Best Practices for Securing Remote Desktop Access in SMB Environments Security researchers and industry reports continue to show that attackers use RDP to exploit stolen credentials and move laterally across networks. Remote Desktop Protocol, or RDP, is a go-to tool for IT teams and MSPs, making remote support and troubleshooting easy. But despite its convenience, RDP remains a major security concern. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Method 1: Disable RDP if Not Required This approach works best for systems like local only admin machines or shared public-access computers where remote access isn’t required. On PowerShell, execute this command: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and execute this command: For Group Policy Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections. Set “Allow users to connect remotely using Remote Desktop Services” to Disabled, then apply the policy. Method 2: Use Network-level Authentication With Network Level Authentication, or NLA, enabled, users must authenticate before a remote desktop session is established. On PowerShell, execute this command: Open Command Prompt as an administrator, then execute this command. For Group Policy Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Go to Computer Configuration Administrative Templates > Windows Components Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Security. Enable “Require user authentication for remote connections by using NLA.” Method 3: Restrict RDP Access via Firewall and Local Groups This approach reduces risk by restricting RDP access to only trusted addresses and approved user groups only. Open PowerShell and execute these commands: To restrict the firewall scope: Make changes in the remote address as needed. To control group access: Method 4: Enforce Strong RDP Session Encryption This works well for systems accessed over VPNs or semi-trusted networks where stronger encrypted RDP sessions are required. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Go to Computer Configuration Administrative Templates > Windows Components Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Security. Set the client connection encryption level to High. Additional protections include configuring account lockout policies, changing the default RDP port, and automatically disabling RDP after business hours to reduce exposure from automated attacks. RDP is a valuable tool, but without proper security, it can become an easy target for attackers. By applying the secure remote access strategies in this guide, organizations can greatly reduce risk, even without complex, layered security. For more information, check out our official blog post on Securing Remote Desktop Access, linked in the description below.