Distant Desktop Protocol (RDP) is an incredible know-how developed by Microsoft that permits you to entry and management one other laptop over a community. It is like having your workplace laptop with you wherever you go. For companies, this implies IT workers can handle methods remotely, and workers can do business from home or wherever, making RDP a real game-changer in at present’s work setting.
However here is the catch: as a result of RDP is accessible over the web, it is also a main goal for unethical hackers. If somebody good points unauthorized entry, they may doubtlessly take over your system. That is why it is so necessary to safe RDP correctly.
Why IT Groups Rely on RDP, Regardless of the Dangers
Greater than 50 p.c of Kaseya’s small and medium-sized companies (SMBs) and Managed Service Suppliers (MSPs) prospects use RDP for each day operations as a consequence of its effectivity and adaptability:
- Reduces Prices and Downtime – IT groups can resolve technical points remotely, eliminating journey bills and delays.
- Helps Enterprise Continuity – Staff and directors can securely entry firm methods from any location.
- Allows Scalable IT Administration – MSPs can oversee a number of consumer networks from a single interface.
Regardless of its advantages, RDP’s widespread use makes it a lovely assault vector, requiring fixed vigilance to safe correctly.
New Issues: The Rise of Port 1098 Scans
Sometimes, RDP communicates over port 3389. Nonetheless, current security experiences – like one from the Shadowserver Basis in December 2024 – have highlighted a worrying pattern. Hackers at the moment are scanning port 1098, an alternate route that many aren’t as conversant in, to search out susceptible RDP methods.
To place this into perspective, honeypot sensors have noticed as much as 740,000 totally different IP addresses scanning for RDP companies day by day, with a major variety of these scans coming from a single nation. Attackers use these scans to find methods which may be misconfigured, weak, or unprotected, after which they’ll attempt to pressure their means in by guessing passwords or exploiting different weaknesses.
For companies, particularly SMBs and MSPs, this implies a better danger of significant points like data breaches, ransomware infections, or surprising downtime.
Retaining Up with Safety Patches
Microsoft is conscious of those dangers and often releases updates to repair security vulnerabilities. In December 2024, for instance, Microsoft addressed 9 main vulnerabilities associated to Home windows Distant Desktop Providers. These fixes focused a spread of points recognized by security specialists, guaranteeing that recognized weaknesses could not be simply exploited.
Then, in January’s replace, two further vital vulnerabilities (labeled CVE-2025-21309 and CVE-2025-21297) had been patched. Each of those vulnerabilities, if left unaddressed, may enable attackers to remotely execute dangerous code on a system with out the necessity for passwords.
How Kaseya’s vPenTest Proactively Helps Safe RDP & Extra
RDP uncovered to the web is extra typically a misconfiguration than an meant configuration. Within the final 28,729 exterior community pentests we’ve got carried out, we had been capable of finding 368 cases of RDP uncovered to the general public web. On inside networks we’ve got discovered 490 cases of Bluekeep.
For organizations searching for a proactive technique to guard their exterior and inside networks, instruments like vPenTest are invaluable. vPenTest affords:
- Automated Community Pentesting: The platform will carry out each exterior and inside community pentests. IT Professionals at the moment are in a position to carry out the identical assaults as an attacker in opposition to the networks they handle to proactively defend them and take a look at security controls.
- Multi-Tenant: The platform is objective constructed for the multi-functional IT Staff juggling a number of duties. IT Professionals are in a position to handle all pentest engagements for a number of corporations inside the platform.
- Detailed Reporting and Dashboard: vPenTest will generate a set of experiences together with an Govt Abstract and a really detailed Technical Report. The platform additionally has a dashboard for every evaluation so IT Professionals can shortly evaluate findings, suggestions and affected methods.
For the primary time in tech historical past, IT Professionals at the moment are in a position to execute an actual community pentest in opposition to the organizations they handle at scale and on a extra frequent foundation.
How Datto EDR Helps Safe RDP
For organizations searching for an additional layer of safety, instruments like Datto Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) are invaluable. Datto EDR affords:
- Actual-Time Menace Detection: It displays RDP site visitors for uncommon conduct—like surprising entry makes an attempt or unusual port utilization—and raises alerts if one thing appears off.
- Automated Responses: When suspicious exercise is detected, the system can robotically block or isolate the menace, stopping potential breaches of their tracks.
- Detailed Reporting: Complete logs and experiences assist directors perceive what occurred throughout an incident, to allow them to strengthen their defenses for the longer term.
Because of this with Datto EDR, companies can get pleasure from the advantages of RDP whereas holding their methods safer from fashionable threats.
Sensible Tricks to Lock Down RDP
Listed below are some simple ideas to assist safe your RDP setup:
- Well timed Patching: At all times set up updates as quickly as they’re accessible. Distributors steadily launch patches to handle new vulnerabilities.
- Restrict Publicity: Limit RDP entry to trusted personnel solely and think about altering the default port (3389) to one thing much less predictable.
- Use Multi-Issue Authentication: Including further steps for verification (like MFA and Community Stage Authentication) makes it a lot more durable for attackers to realize entry.
- Implement Sturdy Passwords: Make sure that passwords are complicated and meet a minimal size requirement to assist thwart brute-force assaults.
By taking these steps, you’ll be able to considerably cut back the danger of your RDP companies changing into an entry level for cyberattacks.
RDP Is not Going Away—However Safety Must Enhance
RDP is an important software that has remodeled how companies function, enabling distant work and environment friendly system administration. Nonetheless, as with every highly effective software, it comes with its personal set of dangers. With attackers now exploring new avenues like port 1098 and repeatedly discovering methods to use vulnerabilities, it is essential to remain on high of security updates and finest practices.
By holding your methods patched, limiting entry, utilizing multi-factor authentication, and using superior security options like Datto EDR, you’ll be able to benefit from the flexibility of RDP with out compromising your group’s security.
Keep secure and keep up to date!
