Read this article to learn about, ‘how you can secure RDP to prevent cyber attacks?’ Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions use an encrypted channel, making it impossible for anyone observing on the network to view your computer. There is, nevertheless, a flaw in the technique used to encrypt remote desktop protocol sessions in previous editions. Using a man-in-the-middle attack, a hacker could gain entry to your session (the link may be external).
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016 all support SSL/TLS for remote desktop security.
Microsoft no longer provides maintenance for a few of the operating systems listed, thus they don’t meet campus safety requirements. A safety exception is needed if outdated systems are still in use.
Security issues exist when granting Remote Desktop or VNC administration access to a system over the Internet, even if these technologies do not encrypt their communications. Remote Desktop connection to both computers and servers can be secured by adopting these practices.
How You Can Secure RDP To Prevent Cyber Attacks?
The following are the best safety tips to prevent cyber attacks, and secure your Remote Desktop Protocol session:
1. Make sure your passwords are strong
Before activating the Remote Desktop protocol, all accounts having access to it should have strong passwords.
2. Verify your account by using two-factor verification
The use of two-factor verification should be considered by departments. This helps secure your remote desktop protocol session.
3. Make sure your software is up-to-date
In comparison to the third-party remote admin technologies, Microsoft’s normal patch cycle means that elements in the Remote Desktop protocol connection are constantly equipped with modern safety patches. Enable and audit automatic Microsoft Updates to ensure that all client and server software and applications are up to date. You should check to see if the Remote Desktop clients you’re using are still compatible and that you have the most recent editions before continuing. Previous versions may not enable strong encryption or have other security issues.
4. Use firewalls to limit access
Firewalls (both software and hardware) can be used to prevent remote desktop listening ports from being used (the default is TCP 3389). Limiting remote desktop protocol access to PCs and servers is made much easier with the help of an RDP Gateway.
5. Enable Verification at the Network Level
By default, Microsoft’s Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 R2/2016/2019 operating systems offer Network Level Verification. An extra layer of verification, provided by NLA, is preferably left in place before establishing a connection. Only if you utilize Remote Desktop protocol clients on other systems that do not enable NLA should you set up Remote Desktop protocol servers to accept connections without it.
Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 R2/2016/2019 should come preinstalled with NLA turned on by default.
To see if the Group Policy settings are correct, you can do so. Use the Network Level Verification feature in Computer\Policies\Windows Components\ to require user verification for virtual connections. Then you can choose the option of Safety for Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Session Host, then security. If you are operating the Remote Desktop Session Host function on a server, this Group Policy must be activated.
6. Restrict users who can log in utilizing remote desktop protocol connection
If you have more than one administrator account, then you can restrict remote desktop protocol access only to those particular accounts which require it the most.
7. Put an account lockout regulation
By putting your device to lock an account for a specific number of wrong guesses, you can prevent hackers from logging in to your account and accessing your important information.
CONCLUSION
After reading this article, you might have got a good idea about, ‘how you can secure RDP to prevent cyber attacks?’ You can also read this article to learn about the RDP components.
