Hybrid Workers and Azure Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Azure Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a Microsoft product designed to empower users to gain the ability to remotely access desktops and virtualized applications from the cloud, mobile or desktop. This capability presents hybrid remote users with a variety of options. It also allows IT to provide virtual experiences to users using client machines supporting Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

The Azure RDS product is considered to be a legacy service. Launched back in 1998 by Microsoft, it’s still a very relevant product, albeit the tech giant has since released Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). However, for some enterprises, Microsoft Azure’s RDS product is still the best option due to its functionality, ease of access and deployment options for configuration; for many, its legacy status is a huge draw.

In this article, we will take a look at Azure RDS and why it is a good option to support today’s modern hybrid workforce.

How Does Azure RDS Support the Modern Hybrid Workforce?

RDS by Azure has been available for decades, which means many enterprises are currently using technology able to support this product since it has not gone out of date. In fact, Microsoft renamed it to “Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008” from “Terminal Server in Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition” several years after its initial debut to give it a more modern name. To date, this product remains a popular solution.

With that being said, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how many businesses are still using RDS in Azure, but it is a good guess that millions of people are still using it every day. Some statistics suggest that 48% of small, medium and enterprise businesses still rely on older Windows operating systems, many unsupported by Microsoft. Furthermore, businesses operating older technologies cannot use Microsoft’s latest version of this type of product, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).

AVD cannot be used in conjunction with Windows Server 2003 or Windows 7, both of which are very outdated. Yet, with Azure Remote Desktop Services, businesses can provide their employees with a modern virtual desktop experience, even if the organization is still working off older operating systems and servers.

RDS in Azure empowers these organizations to continue to access remote desktop capabilities without having to do the full upgrade to a more modern OS or server if they either cannot budget for it, would involve a massive overhaul they aren’t ready for or for some other reason. Azure RDS allows enterprises to enjoy the security, flexibility and scalable remote access that modern hybrid workforces need to remain competitive in our largely virtual world.

Let’s take a deeper dive into these and other key benefits.

What are the Key Benefits of Azure Remote Desktop Services?

In our increasingly complex digital landscape, it just makes sense for some enterprises to continue to allow their hybrid workers to use Azure Remote Desktop Services. Beneficial reasons for doing so include the following.

Offers flexibility

When it comes to the hybrid workforce, flexibility is crucial. RDS affords enterprises the ability to provide their users with a single application experience and provides the flexible, remote work conditions off-site employees need.

Your hybrid workers can continue to enjoy cloud-based options without interruption. Users of RDS in Azure can continue to access their virtual desktops and apps on a variety of devices and platforms, even if they are working off a non-Windows device, such as a Chromebook, Android, iOS or Apple.

RDS in Azure also offers standardization and, as a result, provides a unified experience for all remote users, regardless of what type of device they use.

Provides scalability

Scalability goes hand-in-hand with flexibility. However, it also factors in current and future needs. A great scalable attribute is RDS in Azure can be utilized in remote worksite scenarios, does not require an Azure subscription and can be utilized in third-party clouds (e.g. you do not have to subscribe to Microsoft and the Azure cloud to use RDS).

While Microsoft’s newer AVD product has many advantages, not having to purchase a subscription is a huge benefit over AVD. This option enables enterprises to level up or down depending on what their current hybrid workforce needs. AVD is managed by Microsoft in the Azure cloud and the infrastructure supporting RDS is managed by the service provider.

Bolsters security

RDS enables control for an enterprise’s ability to employ strong control management, meaning your organization can continue to remain secure while enjoying the advantages of employing a hybrid and/or remote workforce.

Security is also largely connected to the service provider you choose since they will manage your security. Working with a proven, reliable and trusty service provider can be a real asset to your enterprise.

Delivers cost-efficiency

Implementing Azure Remote Desktop Services means less of your budget shelled out for upgrades or complete overhauls. Your organization won’t need to make massive IT investments in its infrastructure and can gain the opportunity to reduce any overhead costs associated with IT operations. You also won’t have to purchase, upgrade or otherwise change the devices you currently use in order to be compatible while simultaneously maintaining the ability to give your hybrid workers access to RDS capabilities.

This product is also cost-efficient in the way you pay only for the virtual machines and resources your workers use while still enjoying the modern capabilities remote desktop access affords. You do not have to worry about any additional costs Microsoft may implement because your service provider manages your infrastructure, not the tech giant.

Simplifies management

RDS capabilities through Azure provide standardization, simplifying your IT management. When integrating this product, your enterprise can install a complex solution with minimal steps involved in a singular environment. This ability simplifies both the day-to-day operations and easily minimizes maintenance needs.

