Remote Desktop Services 2022

In the development of digitalization and flexible working, Remote Desktop Services have taken on a significant role. One of the reasons remote work has become so accessible is the development of Remote Desktop. The most recently released version of Remote Desktop is Remote Desktop Services 2022. This article describes what Remote Desktop Services entails, the developments for RDS 2022, and how users can best license it.

Remote Desktop Protocol

Remote Desktop Protocol is a protocol developed by Microsoft that allows users to connect to a remote device using an internet connection. To do this, the user needs to use RDP client software, while the receiving computer needs to have RDP software. This allows employees to work remotely, making hybrid work environments more feasible. Consequently, employees can be better accommodated when it comes to working more from home or on the go, which has positive effects on productivity.

What is RDS 2022?

Remote Desktop Services 2022 (RDS) is the latest version of Remote Desktop Services. With RDS, users can log in to a remote server from any location. The only requirement to have remote access to the relevant files, personal files, desktop, and other personal programs are the login credentials. All files are stored on a remote server, giving the user access from anywhere in the world as long as there is access to a device and internet connection. Using RDS is particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple locations or organizations with employees who work extensively from home and/or on the go.

RDS 2022: Improvements

Compared to the previous version RDS 2019, several improvements have been made for RDS 2022:

Easier access to your licenses.
Useful forwarding options have been added.
Security has been improved by better protecting domains, data, and networks.
Windows Defender has been optimized.
Data encryption has been made easier.
The isolation of your virtual machines has been improved.
Image processing has been improved.

RDS 2022: How to license Office?

To work remotely, you first need to gain access to the server. To do this, licenses must be purchased that belong to the same licensing program to ensure compatibility. This paragraph will explain step-by-step how to gain access to the server so that remote work is possible:

First, it is important to have the correct license for Windows Server (Standard or Datacenter).
Next, choose between CALs for users or devices (see the next paragraph).
Then add the CALs to the respective projects that need to be used remotely.
Finally, choose between Office Standard or Office Professional Plus.

RDS 2022: Device CAL vs User CAL

When purchasing RDS 2022 licenses, it is important for the buyer to carefully consider which type of license to purchase. There are two different types in the case of RDS 2022: Device CALs and User CALs. Which one should be purchased depends on the number of devices and employees active within an organization. If more devices are used than there are active employees, it is wiser to give each employee their own license, i.e., a User CAL license. For instance, if a company has employees who travel a lot and therefore need to work from various locations with different devices, these employees can log in at different locations with their own licenses. In this case, it would be wasteful to link each device used by just one person to a different license because, instead of needing one license, multiple licenses would need to be purchased, which costs more money.

On the other hand, if more employees are active within an organization than devices are used, it is more cost-effective to license the devices. For example, if many employees work part-time or only a few hours per week, it is more economical to purchase a license per device so that different employees can work on the same device at different times.