How to Secure Remote Desktop - Proven Cyber Security Tips

Why Should I Secure Remote Desktop? - or The Ongoing Question of Cyber Security

Securing RDP is now a business imperative. To put it in a nutshell, there are 2 broad reasons to secure remote desktops as best we can:

• Rising cyber crime
• RDP and its vulnerabilities
• Overall issues and an in-depth example

Painting the Drab Picture of Cyber Criminality

Cyber criminality is a fast-changing world, and attack techniques are increasingly sophisticated. Businesses need to acquire deep learning techniques to be able to prevent harmful attacks in order to monitor, halt and remediate security breaches. Cybersecurity software is the fundamental protection every remote server admin needs. Without it, RDP protocol is an open gate to hackers. It is therefore well worth knowing how to secure Remote Desktop and keep your network and data safe.

RDP and its Vulnerabilities

RDP allows remote access to Windows machines, making it essential for hybrid and remote work. It is widely used in IT support, remote work, system administration, and cloud deployments. But it is therefore also a popular target for:

• Brute-force attacks (repeated login attempts)
• Ransomware deployment
• Credential theft
• Unauthorized access from abroad

Even today, misconfigured RDP servers remain one of the leading causes of enterprise-level breaches.

Overall issues and an in-depth example

All-in-all, Remote Desktop Connections are like Cider to a Wasp

Consequently, RDP is attractive to attackers for several reasons:

• It provides direct access to enterprise systems.
• It can be left exposed without password complexity rules or MFA.
• It is frequently misconfigured or unmonitored.

All the more important to ensure RDP sessions are protected from ransomware and data theft and from lateral infection across networks.

In-depth Example: Ransomware is a Big Threat to All Networks

Ransomware attacks are still a very serious threat. “Ransomware is one of the top threats in cybersecurity,” said John Davis, vice president of public sector at Palo Alto Networks.

Ransomware remains an effective tool for cyber criminals because many organizations are still ill-equipped to deal with the threat. Need for information and training leaves many victims to succumb to extortion demands and pay a Bitcoin ransom in the hope of receiving the decryption key needed to restore their network.

Ransomware shows no sign of slowing down. Indeed, according to ZDnet.com, the average ransom paid to cyber criminals by victims of such attacks nearly tripled between 2019 and 2020, affecting many businesses across Europe and North America.

How to Secure Remote Desktop? - Introducing a Safer Way to Use RDP

The surge of attacks targeting Remote Desktop Protocol spiked during the Covid pandemic and has since been heightening and speeding up , and more recently with the widespread access to AI. Thus, to combat evolving threats, TSplus Advanced Security has seen many enhancements and continues providing application servers worldwide the most efficient protection available.

If you use RDP or Microsoft Remote Desktop Services to enable your employees to work from home or roaming, read on. Indeed, reducing your attack surface will increase your peace of mind. One great way to do this is implementing TSplus Advanced Security’s powerful cyber security features. Further, we detail some of its robust measures for blocking hackers and shielding your Windows workstations and servers.

Step-by-Step: How to Secure Your Remote Work Environment

No matter whether yours is a small business or a large enterprise, the following best practice is critical to securing remote desktop connections.

• Enable Network Level Authentication
• Use Strong Password Policies and MFA
• Limit RDP Access to Trusted IPs
• Change the Default RDP Port
• Use a VPN for Remote Access
• Implement Session Time Restrictions
• Regularly Patch Windows and RDP Components
• Monitor Logs and User Behavior
• Block Known Malicious IPs
• Layered Security = Maximum Protection

1. Enable Network Level Authentication (NLA)

What it does: NLA requires users to authenticate before a full RDP session is established.

Why it matters: This reduces the resource load on the server and minimises exposure to unauthenticated users.

2. Use Strong Password Policies and MFA

Why strong credentials are essential: Most brute-force attacks succeed due to weak or default passwords.

Minimum requirements:

• Passwords must be at least 12 characters long
• Use of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
• Enforce password expiration and lockout after failed attempts

3. Limit RDP Access to Trusted IPs

Exposing RDP to the entire internet is a critical error. Instead:

• Use firewalls or group policies to allow RDP only from known IP addresses.
• If your workforce is geographically distributed, use country-based allow lists to grant access by region.

See Advanced Security shine through its Geographical Protection feature allowing for precise localised access control.

