Remote Desktop Client vs VPN

I'm currently using Remote Desktop Client to access a
remote location. I understand it encrypts the data over
the internet. I also have a VPN device but currently am
not operating over a VPN tunnel.

Would there be any advantages of using Remote Desktop
Client over a VPN (internet) as opposed to over the
Internet with no VPN?? Thanks for the insight...

Ken
techinfo@espectrumservices.com

Not really since both the RDP and VPN data streams are both encrypted. One advantage, however, is if
you need to access additional PCs using Remote Desktop. Instead of opening multiple ports on the
firewall to accommodate the additional RDP streams, you can access all of the additional PCs through
the VPN tunnel and only have one port open. I do that through a PPTP VPN tunnel to my home LAN. I
can setup the VPN tunnel and access any of my three XP Pro desktop boxes (running Remote Desktop)
from my iPAQ 3835 PocketPC Terminal Services Client from anywhere on the public internet.

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"Ken" <techinfo@espectrumservices.com> wrote in message
news:2655401c38e78$7e1a7a30$a601280a@phx.gbl...

> I'm currently using Remote Desktop Client to access a
> remote location. I understand it encrypts the data over
> the internet. I also have a VPN device but currently am
> not operating over a VPN tunnel.
>
> Would there be any advantages of using Remote Desktop
> Client over a VPN (internet) as opposed to over the
> Internet with no VPN?? Thanks for the insight...
>
> Ken
> techinfo@espectrumservices.com

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Hi,

The advantage of a VPN is that you can have a VPN server exposed to the
Internet that only allows securely authenitcated users to connect. Your
servers at the remote location are not exposed to the Internet and less
likely to be compromised.

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.