![What is RDP? [Ultimate Remote Desktop Protocol Guide]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cover366-main.webp)
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At present, we live in a technologically fast world. We need immediate solutions, support, and highly productive results, right? To attain these, RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol, is the best software. Now, what is RDP? Let’s find out!
What is RDP? [Remote Desktop Protocol]
RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol, is a protocol created by Microsoft to control a computer from anywhere afar. It is designed for seamless remote operations. Using it, you can control another computer over a network and access its graphical user interface even if it is far. Having an RDP for a system is like having a remote control for a TV.
What can you do when sitting in front of your computer? You can access files, run programs, and anything else. You can do all these actions using an RDP without being present in the system. So, if you want to work remotely or help your friends and family when you’re not close to them, an RDP can be convenient!
How RDP Works
After the discussion on “What is RDP?”, let's talk about how it works and how to connect RDP. The Remote Desktop Protocol operates on user commands sent over the Internet and desktop images streamed from one device to another.
Compare that to using a remote-controlled drone, which also sends information about mouse movements and keyboard presses back to the user's device, again creating the illusion of a direct user-computer interaction. It further gives an impression that the user is actually physically present at his desktop, and thus accomplishes such tasks as opening applications or managing files.
RDP, as a protocol, is meant to establish a private network for this very purpose. It uses port 3389 for data and, for its mode of connection, adopts TCP/IP as the transport protocol for the majority of internet traffic. With this channel, all the essential inputs ranging from keyboard, and mouse to display updates, and all other inputs are constantly available.
RDP Use Cases
There are many things that you can do using an RDP. Now that you know the RDP meaning, let’s see the main RDP use cases:
Remote Tech Support
One of the main use cases of RDP is supporting and troubleshooting problems from afar. Technicians can access the system and fix issues of a remote system no matter where they are. So, users don’t need to wait for someone to come over and solve the problem.
Working from Home
Today, remote work is rising more and more and that’s why RDP meaning is more important than ever. For people who work remotely, RDP is essential. You can sit in your bed, on the beach, or in a cozy coffee shop and access your work data including files and applications easily.
Managing Servers
For server management and administration tasks, RDP plays an important role. Using an RDP, admins can control servers, update software, and keep things running smoothly from a remote location. As a result, the efficiency will be enhanced and the need for on-site interventions will be reduced.
Teamwork from Afar
Whether you want to work on a project for your job or do something personal. In any case, you can use an RDP if you need to do some teamwork. If you want to work with people who are in different places, you can use RDP and work on one task together, just like an office.
What are the Benefits of RDP?
Now that you the what is RDP use cases, let’s explore its benefits:
Better Accessibility
Using an RDP all you need is an internet connection and with only that, you can do anything with your computer regardless of your location. So, you won’t be tied to a specific workplace. Better accessibility results in more flexibility and productivity.
Saves Money
When the need for physical presence reduces, businesses can save more money. That’s why RDP can help businesses save more money on travel expenses for IT support, meetings, and other stuff as it can help tasks to be done remotely.
Safe and Secure
Due to strong security features like encryption and secure authentication methods, your data will be safe. So, you’ll ensure your important data won’t get into the wrong hands. Strong security features make RDP a reliable choice, especially for sensitive data.
Challenges with RDP
- Latency Struggles: Terrible internet quality initiates RDP lagging, session dropping, networking, and/or limited productivity during an online connection.
- Security Contradictions: Using RDP for an extended time tends to leave systems at risk of hash attacks or computer worms. These threats require regular updates and patches to reduce them.
- Functional Limitations: Some RDPs do not have advanced interfaces for file transfer and clipboard sharing in a cross-platform setup.
- Complicated Configuration and Maintenance: Setting up RDP is quite difficult especially in a corporate organization since it has various users with several levels of access and it keeps several security policies.
- Collaborative Limitations: Mostly, the RDP session locks the remote desktop to ensure no individual will see or have a real-time view of the actions occurring for collaboration or demo purposes.
