How to Enable RDP Remotely With Several Different Methods

19 May 2025

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a Microsoft technology that allows users to connect to and control a Windows desktop or server from another machine. In today’s IT landscape, RDP plays a critical role in enabling remote work and maintaining centralised IT control. Remote Desktop Protocol provides secure, reliable access to office-based systems from virtually anywhere, supporting both operational efficiency and workforce mobility.However, RDP is typically disabled by default on most machines, and enabling it (especially without local access) requires administrative action. This article explores key methods to turn on RDP remotely—from Group Policy to PowerShell to other tools—and discusses network, firewall and security considerations to keep in mind.

Why Remote Access Matters

What was once a convenience, remote access is now a fundamental requirement for modern operations. As one security guide observes, “In the modern era, remote access is not only convenient , but necessary” for a distributed workforce. With RDP, IT departments can extend secure, centralised workspaces to users across virtually any location. Centralised sessions improve manageability (e.g., via virtual desktop infrastructure), but even connecting to a user’s existing PC can speed support and reduce downtime. In short, RDP empowers remote work, on-call support, and cloud-hosted desktops—all with native Windows integration.

The benefits of remote access are clear, but they come with security risks that demand proactive mitigation. Before enabling RDP, organisations must ensure network and firewall settings allow RDP traffic and that access controls are in place. Leveraging an  IT support desk can streamline this process by providing centralised oversight and technical governance. These security aspects are examined more thoroughly in the following sections.

Methods to Enable RDP Remotely

There are several ways for an administrator to enable RDP on one or many Windows machines without walking up to each PC:

• Group Policy (GPO): If machines are domain-joined, a Group Policy Object can activate RDP across many systems. An administrator configures or modifies a Group Policy Object (GPO) linked to the target organisational unit (OU).
• PowerShell Remoting: By using Windows Remote Management (WinRM), an admin can execute PowerShell commands on remote computers. PowerShell scripts can also restrict RDP by source IP or enforce NLA. This approach requires WinRM/PowerShell remoting to be allowed on the target and administrative rights. The remote computer must allow WinRM (automatic on servers, off by default on clients and have the firewall configured.
• Remote Registry: Windows includes a Remote Registry service that allows editing the registry from another machine. The Remote Registry service must be running on the target system, while it is enabled by default on many devices, administrators must also possess the necessary permissions to establish a remote connection.
• Third-Party Remote-Access Tools: In some scenarios, organisations may prefer to use a dedicated remote-support or remote-access solution instead of RDP. Tools like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, LogMeIn, VNC variants, or enterprise platforms (Citrix Virtual Apps, Microsoft Intune/Endpoint Manager, etc.) can provide remote desktop functionality with their own mechanisms. These tools typically require installing an agent or client on the target and offer features such as multi-factor authentication, connection logging, or granular permissions.

Strategic Considerations: Choosing the Right Approach

Selecting the best method to enable RDP remotely depends on an organisation’s size, structure, and security posture:

Large Enterprises

Often have Active Directory, Group Policy, and advanced management tools (like Intune or Configuration Manager). GPO-based deployment scales well for hundreds of machines; one change to the GPO can enable RDP across an entire site or OU.

Enterprises may also use Intune to run the same registry or PowerShell commands in bulk (TechTarget notes that even non-domain devices can be managed via Intune scripts). These organisations usually demand strict security layering, so they might prefer RD Gateways, segmented networks, and MFA in front of any RDP access. In such environments, enabling RDP is often part of an overall policy—for example, only certain groups can ever have RDP enabled, or it’s done by central IT after a security review. Partnering with managed IT services providers can further reinforce compliance and streamline the implementation of these controls across large-scale environments.

Small/Mid-Sized Businesses

May lack a domain or sophisticated endpoint management. For a handful of servers or workstations, using Remote Registry or even logging in once to flip the RDP toggle manually could be feasible. PowerShell remoting is also an efficient tool here (if WinRM is enabled or can be quickly enabled).

Some SMBs might skip RDP entirely and rely on a managed third-party tool (like TeamViewer or built-in OS remote support) if they have limited IT staff. Security for SMBs should focus on the basics: using strong firewall rules (e.g., only allow RDP from the office subnet or via VPN), setting up an RD Gateway if they have internet-based RDP, and keeping systems updated.

Security Posture

 Organisations in regulated industries or with high-risk data will impose more controls. They may disable RDP by default and require special approval to enable it. These organisations will certainly use NLA, MFA, and possibly privileged access workstations for RDP administrators.

Those with a lean security posture may enable RDP more openly (though that is discouraged); they should at least ensure their firewall is tightly configured. In any case, RDP enabling should not be done ad hoc; there should be an audit trail or ticket, especially if done via scripts or remote commands.

Existing Infrastructure

If a company already has an MDM (Intune) or monitoring system, those tools can push the RDP-enabling commands. If using System Centre or other management software, there may be built-in tasks for RDP.

Also, if devices are hybrid-joined, cloud policies may apply. The chosen method must fit the setup: GPO requires AD, PowerShell requires WinRM, WMI requires DCOM access, etc. In disconnected or isolated networks, offline scripts and physical login may be the only option.

Security Best Practices for RDP

Finally, regardless of how RDP is enabled, follow these layered security practices:

• Use Strong Authentication: Enforce strong, unique passwords for all accounts with RDP rights. Require NLA (Network Level Authentication) so credentials are verified up front. Wherever possible, add multi-factor authentication to RDP (via RD Gateway or VPN 2FA).
• Least Privilege Access: Grant RDP access only to those users who truly need it. Regularly review the “Remote Desktop Users” and “Administrators” memberships.
• Logging and Monitoring: Enable auditing for Remote Desktop Services. Monitor logon events and look for repeated failures or logins at odd hours. Use SIEM or Windows Event Forwarding to centralise RDP logs.
• Keep Systems Patched: Ensure that all computers and servers with RDP enabled have the latest security updates. Old RDP vulnerabilities can be exploited if patches are missing.
• Network Isolation: Place sensitive RDP hosts in isolated network segments or behind VPNs. Avoid allowing RDP from the Internet except through hardened proxies/gateways.
• Account Lockout: Configure account lockout policies to mitigate brute-force attempts against RDP-enabled accounts.
• Regular Review: Periodically review whether RDP is still needed on each system. If a machine no longer requires Remote Desktop, disable it. Automated compliance tools can check the registry or GPO status for you.

Conclusion

By combining these controls—network restrictions, authentication safeguards, and judicious access permissions—organisations can reap the productivity benefits of RDP without unduly exposing their infrastructure. Remote desktop is a powerful tool in the IT toolkit, but it must be enabled and managed thoughtfully. Leveraging business internet services with built-in security features can further enhance the reliability and safety of RDP deployments, especially across distributed or hybrid workforces.