Did you know that about 1 in 4 of all professional jobs in North America will become remote by the end of 2022? That’ll likely grow further in 2023 as more remote job opportunities become available.
So, it’s no wonder remote desktop service (RDS) has become a multi-billion-dollar market. It was already worth an estimated $1.92 billion in 2021. Come 2029; experts project it to grow further and become a $7.22 billion industry.
So, if your business or organization is considering remote work, it pays to know how to choose an RDS. We’ll tell you what to look for in one below, so read on.
Type of Client Software
The first remote desktop service, called remote desktop protocol (RDP), is from Microsoft. It’s a proprietary protocol designed explicitly for Microsoft desktop users. Microsoft has since then changed its official name to “Remote Desktop Connection.”
However, remote desktop services are now available for other operating system clients. For example, if you’re part of the 15% of OS X users worldwide, you can use the Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac. There are also multi-platform services for devices running on other operating systems.
Thus, one of the first things you must consider when choosing an RDS is the OS you use. But if you’re getting an RDS for multiple users, you must factor in their OS, too. If you get one that only supports a single client, for instance, OS X, it won’t work on Linux, Unix, or Android OS.
Number of RDS Users
The number of users is one of the chief factors influencing the cost of an RDS license. For example, you can get one for up to 5 users for a few hundred dollars. However, that jumps to over $1,000 for ten users and nearly $3,000 for 20 users.
So when choosing an RDS license, confirm the total number of your remote desktops. Otherwise, you might have to buy a separate license if the first one you purchase isn’t enough.
For the same reason, it may be best to account for future additions to your RDS users. For instance, suppose you only have five users now but plan to add two more in a few months. In that case, consider getting a license for ten users now.
It could be cheaper that way, plus some vendors often run deals and sell RDS licenses at discounted rates.
Powerful Security Features
A whopping 108.9 million account breaches occurred in just the 3rd quarter of 2022. That’s a 70% increase from the previous quarter!
That’s enough reason to choose a highly-secure RDS with multiple security protocols. These should include multi-factor authentication (MFA), password encryption, and external encryption and authentication. The RDS must also only allow strong passwords while prohibiting the use of weak ones.
Time to Choose Your Remote Desktop Service
Here’s a final tip when choosing a remote desktop service: use each of their free trials first. That can help you determine which solutions best suit your needs. Then, cancel the free trials from the others to avoid getting charged for services you don’t want.
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