BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs Microsoft Remote Desktop Services comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Remote Access solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Report (Updated: May 2024).
772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The project goal was to allow staff to run applications with admin privileges without being admins, which was the product's most important feature.""It's a stable product. Based on the demos and interaction with it, it was stable.""One of the features that I really like about it is the ability to set a start date, time, and end date for the access. For example, you can set the access for a person from tomorrow, Monday, or Tuesday and ending on a specific period of the day or a specific date. That's really quite helpful.""It is a real fortress. Its security is very strong. Multi-factor came as a feature out-of-the-box, which was big for us. That helps us meet another compliance requirement. It enforces encryption. Nobody can see what we are doing in our remote system if they happen to be listening for unencrypted traffic. That is its biggest strength.""The most valuable feature is that this solution can be implemented regardless of the operating system.""The privileged remote access platform is able to track and record everything that happens within a session.""We can truly elevate our admin rights while we're in there to fully take control of a system and manage it as if it was sitting right here on our desk. Most of the organization has gone to remote work or work from home. With that being the case, this solution allows us to be able to still work with our end-users, even though they're not always sitting on our network.""Its initial setup process is straightforward."

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"The most valuable feature is performance.""I like that it works. In most cases, it's predictable. You know what you get.""The most valuable feature is ease of use.""The solution performs well and is easy to use.""The solution works well as a remote desktop.""The performance is one of the main features of this solution.""The installation is straightforward.""The product saves time."

More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Pros →

Cons
"Some of the capabilities in the solution were not as available or not as outstanding as CyberArk. We had to manage whatever little was available for us, especially its recording capabilities, logs, and a number of things.""There is no connectivity to the appliance side. There is no API, and it is just difficult for me to capture what version the device is on without going in and doing screenshots. It is a little too secure in that regard, where they don't even trust their product owner. Since a lot of hacks come from the inside, they are probably doing what they need to do out of necessity. It is just that I have to work pretty hard to produce compliance data on the box.""The solution's Vault is a nice feature. It helps to securely share a security password in teams, but it is not at the level of a password management solution. So, it is just really a vault. We were expecting to have more features to better manage passwords, but that is something that you can work around if you also have a password safe solution. I would like them to have features like password rotation or password auditing, e.g., old passwords.""When doing protocol panel jumps, the tool does not restrict what is recorded on the user's computer.""One of our gaps or pain points is having multi-factor authentication at the endpoint and using the PRA password injection from BeyondTrust, which does not work in our environment. We can only have MFA at the login of BeyondTrust to check out the password. Therefore, we can't meet our security requirements of having it on the endpoint.""Multiple areas can be improved. We've seen lots of updates in the past year. They have a portal where we can submit our ideas. BeyondTrust is immediately implementing user suggestions. The UI could be more informative. Initially, there were two or three connectors, and now we have five or six. It would be nice if they added a few more connectors for third-party integration. There are multiple tools, but the clients may require more for their convenience.""The solution is very flexible, which is a plus, but I would say the implementation requires someone with knowledge and experience, as it can be easy to get lost in all the details. The implementation process could be streamlined and simplified. Though the complexity of the solution provides greater flexibility, it requires a lot of time to understand it fully.""Changing your password should be simplified, and there should not be a charge for it."

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"We've had issues with security breaches.""My customers are worried that the RDP protocol can be easily compromised and would like the option to use an alternative like Blast.""There are problems with using Microsoft Teams within a virtual desktop on a mobile device.""For Microsoft, maybe bandwidth optimization is one of the areas that need improvement.""I would like to be able to access the remote desktop using a web-based interface, rather than having to use the client.""Remote Desktop Services doesn't scale well.""I would like to see a web-based interface, instead of client installation to refresh the UI through HTML.""Microsoft Desktop Services is stable but it takes up a lot of resources in the CPU. It's a bit heavier than some solutions."

More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The price is pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for and this is a great product."
  • "I wish it was a little bit cheaper, but when a product is as solid as this, I understand what the cost does. It helps them to make sure it stays that way. If you want a reliable, solid product, you're going to pay more."
  • "Don't get into a situation where you are licensing per desktop or per person until you fully understand the licensing."
  • "My client found the solution a bit expensive but considering their use case and requirements, they didn't have any other choice. As far as I know, implementation and licensing are the only costs."
  • "I wasn't directly involved in the licensing and pricing, but I can say that PRA is licensed per endpoint added to the Vault. I would advise users to take frequent exports of their license usage package; it's a simple feature that provides a spreadsheet of every machine in the Vault. This helps to cut down on duplicate licenses, which can happen by adding the same endpoint using an IP address and a fully qualified domain name, for instance. The implementation is an additional cost, and they offer several tiers, so the price varies. There are also some optional add-ons, so I would advise people to research the product well and find out precisely what they need regarding features. The Advanced Web Access add-on provides some required functionality when interfacing with websites; that's one to consider."
  • "Its price is pretty good for the features and services that it provides. It is not outrageous. I'm not aware of any additional charges or anything like that."
  • "PRA was one of the cheapest solutions that we evaluated."
  • "Though the solution was a bit expensive, the overall pricing was average."
  • More BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The pricing is moderate."
  • "The solution has a perpetual license and it is purchased upfront."
  • "It will probably cost about $500 USD to get the resources set up in the cloud."
  • "Although not an expensive product, pricing is always something that can be improved."
  • "It's not an expensive solution."
  • "It's not an expensive product."
  • "Its licensing is on a yearly basis. We're on the educational or academic license, and our terms are good. We're very happy with the pricing."
  • "The pricing could always be improved."
  • More Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The product has improved remote support capabilities since it works fine.
    Top Answer:The issue I found with the product revolves around the fact that RDP and SSH sessions take too much time, making it an area of concern where improvements are required. The product should be able to… more »
    Top Answer:I use the tool in my lab. I am involved in the product's testing phase in my lab, where I am trying to check out the solution.
    Top Answer:The tool must be cheaper. It should provide an option to pay the license fee once in a year or once in two years.
    Top Answer:When we update the environment, we face problems sometimes, and the users cannot use the system.
    Ranking
    6th
    out of 59 in Remote Access
    Views
    1,487
    Comparisons
    964
    Reviews
    16
    Average Words per Review
    1,299
    Rating
    8.4
    2nd
    out of 59 in Remote Access
    Views
    9,544
    Comparisons
    8,304
    Reviews
    44
    Average Words per Review
    395
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Bomgar Privileged Access
    Remote Desktop Services, MS Remote Desktop Services
    Learn More
    Overview