Improves managerial control

The use of RDS in Azure offers organizations more control since it provides seamless access to apps and data, along with being a market-proven solution. You can continue to use previously built applications with no compatibility or access issues for your hybrid workforce to contend with. RDS in Azure is also user-friendly and enables organizations to retain ownership of their desktop virtual machine and control plane.

What Are Examples of Use Cases of Azure RDS?

You might be wondering about specific use cases of Azure RDS and how it can be leveraged in today’s complex cloud structure. Here are a few scenarios.

• Provides flexible work environments for people who are working on-site, from home or while on the road.
• Supports scenarios for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) needs, allowing workers to continue to use their personal devices to access a secure remote desktop without increasing risk to your enterprise’s security.
• Empowers temporary access for guest users or collaborators so they can access specific areas of your systems without obtaining full access.
• Mimics disaster recovery processes to quickly give access to critical data and apps if there is an on-site outage or other reason why access cannot be made to on-site infrastructure.

Other scenarios or use cases include call centers, contractors working on a temporary assignment, traveling employees or software developers to have a “safe space” to create test scenarios when working with applications.

Does Azure RDS Integrate with Other Tools?

Whether working on-site or offsite, employees will need access to the tools an organization uses in order to work effectively and efficiently. Remote desktops go a long way toward facilitating a better experience. An advantage enterprises enjoy when they use RDS in Azure is the ability to integrate it with other tools, including, but not limited to:

• Microsoft 365: Your enterprise can install MS 365 apps on devices shared through RDS and enable shared computer activation (certain features, such as call and video, in Microsoft Teams are not available with RDS in Azure).
• Microsoft Entra Domain Services: Your organization can use this product to create a domain in Azure IaaS with the same users working from RDS in Azure.
• Azure Active Directory: Your enterprise can integrate Active Directory with RDS for user authentication.
• Azure Bastion: You can leverage this integration ability to obtain secure remote access for virtual machines.

Many enterprises find the integration process associated with virtual desktops and various tools to be complex. Partnering with a skilled and experienced managed service provider (MSP), such as Red River, can be a cost-efficient and valuable solution. Your MSP can evaluate your existing tools and determine which remote desktop product will best suit your organization.

Does Azure RDS Offer Security Features?

The ability to work remotely has completely transformed businesses and has provided positive opportunities for both employer and employee. However, with this benefit does come some risks – namely security risks.

Anytime your workers access, retrieve, send or otherwise interact with sensitive and valuable data, your enterprise can potentially be at risk, either by internal (e.g. users copying data or inadvertently exposing data) or external parties (e.g. threats posed by cybercriminals). To adequately protect your data, you will need to carefully manage it while simultaneously strengthening your security posture.

Identifying and subsequently utilizing the right remote work solution helps mitigate risks presented to your enterprise. The control management capabilities afforded by Azure RDS mean your enterprise can easily approve or revoke user access, set network security groups, use multi-factor authentication, employ identity protection (e.g., detect risk signals and trigger remediation processes), perform threat detection, use encryption features and provide endpoint protection.

Other security features include allowing methods of access without passwords, simplifying the sign-on experience for users and reducing risks for the organization. Some of these mechanisms help to ensure offsite workers using their own devices or unsecured networks do not put the enterprise at risk.

Summary

Azure Remote Desktop Services is a proven, tried and true solution many enterprises trust and find works well for their hybrid workers to provide them with a seamless experience. The pay-per-use structure associated with this product, along with eliminating the need to make costly capital expenditures from their IT budgets, is also an appealing attribute.

Enterprises seeking to establish a hybrid infrastructure will need to:

• Assess how employees are scheduled both on-site and offsite
• Determine how employees interact with one another
• How in-person communications are managed
• Identify the right RDS solution to support their needs

While Azure RDS is considered to be a legacy program, it still retains high value for many organizations because it works well with their existing infrastructures. Managed service providers can easily and quickly deploy it to deliver a cost-effective solution to their clients. RDS works well for organizations that are not quite yet in a place to make an immediate jump to the newer Azure Virtual Desktops solution.

Are You Ready to Improve the Hybrid Work Experience?

The hybrid work experience is a terrific opportunity for both employer and employee. However, it does pose some challenges when your staff is alternating between working on-site and offsite, either from home or another location. To run efficiently, you’ll need the right network architecture powerful enough to be flexible and secure.

Working with a knowledgeable managed service provider can help. Red River has extensive experience in this area. Our team of experts can evaluate your current hybrid needs, audit your existing processes and identify ways to transition them to a hybrid environment that meets your needs.

Together, we might find RDS in Azure is the right solution, or we may find a different solution in the process. Either way, establishing secure virtual desktops is of high importance in today’s hybrid workplaces and we’ll help you identify the right technology.

To learn more about how Red River can help you identify the best hybrid network architecture solution for your enterprise and then assist in the transition to a virtual desktop solution, contact us today and we’ll get the conversation started.