The most valuable features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are unification, central management, and accessibility.
Beneficial central management and overall good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are unification, central management, and accessibility."
- "The initial setup of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is not the easiest. You need to have a certain understanding of how Microsoft is provisioning the solution to be able to set it up and use it."
What is most valuable?
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 scalable if you have reasonably good hardware. Overall the reliability is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is scalable. You can add nodes, remove nodes, and there is load balancing embedded into the solution too.
We have approximately 30 to 50 users using this solution in my organization.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,997 professionals have used our research since 2012.
How are customer service and support?
I am in contact with support from Microsoft Remote Desktop Services approximately twice or three times a year for a particular topic. They typically have been able to resolve our issues, but it is sometimes difficult to be passed over to someone who understands the issue we are facing through the different levels of support.
I rate the support from Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a four out of five.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are using a mixture of Remote Desktop Services and Citrix solutions. Citrix is more prevalent based on this solution category.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is not the easiest. You need to have a certain understanding of how Microsoft is provisioning the solution to be able to set it up and use it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the price of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a three out of five.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for somebody who needs to have centralized control applications, users, or the setup of applications.
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
ENGINEER IT at SYAC
An easily scalable solution
Pros and Cons
- "We have scaled the solution and find this easy to do."
- "The solution should have better security."
What is our primary use case?
We use the latest update.
What needs improvement?
The solution should have better security.
It is overpriced.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution lacks stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have scaled the solution and find this easy to do.
How are customer service and technical support?
While the Microsoft support is good, it would be nice if they would have faster response time.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is difficult and there is a lack of adequate documentation. The process should be simplified.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is overly expensive.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, the solution is good.
I would recommend it to others.
I rate Microsoft Remote Desktop Services as a nine 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
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,997 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Implementation Engineer at Border Business Systems
Easy to set up, performs well, and saves us money on hardware costs
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is performance."
- "It could be made simpler from a management perspective."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for small-scale virtual desktop applications. It is utilized for normal desktop usage.
How has it helped my organization?
This solution saves us time and money because running applications directly on the server means that we can use lower-priced, entry-level computers for the users.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is performance. We run all of our applications on the server and access them using this product, which is must faster than upgrading all of the desktops.
What needs improvement?
It could be made simpler from a management perspective.
It should be easier to set it up for desktop printing.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for about five years. When we started using this product, it was called Terminal Services.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This product is quite stable and we have never had any problems with it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Given our usage, we have not had to deal with scaling this product.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've worked with VMware Horizon and Citrix before.
VMware Horizon is easier to manage, although the Microsoft product is easier to install than other solutions.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is relatively easy. In that regard, Microsoft is easier to install than the VMware ones that I've worked with, as well as Citrix.
What about the implementation team?
We set everything up ourselves and I haven't had the need to consult anybody else for technical support.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing could always be improved.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, this product works well, it is fine for the purpose that we use it, and I recommend it.
I would rate this solution 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
Information Systems Consultant at a aerospace/defense firm with 51-200 employees
Reliable, easy to use, and easy to integrate with a security framework
Pros and Cons
- "It's almost an out of the box function once you have installed the other components."
- "In the next release, I would like to see better performance over slower networks, and integration with Linux, but this is something that we're going to get out of Microsoft in terms of a unified solution."
What is our primary use case?
The primary use case of this solution is to improve mobility and to access current sessions from different locations.
What is most valuable?
Reliability is a key feature for us.
The ease of use, as well as ease of integration within our security framework, are valuable.
What needs improvement?
We need to extend over a potentially slower network, and we have heard that performance over slower networks is not as good. I understand that there are other products out there that work better over slower networks.
In the next release, I would like to see better performance over slower networks, and integration with Linux, but this is something that we're going to get out of Microsoft in terms of a unified solution. It rolls out to bigger issues and access management with being unified with Microsoft and Linux.
This hasn't quite come together, I would have to get other products outside of Windows to get this to work.
The unified solution may be a cross-platform solution, which would be great in the future.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for six years.
We are running a remote desktop from our workstations, not from our servers, and we are running an old Windows 7 version that is just about to be retired.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is stable, I am not aware of any outstanding issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of how we use it in our environment, it's not an issue for us, this solution is scalable.
We have approximately 50 users, who are mostly consultants. We are a small consultancy organization, and we are mostly IT.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have not contacted technical support directly and I know the team doesn't have any issues with this. Usually, we get a reasonably good turn around time. Not against remote desktop, I don't believe that we have had support for that.
In general with Microsoft, it's been good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously we experimented with other products, but for the moment we are staying with Microsoft remote desktops.