    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access (formerly Bomgar Privileged Access) lets you secure, manage, and audit vendor and internal remote privileged access without a VPN.

    Privileged Remote Access provides visibility and control over third-party vendor access, as well as internal remote access, enabling your organization to extend access to important assets, but without compromising security.

    Features include:

    - Privileged Access Control: Enforce least privilege by giving users the right level of access.

    - Monitor Sessions: Control and monitor sessions using standard protocols for RDP, VNC, HTTP/S, and SSH connections.

    - Reduce the Attack Surface: Reduce attacks by consolidating the tracking, approval, and auditing of privileged accounts in one place and by creating a single access pathway.

    - Integrate with Password Management: Inject credentials directly into servers and systems with just one click, so users never need to know or see plain text credentials.

    - Mobile & Web Consoles: Use mobile apps or web-based consoles anytime, anywhere.

    - Audit & Compliance: Create audit trails, session forensics, and other reporting features by capturing detailed session data in real-time or post- session review, and provide attestation reports to prove compliance.

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is a highly regarded remote access tool in addition to being a top-ranked Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution in the marketplace today.

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a suite of valuable elements of the Windows operating system (OS) that serve specific desired objectives. Microsoft RDS integrates various features that allow approved users to gain access to graphical desktops and Windows applications remotely. Approved users are able to deploy applications or even a complete desktop without having to install anything on their devices. Everything remains in the cloud. This ensures that there are never any compatibility issues and keeps the organization's original network secure at all times. Administrators are also able to ensure that data cannot be stored in any unapproved location, such as the local device, unapproved drives, or any other location.

    Microsoft RDS makes it easy for business organizations to access Windows Desktops and other Windows applications remotely to ensure today’s busy enterprise organizations are able to maintain the highest levels of productivity at all times. There are two basic ways organizations can effectively utilize RDS.


    • Microsoft Remote Desktop Component: This allows users to connect with various alternate desktops from their current device. Once the user has gained a secure connection based on the approved administrative permissions, the user can seamlessly access and interact with the remote desktop. Users have the feeling of having this new virtual desktop installed directly on their machine.


    • RemoteApp: Users are able to easily access cloud-based applications via their own personal desktop computers or other approved mobile devices. This application ensures overall application management is centralized and consistent throughout the entire business enterprise.


    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Benefits

    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has many benefits. Some of its most valuable benefits include:


    • Access Windows applications remotely from any device
    • Enhanced consistent application performance
    • Increased computing resources
    • Secure cloud-based data storage.
    • Streamlined management processes
    • Reduction in technical administrative resources
    • Reduction in hardware and device costs.
    • Improved employee productivity
    • Cost-effective
    • Improved Profitability
    • Reduce carbon footprint


    Microsoft Remote Desktop Services makes it easy for busy enterprise organizations to stay productive and remain competitive in today’s aggressive marketplace. An organization's end-users can be given access to their own specific desktops from any location, anytime, using any approved device. Additionally, users can access Microsoft applications without having an effect on their device's resource capacity or performance.

    Reviews from Real Users

    “What I found most valuable in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is accessibility because the solution lets you take control of your computer remotely, and that's a good feature.” Pascal B., IT consultant at Secoptrial

    “The most valuable features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are unification, central management, and accessibility.” Jan S. Solution Architect at a tech services company

    “The most valuable features are that it is fast and cost-effective. I am not aware of a replacement currently on the market.” Ramon H. Director at Empaco

    Sample Customers
    Horizon Beverage, Air Liquide, Gateway Bank of Florida
    Bank Alfalah Ltd.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider21%
    Security Firm14%
    Government14%
    Wholesaler/Distributor14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm17%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Computer Software Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company13%
    Government9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business50%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise35%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise65%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business45%
    Midsize Enterprise20%
    Large Enterprise35%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise57%
    Buyer's Guide
    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is ranked 6th in Remote Access with 21 reviews while Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is ranked 2nd in Remote Access with 76 reviews. BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is rated 8.6, while Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access writes "Our support team can do so much more without having to actively engage our customers, which saves us time and money". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services writes "Easy to set up and reliable, but needs an additional control panel". BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is most compared with CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service), WALLIX Bastion, BeyondTrust Remote Support and F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM), whereas Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is most compared with TeamViewer, VMware Horizon, Citrix Workspace, VMware Workstation and Parallels Access. See our BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services report.

    See our list of best Remote Access vendors.

    We monitor all Remote Access reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.