We have many customers that are using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for publishing internal applications through the services. The process involves virtualizing applications for internal and external users and making them accessible through Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and reverse proxy services. By doing so, users can indirectly access the applications without logging into the server directly. The solution is used mostly for external company users.
Service Delivery Manager at Almoayyed Computers
Highly secure, easy to configure, and straightforward installation
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is its security and simple configuration."
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is its security and simple configuration."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped the security posture of the organization by not exposing its internal applications. instead of giving internal direct access to their internal apps. They give access to only a secondary server with limited access to internal applications.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is its security and simple configuration.
What needs improvement?
The solution can improve the policies of the solution.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,660 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for approximately 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is scalable, we are able to have more licenses or increase the load if needed.
How are customer service and support?
The solution is straightforward and we have not had any problems needing to contact support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used a similar solution to Microsoft Remote Desktop Services.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is simple. It only takes a few clicks of the mouse to complete.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is reasonable. The solution can come for free for some clients with certain agreements.
What other advice do I have?
For customers who already have the Microsoft EA framework, the license for enhancing internal security when publishing web and internal applications to both internal and external users is readily available. By using this feature, customers can ensure that their applications remain secure without compromising access to their users. This eliminates the need for direct access, thereby enhancing the overall security of their systems.
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Microsoft Remote Desktop Services an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Consultant at NatWest Group
The graphical user interface enables users to connect to servers easily
Pros and Cons
- "Since the tool has a graphical user interface, it's easier for us to access the server."
- "We face frequent disconnections."
What is our primary use case?
We have a lot of Microsoft services configured for different applications. We use the solution to access them.
What is most valuable?
Since the tool has a graphical user interface, it's easier for us to access the server. It's easier to connect to someone and explain it to them. It is easy to share and explain the features of the solution.
What needs improvement?
We face frequent disconnections.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for the past 4 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable enough. I rate the stability an 8 out of 10.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We are quite a large organization with 14,000 employees. Almost everyone uses the product on a daily basis.
How are customer service and support?
The support team takes a long time to get back to us. The team takes almost 2 days to respond to us. The wait time is longer than that of Azure and AWS’s support teams.
What other advice do I have?
The tool is the only way for us to connect to the servers. I will recommend the tool to others. If an organization has a Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is the only out-of-the-box solution available. Installing anything else would be a hassle. Overall, I rate the solution an 8 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Apr 24, 2024
Flag as inappropriateBuyer's Guide
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,660 professionals have used our research since 2012.
CEO at Value Assets Management Pvt Ltd
Easily integrates with other Microsoft products, is stable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "I give the stability a nine out of ten."
- "We encounter challenges with portability, especially for users of iOS devices."
What is our primary use case?
We predominantly use Microsoft Remote Desktop Services to access our server. Our team works remotely and needs to log in to perform tasks such as billing. We had two options: either use our existing internal infrastructure or move to the cloud. However, we also required remote printing services so that team members could print from their local desktops. To achieve this, we implemented terminal printing services, VPN, and remote desktop. The purpose was to enable both on-site and remote team members to perform billing tasks, invoicing, and tracking truck movement.
What is most valuable?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services meets all our requirements.
What needs improvement?
We encounter challenges with portability, especially for users of iOS devices. It becomes particularly difficult for us to manage if both ends have iOS devices, whereas having the same infrastructure with Microsoft Windows environments on both ends works seamlessly. The licensing of iOS presents problems for third-party integration and has room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for eight months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I give the stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I give the scalability an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. We activated the solution smoothly and completed the deployment within a day. Beforehand, the distributor's tech team came to discuss our network and gain an understanding of everything. It took them a day to configure the solution. Although everything went smoothly thereafter, we encountered some initial challenges. Specifically, we faced issues connecting to the local and remote printers, as printing services were not functioning properly. To address this, we worked on it for a day and met our requirements within two to three days. It's worth noting that the solution isn't entirely plug-and-play, and there are challenges that require mitigation.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation was completed in-house with the help of the distributor techs.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost is fair.
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution a ten out of ten.
We have around 70 people using the solution within our Accounting, Billing, and Sales departments.
I recommend Microsoft Remote Desktop Services to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Southern Europe Customer Success Manager at Nexthink
Reliable, simple to set up and easy to deploy
Pros and Cons
- "It's simple to set up."
- "The solution isn't as good as the Citrix option."
What is our primary use case?
