{"id":12270,"date":"2012-09-17T14:04:04","date_gmt":"2012-09-17T14:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/remote-desktop-services\/"},"modified":"2012-09-17T14:04:04","modified_gmt":"2012-09-17T14:04:04","slug":"remote-desktop-services","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows","title":{"rendered":"Remote Desktop Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Does Remote Desktop Services Mean?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) are a key part of Windows Server 2008 that allows users to communicate and access other machines virtually. Some of the virtual technology services provided include the ability to access outside desktops, session-based desktops, or data center applications from within a corporate-based network as well as from the Internet. Remote Desktop Services can be used to accelerate application and desktop deployments while enabling clients to run almost any application or operating system. <\/p>\n

Remote Desktop Services were initially called Terminal Services.<\/p>\n

Techopedia Explains Remote Desktop Services<\/span><\/h2>\n

Remote Desktop Services can be used to access an off-site computer and allow for the control of other computers online through a single computer or device. This technology also assists in securing intellectual private property while simplifying standard regulatory compliance by removing specific applications, files and data from the desktop. <\/p>\n

Remote Desktop Services centrally controls which remote desktop hosts can be accessed, who can access them, and device redirection. RDS includes the following benefits:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The ability to run an entire desktop or application on centralized servers<\/li>\n
  • The provisions of an application window or entire desktop as well as the integration of local and remote applications and programs<\/li>\n
  • Management of applications, virtual machine-based desktops, or session-based desktops on centralized servers<\/li>\n
  • The ability to secure remote access connections without having to establish a VPN connection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    RDS allows for an efficient deployment process while providing a proper software maintenance plan that is compatible with any enterprise environment. <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    What Does Remote Desktop Services Mean? Remote Desktop Services (RDS) are a key part of Windows Server 2008 that allows users to communicate and access other machines virtually. Some of the virtual technology services provided include the ability to access outside desktops, session-based desktops, or data center applications from within a corporate-based network as well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7813,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[231,221,219],"class_list":["post-12270","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","definitioncat-it-business-alignment","definitioncat-enterprise-applications","definitioncat-networks"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Remote Desktop Services (RDS)? - Definition from Techopedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This definition explains the meaning of Remote Desktop Services and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Remote Desktop Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This definition explains the meaning of Remote Desktop Services and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Techopedia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/techopedia\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@techopedia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Margaret Rouse\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f5dd538e31ee352d105b8af36c4268a5\"},\"headline\":\"Remote Desktop Services\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-09-17T14:04:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows\"},\"wordCount\":250,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows#respond\"]}],\"articleSection\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27730\/remote-desktop-services-rds-microsoft-windows\",\"name\":\"What is Remote Desktop Services (RDS)? 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