Advanced RDP Features
RDP has lots of highly skilled features they offer to help bring improved usability, increased security, and more functionality into the remote desktop sessions.
RDP, the number one solution for remote desktop
- Session Shadowing: While active troubleshooting or instruction is provided, an administrator can then view or take over the user's active session. The session is not terminated.
- USB Redirection: All local USB devices, flash drives, and external hard drives, are accessible while in a remote session and seamlessly transfer and use the device.
- Multiple Monitor Support: Enables a user to work on several monitors and therefore increase productivity by making the desktop experience virtually indistinguishable from local desktop use.
- RemoteApp Integration: Remote applications might function with the local applications, thus merging the processes of the users to a complete and continuous workflow.
- Virtualized Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Support: RDP supports Virtual GPUs through RemoteFX protocols to provide advanced graphics and greatly improve the user experience in virtual desktop environments.
- Transport Layer Security (TLS): TLS provides encrypted connections that are not eavesdropped or perused while transmitting data, thereby preserving security and preventing MitM attacks through which data can be acquired.
- Clipboard Sharing: Easy sharing within the borders of both desktops is facilitated via copying and pasting of text or even files between the local and remote desktops.
How to Set Up and Use RDP
This will arrange your computer as a dedicated server, which you will connect to with a remote client device. Here is a stepwise enabling using RDP for remote access:
Activate Remote Desktop on Windows PC
Step 1: Verify Compatibility
Remote desktop capability must be a part of your installation of Windows.
Step 2: Enable Remote Desktop
- Start button. Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
- This enables Enable Remote Desktop.
- Remember to give the name of the computer so that you can connect again later.
Step 3: Activate Network-Level Authentication (NLA).
- You will need to activate NLA under Advanced Settings of Remote Desktop for additional security. This will enable only authorized users to connect to an RDP server.
Step 4: Connect to Remote Desktop/RDP Server
- Open the Remote Desktop Connection Tool
- On the client device, go to the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection in the search bar, and choose it.
- Type the PC name or IP address of the host machine into the Remote Desktop Connection wizard.
- Show Options and enter the username for the account on the remote PC.
- You can use the adjacent tabs to customize display resolution, local resource redirection, and connection quality to suit your needs.
- Click Connect. A security warning may appear regarding the remote computer's identity. Disregard this warning if you trust the connection and click Yes to proceed.
After that, you only treat that remote desktop as one attached to you, performing whatever task.
Security Best Practices
To make sure unauthorized individuals and cyberattacks do not gain access to systems, it is necessary to secure RDP connections. One of the fundamental steps is following strong password policies.
These would include the use of complex passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add a second layer. An attempt limit on login tries will help mitigate brute-force attacks.
Here you can learn how to enhance RDP security with MFA.
Also, you should avoid RDP for administrative accounts since those are primary targets by attackers. There is further whitelisting of specific trusted hosts, where only these approved machines can freely connect to the RDP server.
Firewalls should also secure RDP ports and access them solely via VPN to further strengthen security measures. Connections would now be safely guarded against public exposure.
RDP vs. Other Remote Tools
RDP is by far the most popular tool among all applications used for remote desktop access. However, there are several other types of tools that meet different needs further, and each of them has its unique features and advantages.
- Take, for instance, AnyDesk is a lightweight, quite easy-to-use application that promises to give very low latency and reliable connections. It is suitable for personal and corporate use.
- BeyondTrust Remote Support has the extremely secure privileged access management required by enterprises managing hybrid and cloud environments.
- SolarWinds' Dameware Remote Support was prepared for IT professionals who use it as an all-inclusive application that contains everything needed in troubleshooting and cybersecurity.
To know more about RDP differences, we recommend the following articles:
Conclusion
The discussions of “What is RDP?” Has come to an end. All in all, RDP keeps being the most popular and powerful tool for enabling almost anything that can cover remote access through almost every one of us, from our homes up to complete enterprise IT maintenance.
The benefits it brings, connection security, cost efficiency, and above all, central management, usher into a new world of computing for the adopting businesses shifting to remote working or on-site infrastructure retention.