The first use case was related to the development and testing environment. Before COVID, it was also for remote connections for work from home, to have access to a protected environment.
What is most valuable?
The solution has improved a lot.
It's simple to set up.
It is stable.
The solution can scale according to the hardware available.
What needs improvement?
The solution isn't as good as the Citrix option.
For how long have I used the solution?
I used the solution for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable, reliable product. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are some limitations in terms of the the ability to expand. It's scalable according to the hardware limitation or the virtual environment limitation.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've also used Citrix. I prefer Citrix to Remote Desktop connections. The management and flow are better.
Hyper-V is also challenging Citrix. However, Citrix has a strong reputation still.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not complex at all. It was very straightforward.
The connection for the client is embedded in the system. You just need to configure the servers and credentials.
What was our ROI?
We did not calculate an ROI, however, it does offer more features than we needed and therefore offers great value for money.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not sure about the licensing. The licensing policies are changing in the Microsoft environment, so I'm not sure how it's licensed at this time.
My understanding is that it is expensive. Even if we negotiate, it depends on the business you have and the volumes you run an issue for.
With the rules changing, the licensing can be complex.
What other advice do I have?
I was a reseller and partner.
I'm not sure which version of the solution I used.
We started using the solution on-premises and then deployed it to the Azure cloud.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. It's simple to deploy. Users just need to negotiate a price and handle tasks around their server license.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner and reseller
System engineer at Yaşar Holding
Shares computer resources perfectly and provides the necessary security options
Pros and Cons
- "The tool shares computer resources perfectly."
- "Sometimes, the updates break the system."
What is our primary use case?
The users connect to a central server and share the physical or visual server resources. They use the remote desktop environment for office documents, operations, and company-specific programs.
What is most valuable?
The solution works perfectly. The tool shares computer resources perfectly. It provides the necessary security options.
What needs improvement?
When we update the environment, we face problems sometimes, and the users cannot use the system.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for about 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is stable. Sometimes, the updates break the system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The tool is very scalable. We can add and delete objects from the environment easily. We have approximately 500 users.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward. It is easy to deploy. Microsoft provides the necessary documentation, including detailed steps to install and configure the servers. The deployment process can be improved. It can be made more easier.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool must be cheaper. It should provide an option to pay the license fee once in a year or once in two years.
What other advice do I have?
We don't use any support because we can easily find online documents to solve our issues. I recommend that everybody use the product. If any company wants to share one computer’s resources with many users, they can choose Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Apr 24, 2024
Flag as inappropriateGood capabilities with lots of features and helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "The solution offers good value for money."
- "For Microsoft, maybe bandwidth optimization is one of the areas that need improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as a remote desktop.
What is most valuable?
The solution's capabilities are great. I like the remote capabilities.
It has a lot of features. We have everything we would need in a remote desktop.
The solution is stable.
It is scalable.
Technical support is helpful.
The solution offers good value for money.
What needs improvement?
For Microsoft, maybe bandwidth optimization is one of the areas that need improvement. They also need better support for video applications, like Teams.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution from the beginning.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is fine. If we have the right bandwidth, I would rate it nine or ten out of ten in terms of reliability. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
If you have enough bandwidth, yes, it's scalable. However, if the bandwidth is limited, there is a problem. There should be better optimization for bandwidth utilization.
About 50% to 60% of the company uses the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I've occasionally reached out to technical support. They are helpful and responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Splashtop solutions, not TeamViewer, and this is also quite a good solution and offers good quality. However, Microsoft's solution offers better support and a more convenient way to optimize support from one administrator to many users. Microsoft's processes are much smoother.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup's level of difficulty depends. For the administrator, it is simple. For the VDI solutions, it's quite complex.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While the solution is more expensive, it is worth the cost. I'd rate the value you get out of the solution a four or five out of five.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Usually, at the moment, in Poland, the customers are implementing a hybrid solution. We are looking at this approach as well for our customers. The solution can be implemented on-premise and in the cloud. Certainly, most vendors try to position it as a cloud solution. However, sometimes it's quite challenging to convince the customer that the cloud isn't possible. That's why we are looking at vendors who offer broader implementation options.
What other advice do I have?
We are an end-user and also a Microsoft partner.
