Best Remote Desktop Software

What is Remote Desktop Software?

Remote desktop software is a tool that allows users to access the desktop interfaces of a remote computer locally. Using this software, users can access, connect to, and control the data of any desktop locally.

What are the Benefits of Using Remote Desktop Software?

1. Gives You Freedom To Work From Anywhere

   The best remote desktop software allows you to efficiently perform your office work from anywhere in the world you are sitting. Desktop sharing software will enable you to connect to your work computer and access your programs, files, and hardware devices, such as printers, scanners, hard drives, and network cards, from anywhere in the world.

2. It Keeps Your Data Thoroughly Secure

   When you work with a remote access tool, all your data, such as files, documents, etc., are held in the most secure data centers in the world. Thus, there is no possibility of your data getting stolen or lost. The connection through a remote desktop tool is protected by state-of-the-art encryption technology, which completely eliminates the risk of hacking and data loss.

3. Enables Getting Unattended Access To Your Client’s Desktop

   On normal days, if you want access to one of your customers’ remote desktops, you must ask the person to grant access and control to his desktop environment. But suppose you are a technician with a client to whom you are liable to provide regular and constant technical support. In that case, the remote desktop software's ‘unattended access’ feature may benefit you.

   This feature allows you permanent access to your client’s desktop environment. Hence, you don’t need to disturb your client whenever you need access to his desktop to fix various technical issues. This removes obstacles such as different time zones, office working hours, etc.

4. Allows Multitasking

   Imagine you have to troubleshoot the problems of multiple customers simultaneously. In this case, remote desktop software enables you to simultaneously handle connections to numerous desktops through its ‘multiple session-handling’ feature.

   With this, you can switch between multiple support sessions as needed. You get notifications on the developments in the chat with any customers, on the completion of any file transfer, or on any other connection notifications.

5. You Can Auto Reboot And Reconnect The Remote Desktop

   Sometimes when you are using unattended access to your client’s desktop to fix some issues on his desktop, what if your client’s computer freezes or hangs? At this point in time, you may face no problems because you are working through the remote desktop software.

   The remote desktop tool facilitates rebooting the remote desktop and automatically reconnecting with it. Thus, it optimizes the performance of the remote desktop without facing any hassles.

6. You Can Use The Built-in Chat Feature

   There are times when you are working on some important issues on a remote desktop of your client, and at some point in between, you may need to converse with your client. In this situation, picking up the phone to call him may prove to be distracting, time-consuming, and even unproductive.

   Best remote desktop software comes with a built-in chat feature, through which you can instantly chat and exchange constant updates with each other without any hassles.

7. Host Computer And Remote User Can Share Their Desktop Environments With Each Other Simultaneously

   Imagine you are a computer tutor. In this case, you, the host computer, can share your desktop environment with the remote user, i.e., your student. You can explain to him the computer's various functions so that he can simultaneously perform the tasks on his computer and learn better.

   But if your student has some queries while performing the functions on his computer, he can simultaneously share his desktop environment with you. This is possible because of the two-way desktop sharing feature of the remote desktop software.

8. You Can Suitably Adjust The Resolution Of The Remote Desktop

   Sometimes the resolution of your client’s monitor or desktop may vary from your desktop. In such a situation, working on your client’s remote desktop may be difficult. So, you can use the remote desktop software's ‘remote screen scaling’ feature to adjust the remote control window based on the resolution of your client’s desktop.

Features of Best Remote Desktop Software

Let us look at some of the most common features every remote desktop system should have.

1. Unattended Access

   Unattended access can be useful when connecting to a client’s computer for technical assistance, and no one is physically present at the other end. Or when you have to provide support to specific clients on a regular basis.

   This feature makes it possible to get access to their computer without disturbing your customers every time.

2. Two-Way Screen Sharing

   Two-way screen sharing enables you to connect to a remote computer and share your screen with just one or multiple clients simultaneously.

   This feature might be useful when demonstrating your product to your clients.

3. Screen Recording

   Having the option to record on-screen action while sharing the screen can prove to be beneficial. These screen recordings can be used for future references during audit activity and for educational purposes too.

4. Remote Printing

   The top remote desktop software allows you to access files stored on a remote computer and print them using a local printer.

   Employees who are always on the go will definitely appreciate this feature as they can remotely access the original system from anywhere.

5. Real-Time Chat

   Any best remote desktop software will come equipped with built-in chats. It allows you and your customers to exchange messages instantly. This eliminates the need to email or call the person when there are queries regarding passwords or any other issues.

