We use Remote Desktop Services in general for server access but the full system including gateway and brokers is used for controlled access from our corporate systems into our OT environment. The Gateway and broker is used to control access to systems using groups and applying rules and policies to desktop sessions.
Pros
Usability
Speed and responsiveness
Client tools built into standard environment
Cons
Configuration
Scalability
Fault tolerance
Likelihood to Recommend
For simple deployments and environments it is well suited. Simple configurations are easy to configure.<div>Where redundant gateways or multiple brokers are required the setup and operation becomes more complex. Some more advanced configurations require the use of multiple setup applications and also the use of group policy. There isn't a single unified configuration mechanism.</div>
VU
Verified User
Manager in Information Technology (501-1000 employees)
Employees can securely connect to corporate applications from any location, ensuring productivity for remote and hybrid workers. IT team can maintain and update software centrally, reducing the need for individual workstation updates. We can deploy thin clients instead of high-performance computers.
Pros
Remote Access to Enterprise Applications
Centralized Management and Software Deployment
Running Legacy Applications
Cons
Performance of remote display when on limited bandwidth or high latency
Simplified provisioning or cloning golden image
Easiest way to deploy application within a server farm
Likelihood to Recommend
Remote Desktop Services provides access to work environments from any device. This allows us to ensure business continuity in case of disaster. It provides admins more control over access and security. Remote Desktop Services simplifies software updates and compliance management by reducing the need to act on end users devices.
VU
Verified User
Professional in Information Technology (1001-5000 employees)
At my job, I need to manage several physical computers, which also hosts multiple virtual machines. I don't need to access them remotely at all times. And the times that I need to login remotely, I use a VPN connection. So having them with Remote Desktop Services enabled, helps me to access them from the office to perform routinary Windows and drivers and third party programs updates.
Pros
Easy remote access within the local network
Sporadic remote access through VPN
Easy transfer of files between the managed workstations and the computer being used to manage them
Built-in solution at no extra cost
Cons
Security for remote access.
Concurrent access. For example, to provide remote support.
Likelihood to Recommend
- When you need to manage physical workstations within the local network (LAN) running Windows.
- When managing virtual machines created by Microsoft Hyper-V.
- When you manage that end-users do not use on a regular basis like file and applications servers running Windows 10/11.
We utilize Remote Desktop Services for all of our off-site remote access to our company server for daily work functions. This allows us to perform our necessary work, use our own personal computers or computers that don’t function with programs that are MS based, and do so from remote locations all over the country. We have had issues with some log-outs not happening therefore not allowing individuals to log back in, and when internet connectivity is down at our host location not to be able to connect.
Pros
Remote Desktop access
Server access
Sharing computer for IT issues
Cons
Display setting changes for monitor viewing
Shared program access for users (i.e. DraftSight)
Printer addition without it having to be in the host location
Likelihood to Recommend
Remote Desktop is well suited for smaller office bases where individuals need to access shared files or programs without having it installed in personal machines. In a small server setting with local access only this works to bridge the gap. It allows users to remote in to access files shared on a single server or remote machine. Not suited for individuals without an IT consultant as there are set up and maintenance issues that require knowledge and time. Also some down time.
We utilize it mostly for a company wide program that is installed on a dedicated server. Everyone remotes into the server and utilizes the program from this server. Also, we have a document management system that is housed on this server that is utilized as a company wide program.
Pros
Efficient
Reliable
Easy to use
Cons
Some session issues
Ability to have different policies for different users for session limits, etc...
Likelihood to Recommend
RDS works best of all remote systems I've used. The biggest feature for end users is it looks and feels just like they are using their own computer, whereas some remote systems don't have the same ability for shortcuts, etc... like RDS has in it's arsenal.
VU
Verified User
Employee in Information Technology (51-200 employees)
Remote Desktop Services is a handy feature in Windows OS like Windows Server, Windows 7, etc. It is being used in our organization to connect to our server and local PCs. The main problem it addresses is to let a user/administrator take remote of another PC/server to perform various works like configuration, troubleshooting, etc.
Pros
Easy to use.
Good customization options like the screen size of remote session window, remote audio settings, etc.
Cons
The Window of the Remote desktop connection sometimes does not get maximized to full size sometimes and it is hard to make it sometimes. There should be an option to display a full-size window for easier working.
Likelihood to Recommend
Remote Desktop services are well suited for people looking to connect to Local computers/Servers after connecting to VPN or Local Area Network. It is easy to use and performs superbly without any issues. However, it does not have support for connecting to Non-Windows-based Devices and Applications like Teamviewer beat RDP when it comes to connecting to machines outside one's network.