We have the solution on-premise; however, for the VDI solution, which is not a technical remote desktop. We can see the Remote Desktop for administrators or for end users. For the administrator, it certainly is on-premise; for the end user, the VDI solutions, in Poland, we have on-premise and also pure cloud solutions.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. I'd recommend the product to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
IT Manager at ""Matcom" Marcin Sebastian Ziółek" Marcin Sebastian Ziółek
Reliable and simple to set up but the price is too high
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is stable."
- "The price is too high."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use the solution for online work.
What is most valuable?
The initial setup is simple.
It is scalable.
The solution is stable.
What needs improvement?
I don't really like the solution in general. It's like Microsoft made me use it. I didn't have a choice per se.
The price is too high.
I can use a VPN and get the same results while using an actual desktop.
I'd like to have more courses or training available.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for a few years. I've used it since around 2019. It hasn't been an extremely long amount of time.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is really stable. I'd rate it ten out of ten. I've had no issues with reliability. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good. You can basically keep adding licenses as needed when you have new users. We have four or five users at this time.
How are customer service and support?
I've never had to use technical support. I can't speak to how helpful or responsive they would be.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used TeamViewer in the past, however, it's quite different from this product. I used the consumer version, not the enterprise version.
How was the initial setup?
I found the initial setup to be quite simple and straightforward. You only have to add a Remote Desktop license. There's no need to call or involve anyone else.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution comes at a high price. It was not cheap.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a reseller.
I could recommend the solution to others if they need it and it makes sense for their use case.
I'd rate the solution six out of ten. It's too much of a cost.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Head of Systems Analysis at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Reliable, works well, and is quick to deploy
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is now stable."
- "Sometimes the server stops working, and we don’t know why. Occasionally we’ll get a message to the effect of "There is no remote license.""
What is our primary use case?
We use it in our bank.
We have some servers, and more than two users go remotely with them. We prepare with the Microsoft engineer servers that take them and the license for the users when they need them.
How has it helped my organization?
It has generally improved how our organization functions.
What is most valuable?
The solution is now stable.
The initial setup is simple. It's quick to deploy.
It works well and does what we need it to do.
What needs improvement?
Sometimes the server stops working, and we don’t know why. Occasionally we’ll get a message to the effect of "There is no remote license."
For how long have I used the solution?
I’ve been using the solution for about one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
While we had a problem before, now everything is stable. It’s reliable now. We’ve dealt with our issues and no longer have troubles.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I can’t speak to the scalability. I’ve never attempted to scale. That’s handled by someone else in the company.
Right now, we have 50 licenses available to us. We use the solution quite extensively.
How are customer service and support?
I’ve never dealt with technical support for issues related to the stability problem. I can’t speak to how helpful or responsive they would be. Other team members deal with them. We do have a support contract with Microsoft.
I have dealt with them on Teams on Active Directory and found them to be helpful. I found their help to be excellent.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We already had a license with Microsoft, and therefore, it was natural to use this product as well.
How was the initial setup?
It’s not difficult to set up. It’s pretty straightforward.
The deployment is pretty fast. It only takes about an hour and a half. We only needed to have three people handle the deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
An engineer worked with us to set up the servers. We have machines joining the domain, and we have workgroup machines.
We handled everything in-house. We didn’t need the help of consultants.
What was our ROI?
I’m not sure if we have seen an ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I cannot speak to how much the solution costs. My understanding is that it is moderately priced in that it is not cheap or expensive. We ended up getting it when we renewed our license. It’s an extra feature with the broader Microsoft license.
What other advice do I have?
I’m not sure which version of the solution we’re using.
I’d recommend the solution to others. It’s solved problems for us and worked well.
I’d rate the solution nine out of ten.
We have a partnership with Microsoft.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partners
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
Popular Comparisons
Microsoft Intune
Workspace ONE UEM
Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)
Check Point Remote Access VPN
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)
TeamViewer Tensor
Rocket Exceed TurboX
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
BeyondTrust Remote Support
LogMeIn Rescue
Parallels Access
Apache Guacamole
ConnectWise ScreenConnect
Splashtop Remote Support
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- What is an efficient alternative to Microsoft Remote Desktop?
- Which Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution is the best and why?
- When looking for a work from home solution, which Remote Access solution do you prefer? Why?
- What are the tools you recommend to support teleworking?
- When evaluating Virtual User Session, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- What is an efficient alternative to Microsoft Remote Desktop?
- What are the best practices to prevent a Brute Force attack via remote access?
- Why use remote access tools?
- Looking for recommendations for a well-priced remote/access management system for video editing
- Looking for SDK on Remote monitoring on Android devices