Remote Desktop Protocol

RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol, is a secure protocol developed by Microsoft to enable users to view and interact with Windows machines remotely. This protocol rivals the open-source VNC (Virtual Network Computing) protocol used on platforms such as Linux.

There are two main components to a successful RDP connection. First, an RDP Server Host, which is run by the Windows machine that will be connected to. Second is an RDP Client, run by a device that will connect to the server remotely. This Microsoft client is distributed on the web and all major desktop and smartphone operating systems.

With RDP, peripheral inputs from remote users are shared with the connected desktop, allowing them to control it as though they were physically there. This ability to interact remotely with a physical computer can be crucial for hybrid employees to work from home, support technicians to troubleshoot and resolve issues virtually, server administrators to perform updates and configure settings, and more.

Key Features of RDP

Aside from remote access to physical desktops, RDP has many important and useful features:

• Multi-Connection Support - RDP supports concurrent connections to multiple Windows servers. This is valuable for hosting and providing services to many clients at once.
• Security - RDP includes data encryption between the host and client machines to ensure security during remote sessions. On top of this, server host administrators can configure access controls and require methods of authentication before initiating a remote connection.
• Ease of Use - A provided graphical user interface allows users to easily navigate the remote desktop. The ability to connect to not only keyboard and mouse inputs but printers, audio, and video playback sources allows for a more seamless remote experience.