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I've heard from more than one IT Manager that they don't allow users to user RDP to connect to their internal network from the outside, because it's not safe. They claim that if they'd allow their users to do so, then anyone from the outside will have access to their network as well.
I'm not getting it. In order to use RDP, you need a user name and password, and you can't get in without it. The same is for using Gmail, online banking, and any other web service.
So what do they use instead? LogMeIn. Or a VPN connection, and then use internal RDP. VPN also requires a user name and password.
If they're afraid of a brute-force attack, then someone can brute-force attack the VPN server or LogMeIn just the same. And if these other technologies have lockouts (after x number of failed attempts) then why can't the same be set up for RDP?
Similarly, people always say that VPN is very secure because it uses a "tunnel". I don't fully understand what that means, but regardless, why can't the username and password be cracked the same way any website or web service which uses a user name and password can be.
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The essential difference when comparing VPNs and RDP is that a VPN doesn't provide your device with any additional functionality the way an RDP does. You're still using the same old device, only that its IP address has changed and it is now a whole lot more secure when accessing the Internet.
The problem is that the same password is often used for RDP remote logins as well. Companies do not typically manage these passwords to ensure their strength, and they often leave these remote connections open to brute force or credential stuffing attacks. Unrestricted port access.
RDP vs VPN for Remote Access While RDP and VPN serve similar functions for remote access, VPNs allow users to access secure networks whereas RDP grants remote access to a specific computer. While useful to provide access to employees and third parties, this access is open-ended and unsecure.
Unlike VPN, RDP typically enables users to access applications and files on any device, at any time, over any type of connection. The biggest advantage of RDP is that you have access to network resources, databases, and line-of-business software applications without the limitations and high bandwidth demands of VPN.
With proper configuration, RDP is capable of 128-bit RC4 encryption, virtually any port or set of port allocations, and has proven to be relatively bug-free, with only extremely minor flaws ever discovered.
On the other hand, the secure tunnel created in a VPN is far more secure than Remote Desktop. All your data is encrypted for safe transfer from one remote location to another. Moreover, VPN only allows shared content to be accessed remotely to tighten the security. If your device falls in the wrong hands, they won’t be able to access and manipulate unshared data and resources.
The bottom line is that both RDP and VPN have their own advantages, however, with high security, better performance and manageability, VPN seems to be a clear winner in the competition of Remote Desktop VS VPN service.
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