Remote work has increased the usage of Remote Desktop Protocol. However, Remote Desktop Protocol connections can have many vulnerabilities if not properly secured. The best way to secure Remote Desktop Protocol connections is by creating strong login credentials and using a secure network. This will help protect your company from cyber attacks that could compromise sensitive data.
Continue reading to learn more about what Remote Desktop Protocol is, how it works, what security vulnerabilities it can have and how to secure it.
What Is Remote Desktop Protocol?
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a network communication protocol developed by Microsoft that allows users to remotely connect to an organization’s on-premises computers through the Windows operating system. A remote user, known as the client, uses the internet to display and interact with the host computer from their own device. The client can control the host computer remotely along with the files and applications stored on it.
RDP allows client users to remotely manage their workstations. Users have remote access to their work files, so they can add new ones and share them, all on one workstation. All company files are stored on the company server. RDP also allows IT administrators easy access to perform any immediate maintenance needed on the host server.
How Does Remote Desktop Protocol Work?
Using Remote Desktop Protocol can be compared to flying a drone. The remote control connects to the drone using radio waves to command its movements. Rather than using radio waves, RDP uses the internet to connect the client device to the host server. The client device acts as the remote control that displays and controls the host server, or in this analogy, the “drone.” The client device’s RDP software utilizes port 3389 to connect the client to the host server. Once connected, the remote user sees the same desktop Graphical User Interface (GUI) as the host server and has access to the files and applications on the host server.
Vulnerabilities of Remote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol is a great way for users to access and modify files on remote machines without having to be physically present. However, it comes with known security vulnerabilities that can put your company at risk. The two main cyber attacks that threaten the security of RDP are brute force attacks and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Brute force attack
A brute force attack is a type of cyber attack that uses trial and error to guess your login credentials, generally using automated methods such as dictionary cracking, password spraying and credential stuffing. RDP connections are protected by passwords, but these passwords are not always secure. Weak and reused passwords leave RDP connections open to brute force attacks. Once a cybercriminal has stolen your RDP login credentials, they can compromise the host server and execute ransomware or other cyber attacks.
Man-in-the-middle attack
Man-in-the-middle attacks – also known as on-path attacks – are a type of cyber attack in which a cybercriminal intercepts data between two devices, often a web browser and a host server. The goal of man-in-the-middle attacks is to steal, eavesdrop or modify the data for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or fraud. Since RDP connections use port 3389, cybercriminals can logically deduce that an organization is using that port and target it. Once a cybercriminal manages to hijack RDP connections flowing through port 3389, they can view the traffic and data passing through that port to compromise the host server.
How To Secure Remote Desktop Protocol
To avoid brute force and man-in-the-middle attacks from compromising your Remote Desktop Protocol connections, you need to secure them. By improving the security of your RDP connections, you can protect your company’s private data from unauthorized users. Here are the ways you can secure your RDP connections.
Limit access
The more users you give access to, the greater the risk of a security breach. You should follow the least privileged access rule to reduce your attack surface and minimize insider threats. Limiting the number of users will make it easier to monitor your RDP connections’ activity. By limiting the number of users connecting through RDP, you can minimize the risk of a security breach and easily locate any security vulnerabilities. There should only be a limited number of administrators who can modify the security settings of the server. If you need to give someone access to the RDP, you should give them access for only a limited amount of time.
Use a strong password
Many RDP connections get compromised due to weak passwords, so cybercriminals rely on RDP users to have weak passwords that they can crack. You should use a strong password to protect your RDP from getting breached. A strong password is at least 16 characters long and includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. A strong password excludes common dictionary words, sequential numbers and personal information.
Creating a strong password and keeping track of it can be a difficult task. However, using a password manager will help protect your RDP’s login credentials. A password manager is a tool that securely stores and manages your login information in an encrypted vault. It can identify any weak passwords and help you strengthen them using a password generator. Password managers will protect your passwords from cybercriminals and make logging in to your RDP easier.
Enable MFA
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires an additional form of verification to gain access to a service or application. It adds an extra layer of security that requires you to provide additional proof of your identity. It stops any unauthorized users from accessing RDP connections without authentication. Even if your RDP login credentials were compromised, the cybercriminal would not be able to log in without providing the additional authentication factor.
Update your software
Cybercriminals are always looking for security vulnerabilities to exploit, especially by using man-in-the-middle attacks. You should always keep your software up to date to patch any known security flaws, and to update security features that will better protect your RDP connections. You need to ensure both the client and host computers are up to date.
Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that encrypts your online data and shields your online activity by hiding your IP address. A VPN will create an encrypted connection between the client and host devices. It will also ensure any data that is being transmitted over the encrypted network is hidden from cybercriminals trying to intercept it.
Use a remote desktop gateway server
A remote desktop gateway server is a service that allows authorized remote users to connect to a private network over the internet. It provides a secure and encrypted connection for the client to connect to the host server. This allows for a single, secure entry point that is limited only to authorized users.
Protect Your Remote Desktop Protocol with Keeper
Although Remote Desktop Protocol is a great tool to use for remote work, it comes with security vulnerabilities that can put your company at risk of a security breach. However, you can strengthen the security of your Remote Desktop Protocol connections by using strong login credentials, MFA and encrypted network connections. You can start a free trial of Keeper’s Password Manager to manage the login credentials for your Remote Desktop Protocol connections. You can also sign up for a free trial of Keeper Connection Manager to securely manage your remote desktop.