We have used it for years to allow our Sales Team to get access back to our main office network. This was much more versatile, secure, and faster than using a VPN to access files and programs directly. When Covid hit we were able to have users work from home and simply remote into their workstations at their desks and work as usual. With that said we are using the Remote Desktop Gateway as well for security. I recently looked into using Citrix but the capabilities were the same but the cost was much higher.
Pros
Access your company PC at work, no loading software on offsite or personal PCs.
Secure connection and all documents stay on company PC at the office.
Works great even over a 2mb internet connection.
Windows already has the client software installed by default.
Cons
Bad internet connections can cause it to disconnect with no retries. This has got better recently so not sure if Microsoft has made a recent change.
Likelihood to Recommend
Great for working away from the office or for users that work from home. Might be less appropriate for users or road worriers in bad internet locations. This is where cloud apps might work better.
VU
Verified User
Administrator in Information Technology (11-50 employees)
My organization uses Windows Remote Desktop Services in several ways:
<ul><li>Admin remote access to physical servers.</li><li>Admin access to cloud-hosted servers.</li><li>User access to a single desktop from multiple devices. This allows users to connect from any computer across many sites to a single desktop. With this, a physical computer becomes a workstation that is simply displaying content from a remote server.</li><li>User access to published RemoteApp programs. This allows users to open a program on their device, which is actually hosted on a remote server.</li></ul>
Pros
It's built into all versions of Windows, so a zero-cost client.
It's well established in the enterprise computing industry. Remote Desktop Services has been around for decades; it has been updated but remains familiar to users and admins.
You can connect from almost any device. This is especially good in environments that damage computers; a low-cost device can be used, since the local device simply presents a login screen (the desktop is on a remote server).
Cons
Advanced configuration is required.
Off-site access from a different network is very insecure unless a VPN can be used.
It's complicated and relatively costly for multi-user environments, as each user or device requires a CAL on top of the server licensing.
Incredibly complicated licensing strategy from Microsoft.
Likelihood to Recommend
Remote Desktop Services is great for some uses, like remote access to servers for admins. For end-users, setup is complicated and costly, but the end solution is great for shared device environments or mobile users. Allowing a user to see the same desktop from any device, on-site or off-site, provides a smooth experience for them. User management is effective once configured.
VU
Verified User
Manager in Information Technology (501-1000 employees)
Remote Desktop Services is being used by many different departments, between direct desktop access or access to a remote terminal server.
Remote Desktop Services addresses software that does not tolerate being run over a WAN connection. Some of the Vendors we use for software requires direct contact to SQL, so we secure that and only allow local access.
Pros
The ability to have custom resolutions or screen setups.
Remote printers.
Similar look and layout of any Windows computer.
Cons
Remote file sharing could be easier.
Some better compression for laggy connections.
Better security options.
Likelihood to Recommend
Remote desktop works well in our environment when people in other offices need to connect to isolated systems.
We use Remote Desktop Services to access servers ourselves, provide remote support to users across campus, provide access to servers for end-users, and provide access to RemoteApps for users. For going from Windows to Windows on a local network, this is by far the best solution for remote access that we have found.
Pros
When you connect with RDS, everything looks and feels (and is) exactly like you're sitting at that desktop. This is great for us and for users.
You can sign in with RDS and the desktop will be the same as when you left it (if you choose to set it up that way).
Although they take some setup, RemoteApps are a very handy way to let users access a program without requiring them to actually connect to a remote desktop on the server.
Cons
Frankly, I'm not aware of any way this could be improved on Windows. It's a completely seamless Windows remote access experience.
That being said, RDS on Mac isn't quite as seamless an experience, so you may have some difficulty training Mac users in RDS. But that isn't really a fault of the program.
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft's Remote Desktop Services is particularly nice if you have a server license for a program and don't want to install it on everyone's machine but do want to give everyone access to the program. They can either use RDS to connect to the server, or you can set up a RemoteApp.
It's also nice if you have people who work on two different workstations in two different locations. We have several people who sometimes work at one desk and sometimes in an office, so it's nice for them to be able to access one machine or the other easily without having to walk back and forth.
One note, if users don't have an Active Directory account, or if you don't want to mess with putting people into various permissions groups, RDS may not be the best solution for them. This wasn't an issue for us since our organization was small enough that we could manage AD permissions and groups rather easily.
