply the principle of least privilege for VM access: This means exposing only the specific service required, granting access only to the specific user who needs it, and keeping access available only for as long as necessary.
• Use SSH keys instead of passwords: If SSH is your access method, and for most developers and IT admins, it should be, password-based authentication should not be the default. Why? Because open SSH ports are continuously scanned, and password logins invite brute-force attempts. Key-based authentication dramatically reduces that risk.
• Minimize open ports on both the Mac host and the VM: Security is layered, and involves both the macOS host and the guest operating system; both need to be properly configured. For example, keep the macOS firewall enabled, and keep Windows Defender Firewall or your Linux firewall active.

Secure remote access involves ensuring every open port, every exposed service, and every login method is deliberate, monitored, and secured. These are foundational VM management best practices for long-lived remote access setups.

Scaling secure access for teams using Parallels

Secure access is straightforward when it’s just you and one VM. It becomes more complex when multiple developers, QA engineers, or IT admins need access to shared environments running in Parallels Desktop across a fleet of Macs.

For shared access to VMs, especially in small teams or lab environments, a bastion host (also called a jump server) pattern provides structure. 

This means that, instead of exposing every Parallels VM directly:

1. One controlled system is exposed (the bastion).
2. All SSH access flows through it.
3. Internal VMs remain private.

In certain cases, VPN or Zero Trust access might make more sense.

If access requirements grow beyond a few users, it’s often time to stop forwarding ports entirely.

VPN-based access works well when:

• You need controlled network-level access.
• Multiple services must be reachable.
• You want to avoid public exposure entirely.

Additionally, as teams grow, SSH should not remain just a set of keys on laptops. 

Stronger patterns include:

• Centralized identity providers (IdP).
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Role-based access controls.
• Session logging and auditing.

This is especially relevant for hybrid workforce IT teams supporting mobile Macs that frequently change networks.

How Parallels fits into secure remote access workflows

If you’re looking for secure remote VM access to your devices, Parallels Desktop is the answer: it gives you the virtualization foundation and the networking controls on which secure, centralized access patterns are built. (If you’re standardizing across organizations, you may also evaluate Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition or Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise for centralized management and policy controls.)

• Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) is a flexible virtual application and desktop delivery solution that empowers organizations of all sizes to work securely from anywhere, on any device.
• Secure Remote Workspace allows you to access server-based apps and desktops as well as local desktops from any browser on any device, anywhere.

Parallels Desktop supports secure remote virtual machine access for:

• Individual developers: Linux or Windows VMs run locally, and you use SSH to access the terminal for workflows.
• Small teams: Parallels Desktop provides the local VM environment. Secure access is layered on top via SSH, VPN, and identity enforcement.
• IT-managed environments: Business or Enterprise Editions are deployed, and orgs use centralized licensing, policy-controlled VM settings, and compliance requirements.

If you’re looking for secure, remote access to your virtual machines, Parallels Desktop is here for you. 

Download Parallels Desktop and standardize secure remote access to your virtual machines.

FAQs

If you are setting up remote access to a Parallels Desktop virtual machine, these FAQs cover common setup and security questions before you open ports or share credentials.

What does remote access mean for a Parallels Desktop virtual machine?

Remote access means connecting to the guest operating system running inside the VM from another device, typically using SSH, RDP, or VNC, while the VM continues to run on the Mac host.

Do I need port forwarding to reach my VM from outside my local network?

Often, yes. If the VM sits behind your home or office router, you typically need port forwarding on the router so that inbound traffic reaches the Mac host and then the VM, depending on your networking mode and remote access method.

Is it safe to expose RDP or VNC directly to the internet?

Usually not. Direct exposure increases risk because these services are heavily scanned and attacked. A safer approach is to keep them private and use a VPN or SSH tunneling to expose only a single hardened entry point.

Why should I use SSH keys instead of passwords?

SSH keys are harder to brute-force than passwords and support stronger authentication. They also reduce the chance of credential theft from reuse or weak password choices.

What are the most important safety checks before enabling remote access?

Limit which ports are open, restrict access by IP address when possible, use key-based authentication for SSH, enable a firewall on both the Mac host and the VM, and keep the guest OS up to date. For teams, add centralized access controls and logging to audit who connected and when.