4. Change the Default RDP Port

RDP defaults to port 3389 , which is widely known and targeted by threat actors.

Changing this port won’t stop determined attackers, but it can reduce noise and delay brute-force bots.

5. Learn to Recognise Signs of Phishing

The issue:

Since phishing emails are still a popular way for cyber criminals to infiltrate networks, here is another issue.

What to implement:

Experts suggest that workers be trained to recognise threats, suggesting this will make a big difference. Vigilance is a good addition to the right cyber-security programme to keep data and systems safe.

6. Use a VPN for Remote Access

One of the most secure ways to use RDP can be to place it behind a VPN.

Why it helps:

• VPN encrypts traffic end-to-end.
• RDP is never directly exposed to the public internet.
• VPN access can be controlled and monitored separately.

7. Implement Session Time Restrictions

Limiting when users can connect reduces the window of opportunity for cyber attacks.

TSplus Advanced Security provides Working Hours Restriction, allowing administrators to:

• Set specific access times per user or group
• Automatically disconnect sessions outside approved hours
• Log and report all unauthorized access attempts

This aligns well with compliance requirements and reduces risk during off-hours or holidays.

8. Regularly Patch Windows and RDP Components

Outdated systems are one of the most exploited vectors in RDP-based attacks.

Maintain a monthly patch cycle for:

• Windows OS updates
• RDP-related services and drivers
• Security software and endpoint agents

You can enable automatic updates via Group Policy or WSUS (Windows Server Update Services), but manual oversight remains important.

9. Monitor Logs and User Behaviour

An often-overlooked component of RDP security is continuous monitoring.

Things to monitor:

• Failed login attempts
• Sudden access from new geographies
• Login anomalies during weekends or late hours

TSplus security products integrate real-time logging and alerting, enabling IT teams to both preempt and respond quickly to suspicious behaviour.

10. Block Known Malicious IPs

As a proactive defense, maintain a blocklist of known malicious IPs.

TSplus Advanced Security integrates a dynamic IP reputation list containing over 368 million flagged addresses. These are updated regularly and block access attempts even before they reach login screens.

This feature alone helps eliminate a vast portion of low-effort brute-force and scanning attacks.

Summary: Layered Security = Maximum Protection

No single method can fully protect an RDP server. A multi-layered strategy ensures overlapping protections so that if one layer fails, others still stand.

For example:

• IP restriction will block a brute-force attempt.
• MFA will thwart a credentials attack using compromised passwords.
• Behavioral detection will neutralise dropped ransomware.

Powerful Features to Secure Your Applications and Data

Introducing TSplus Software Suite - for Secure Application Servers

TSplus Advanced Security is a unique standalone tool that belongs in a simple efficient software suite. TSplus is dedicated to securely delivering applications and desktops to your users and keeping your servers "safe as houses". With or without Remote Access, Advanced Security's powerful security features ensure servers, applications, data, and users stay protected. No other tool on the market offers this level of protection for this specific connection type.

A Comprehensive Cyber Security Tool

From access restriction rules by device, time and geographical location to a powerful defence against brute-force and Ransomware attacks, TSplus Advanced Security keeps remote sessions as safe as possible for everyone. Facing the countless cyber attacks performed via Remote Desktop connections, Remote Desktop administrators need to equip themselves with the best possible security tools. Ours is a comprehensive solution to ticking off that best practice list.

TSplus Tools to Stop and Stall Cyber Attacks:

Based on the needs listed as best practice and the cyber security aspects drawn up, here are some of the main advantages afforded to companies using TSplus Advanced Security:

1. Geographic Protection
2. Bruteforce Defender
3. List of Blocked IPs
4. Cyber-security Brought Together in One Console
5. Ransomware Protection
6. Firewall! An Essential Tool for Warding Off Cyber Attacks
7. Permissions
8. Working Hours
9. Trusted Devices and Endpoint Protection

1. Geographic Protection

TSplus country-based allow lists let administrators quickly and easily restrict incoming connections only to the countries necessary for your business operations. So, if your users are in Canada, the US or the UK, it may not make sense to allow connections from elsewhere across the Globe.

2. Brute force defender

TSplus Brute Force Defender stops brute force attacks quickly. Thus, your server will no longer have to process thousands of failed login attempts. Hence, using a combination of allow lists and limits on failed login attempts, it simply rejects brute force attacks before they become a problem.