There are other products that we are looking for. At the moment we have four different platforms, and maybe having a unified solution might be the key reason to change in the future. We need a cross-platform solution. We have to have remote access, for example, on Linux Solutions as well, and we don't want to be running on different clients.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward.
It's almost an out-of-the-box function once you have installed the other components.
Once you have set up your workstations and your servers, it's not a big deal to switch on and enable and integrate with Active Directory or remote logins.
In terms of testing, it took half a day to a day's work to ensure that it was working.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented this solution with our in-house team.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Retrospectively, no, we selected Microsoft and used it.
We are doing some research at the moment to see what we will do in the future for our next generation of infrastructure and renewal.
What other advice do I have?
It's a good solution, and especially if you already have Microsoft running then it's probably one of the better solutions to choose from.
I am not sure whether it's the best future cross-platform solution when we are running multiple workstation environments with different platforms.
I am really happy with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services in our current environment. We have no issues at the moment.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
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.
Highly reliable and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is highly stable."
- "Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is only available for the professional version of the Windows operating system. This restricts a lot of users. The feature should be available for all versions."
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is only available for the professional version of the Windows operating system. This restricts a lot of users. The feature should be available for all versions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for more than 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is highly stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I did not have a problem with the stability because I was using it for personal use, not for business use. The solution was scalable for my needs.
How are customer service and support?
I have not used the technical support from Microsoft.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Remote Desktop Services an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
System Engineer at KBSL Information Technologies
Easy to set up, quick to deploy, and the desktop virtualization is good
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are the desktop session and desktop virtualization."
- "My customers are worried that the RDP protocol can be easily compromised and would like the option to use an alternative like Blast."
What is our primary use case?
We are a solution provider and this is a product that we implement for our customers.
We use Microsoft RDS in conjunction with VMware for desktop virtualization.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are the desktop session and desktop virtualization.
What needs improvement?
My customers are worried that the RDP protocol can be easily compromised and would like the option to use an alternative like Blast. The details of RDP are available to everyone and it has been used in industry for many years, so people know what points are vulnerable. If there were a patented protocol available as an option then people would be happy because they will be more assured of the security. Tweaking this would be really good in terms of security.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for between five and six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft RDS is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is really easy to scale-up or scale-out. Just add one, two, or three cells and it works. It's really straightforward.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have never been in contact with Microsoft technical support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward and I haven't had any issues in the past three years.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution has a perpetual license and it is purchased upfront.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for anybody who is considering this solution is that it is really easy to set up and it can be deployed in an urgent manner, depending on the environment. If you need remote access and do not have the expertise, yet it is an emergency situation, then this could be a great product.
If you're looking for a good end-user experience and you're concerned about all of the features, then Microsoft does not have all that VMware does. It can do almost everything, but there are some features that it does not support.
I would rate this solution a ten 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: Implementer
Network Manager at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Remote desktop services is top rated while providing convenience and security.
Valuable Features:
Remote desktop services are similar to terminal based settings where multiple terminals connect to a server. A user has the ability to run programs, view files, etc. Each session is independent and secure. All application execution takes place on the server. Allows for IT staff to install all software, databases, etc on the server rather than on individual pc's. Provides centralized management of operating system images.
Room for Improvement:
Network bandwidth may limit a users experience with remote desktop services. If you don't have vpn/terminal access, you cannot use remote desktop. If network or server goes down, you cannot do any work. There may be some lag in running modern development tools.
Other Advice:
For all users that love the convenience of being able to work from any location. Provides a secure network connection. There is the potential of lowering developers cost. A great way to get more work from your employees at all times.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director at Empaco
Fast, cost-effective, with simple and precise deployment
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are it is fast and cost-effective."
- "I would like to see the hard drives work without locking up and integrate the local drives in the next release."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is for accessing Visual Basic.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are it is fast and cost-effective. I am not aware of a replacement currently on the market.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see the hard drives work without locking up and integrate the local drives in the next release.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services for the past couple of months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There is stability but sometimes it does disconnect.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was easy and takes usually one or two days.
What about the implementation team?
We did our implementation in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think that Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is expensive compared to Login solution.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have used Citrix and Login solution.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is a good solution and I would rate it an eight on a scale of one to ten.
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.
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2025
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
Nice review! I just wanted to mention that I love deploying remote desktop solutions - whether its gateways or rdp farms.
However one thing that still bugs me is remote printing..
Ever since "Easy print" was introduced it caused a lot of complications with remote printing, so the only thing I would like to mention is - disable "easy print" if you want to avoid issues with remote printing.
When disabling "easy print" we basically say to windows look to see if a driver is installed before giving the printer a generic one!
Wissam