6. Session Usage Reporting

   Session usage reporting gives you an insight into how your software is being used.

   If you are an enterprise with a large team, this functionality will help you keep track of and improve your performance.

Factors to Consider While Buying Remote Desktop Software

To reap the maximum benefits, there are certain key factors that you need to consider before purchasing your final solution.

1. Security and Data Protection

   The system you choose must offer a good security system so that your data stays protected.

   While many vendors promise high security, it’s always safe to do thorough research. Check your vendor’s records — have they ever been a victim of a cyber attack?

   You should go for the vendor who has a clean record. Also, check if their security measures comply with the latest industry standards.

2. Functionality

   There are a wide variety of features to choose from. That’s why you should focus solely on important features for your operations. Some of these include:

   • Compatibility with major operating systems

   • Mobile access

   • File transfer speed and much more

   Too many additional functionalities will only slow down your system and prove expensive.

3. Usability

   The best remote desktop software will have an intuitive and interactive interface.

   The ease of usability is of utmost importance for non-tech-savvy users. The tool should be able to provide remote access in just a few steps rather than an elaborative procedure.

   The simpler the solution, the more is its effectiveness.

4. Customer Support

   Does the vendor provide active and reliable support to its customers?

   The ideal software vendor will aim to offer support 24/7 via various channels, such as calls, emails, live chat, and more.

   This is highly relevant because you will need their constant support even after the purchase. It could be for reconfiguration of the software or to learn how to use it. Besides, immediate assistance will be paramount if your system crashes suddenly.

Who Uses Remote Desktop Software?

Organizations use remote desktop tools for remote administration and remote implementation. Software vendors use these programs when their buyers are located far away from their location. Companies use this software to implement headless computers, which replace an actual computer containing its monitor, mouse, and keyboard. With the help of these tools, organizations can use hardware systems to use several headless computers.

Businesses that need to provide education and user support to their consumers can combine these tools with telephone communication to provide effective remote support services. Due to the rise of cloud computing, most companies now use remote desktop software that can be deployed on USB hardware devices, enabling users to recreate their desktops with the help of a cloud connection.

These tools find significant applications in data-driven business environments. Banking, finance, and other companies that rely on consumer data can use these tools to store their company data and desktops in the cloud, thus, allowing their employees and managers to access desktops from all devices.

Contrarily, companies that have moved to a new digital infrastructure also use remote desktop tools to eliminate complex configuration requirements. These programs are seamless to use; all you need to do is connect your device to the remote desktop software and start working.

Problem Faced in Remote Desktop Software and How to Solve It?

Remote desktops can sometimes be problematic and create trouble. While the sessions are mostly accurate and exact, various things can go wrong or multiple problems can be caused due to connectivity and connection problems. Some of the difficulties faced by Remote Desktop Software along with their solutions are:

1. Encryption of Data

   One of the most common and severe problems with remote desktops is the error message:

   "Because of an error in data encryption, this session will end. Please try connecting to the remote computer again."

   This error message mostly relates to the client's outdated remote desktop version. In Windows 2000, an add-on Administration Tool Pack was included, comprising client components to establish remote sessions. As the latest versions are introduced after some intervals of time, therefore, installing the Remote Desktop Session with old versions usually causes these types of error messages.

2. Problems related to Authentication

   Establishing a connection is the most problematic aspect of setting up a Remote Desktop. Along with this, there are many other problems also which the users encounter. When they log in and enter their credentials, many users are interrupted by some error message.

   Different kinds of error messages occur when the user lacks certain types of permissions to log in. This problem can be corrected by adding the user account to the Remote Desktop Users group or the group of the Local Administration.

Latest Trends in Remote Desktop Software

The use of remote access software is globally rising, with the need to work remotely more often.

Some of the increasing trends in remote desktop tools are

1. Cloud-based Technologies

   Compared to on-premise solutions, cloud-based technologies have a more intuitive interface and require less IT knowledge.

   Of course, the size of the company and the budget available play a significant role in determining whether to subscribe to cloud-based solutions or self-host it.

   Regardless of that, the popularity of cloud-based technologies is increasing day by day. This could be attributed to the fact that it enables online remote support and collaborations globally.

   Employees can access remote computers from any device that has internet access.

2. Using Multiple Environments

   Another latest trend in secure remote desktop software is the ability to open multiple remote desktop control windows.

   Using multiple environments enables a team to work on parallel efforts and keep them productive. It comes in handy when you need to support several users simultaneously.

   You can easily switch between several remote control windows.

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