3. List of Blocked IPs

It is also possible to easily shield your RDP (Remote Desktop) accesses from hackers. Our software can protect your Windows PC or your Windows server using our list of 368 million known hackers IP addresses. With this list of known hackers, TSplus Advanced Security automatically blocks hacker attacks. This is the shield every Windows system must have.

4. Cybersecurity Brought Together in One Console

TSplus Advanced Security has all its tools in one ergonomically designed console providing a map and visual markers for quicker understanding or information. What's more, all hacker IPs detected by Homeland and Brute Force are centralised and other tools are quickly accessed too. So, you can easily check, edit, add or remove them at your convenience. Finally, IP address lists are searchable, making address management easy.

5. Ransomware Protection

TSplus Advanced Security has been enhanced to provide the most advanced anti-ransomware defence possible. The aim is to detect and immediately stop ransomware attacks on RDP. It serves to combat increasing numbers of attacks, while efficiently facing the changing nature of existing ransomware.

The feature’s engine has been enhanced with more than 3,500 added static detection rules, making it an impenetrable wall to ransomware. It does not matter the threat's nature or operational mode. The behavioural detection has also been improved dramatically to ensure that legitimate applications remain allowed for all users. Lastly, a driver implementation guarantees a recovery session can always be opened in the event of a system crash!

6. An Essential Tool for Warding Off Cyber Attacks: Firewall!

Firewalls no longer need introducing. PCs could not do without. In the application publishing world , firewalls and server protection is even more crucial.

TSplus has the essential string to the companion tool’s bow, in the shape of its own built-in firewall! To enable it, administrators need to go to the “Advanced settings” tab of the AdminTool and set “Use Windows Firewall” to “No” in “Product Settings”. This will automatically activate Advanced Security’s firewall!

7. Permissions

Accessing business applications can be cumbersome and risky. Indeed, mobile first, third-party stakeholders and lateral movement attacks are now widespread. Gladly, time-based permissions policies are proven to enhance network security, as they are an efficient way to limit access to applications and increase IT administrators' control over their networks.

First you set all the right people who will be allowed to connect to the organization network, then the question becomes: “When should the users have access?”. To ensure employees work only during a stipulated amount of time entails controlling their access to their Remote Desktop.

8. Working Hours

Another focus is the efficient Working Hours restriction feature. With this protection, Administrators have the power to control Remote Desktop connections and usage over time to spot and prevent suspicious behaviours.

For instance, different time frames can be assigned for each user according to tasks, responsibilities and rosters. Thanks to TSplus Advanced Security, an automatic outright ban is simply applied on any other time span than those set by administrator.

The feature can be configured to limit or promote user access in different ways:

- Prevents sessions opening outside of defined working times.

- Forces automatic disconnection when the defined working time comes to an end.

The warning message is fully customisable, as well as the delay before disconnection. Additionally, the feature can be configured to respect every user’s or group’s assigned hours, according to their local time zone. Finally, every action taken by Working Hours Restriction is recorded in the Security Event Log, so any discrepancies are tracked, be they staff who are not following guidelines or outside attempts to connect without authorisation.

9. Trusted Devices and Endpoint Protection

With these last features, Advanced Security will learn that a user and their devices are paired. Thus, login attempts from a device using the wrong credentials will trigger a warning. Also, a stolen device can be banned from signing in altogether.

To Conclude on How to Secure Remote Desktops

Secure RDP with best deployment, security and use, and for all other situations, TSplus Remote Access provides HTML5 web-based connections to avoid RDP issues. Commitment to development is what keeps TSplus Advanced Security ahead of threats. TSplus knows customers expect the best protection out there. So, as cyber-security changes, TSplus works to stay in front of today’s security threats and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. Indeed, we are not satisfied with just keeping up.

With brute-force attacks remaining among the most common attacks, no wonder ZDnet.com recommends Remote Desktop services be protected with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. They also insist admins keep up with security fixes to prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities.

That’s why Advanced Security was developed: an advanced, powerful and user-friendly security tool, for Windows server administrators, offering multiple features and silent updates to keep the remote workplace safe for users.

The best security requires the best tools. TSplus Advanced Security, providing 360-degree protection of RDS servers and Remote Desktop sessions, makes security policy management and implementation simple. It is the best gatekeeper for Remote Access servers.

Browse our website for further details. Try or buy TSplus Advanced Security .