RDP

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft that provides a graphical interface for connecting to a remote computer over a network. It allows a user to view and interact with a remote Windows desktop as if seated in front of it, transmitting keyboard and mouse input from the client and rendering the remote session on the local screen.

RDP supports a range of features to enable remote work and administration. These include audio redirection, clipboard sharing, and various forms of device redirection (drives, printers, and USB devices). It also supports multi-monitor sessions and, in many versions, network-level authentication for improved security. Encryption is typically provided via TLS, helping to protect data in transit. By default, RDP traffic uses TCP port 3389, but it can be protected when exposed to the Internet by tunneling over VPNs or SSH.

The protocol is primarily used as part of Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services) and is also implemented by third-party clients and servers. Available clients exist for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux (via implementations such as FreeRDP, rdesktop, and xrdp), enabling cross-platform remote access to Windows systems and, with appropriate configuration, remote administration and support scenarios.

Security and deployment considerations are important with RDP. Because it has been a common target for attacks, organizations typically mitigate risk with up-to-date patching, strong authentication, network-level security measures, and limiting exposure by using VPNs, jump hosts, or gateway services rather than direct Internet-facing access.