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What is RDP? Remote Desktop Explained in Simple Terms

Quick answer

RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol, is Microsoft's protocol for using a Windows computer's desktop from another device over an encrypted connection on port 3389. Programs run on the remote machine while you see and control them. Most people use it to reach a Windows VPS; WebJi® RDP servers start at ₹5,900 a month before 18% GST.

A plain explanation for traders, accountants and small teams who need a Windows desktop that keeps running when their own computer is off.

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Read time: 3 min
Sections: 5
Updated: 14 Nov 2026
Written by: WebJi® team

Last editorial update: 14 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.

What is RDP and how does a remote desktop session work?

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is Microsoft's protocol for showing a Windows computer's desktop on another device and sending your keyboard and mouse input back over an encrypted connection. Programs run on the remote machine; your laptop or phone only displays the session.

RDP sends drawing instructions and screen updates rather than a raw video stream, which keeps a session usable on ordinary Indian broadband or a mobile hotspot. It listens on TCP port 3389 by default, and newer versions also use UDP on the same port for smoother graphics. A session can redirect the clipboard, local drives, printers and audio, so a file copied on your laptop can be pasted into the remote desktop.

Host (server): The Windows machine you connect to: Windows Pro, Enterprise or Windows Server.
Client: The app you connect from: Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) on Windows, or Microsoft's Windows App on macOS, iOS and Android.
Session: A signed-in Windows desktop that keeps running when you disconnect, until you sign out.

How do you connect to a Windows server over RDP?

On Windows, press Win+R, type mstsc, enter the server's IP address or hostname, and sign in with an account on that server. On a Mac, iPhone or Android phone, install Microsoft's Windows App (formerly Microsoft Remote Desktop) and add the same address.

Note the server's public IP, username and password from your hosting welcome email.
Open the client and enter the address, for example mstsc /v:203.0.113.10 from the Run box.
Sign in. The first connection shows a certificate warning; accept it only if the server name matches the one you ordered.
Work as you would on a local PC.
Use Sign out when the job is finished, or Disconnect to leave programs such as a trading terminal running.

If the connection times out, the server's firewall or your office network is blocking port 3389; RDP port 3389 explained covers how to test and change it.

Is RDP the same as a Windows VPS?

No: RDP is the protocol you connect with, and a Windows VPS is the virtual machine on the other end. What hosts sell as an "RDP server" or "RDP plan" is a Windows machine in a data centre with remote access switched on.

The client is already built into your computer and costs nothing. What you pay for is the machine: a licensed Windows Server install, a public IP, CPU, RAM and disk that stay powered while your own device is off. At WebJi®, a Windows VPS or RDP server starts at ₹5,900 a month before 18% GST for 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM and 100 GB, with Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025. RDP vs VPS goes deeper into the terminology.

RDP, VNC or SSH: which remote access tool should you use?

Use RDP for a Windows desktop, SSH for a Linux server's command line, and VNC only for occasional cross-platform screen sharing over a VPN. Each was built for a different job, and using the wrong one makes remote work slower or less secure.

RDP, VNC and SSH compared
Attribute	RDP	VNC	SSH
Gives you	A full Windows desktop session	A copy of the existing screen	A command-line shell and file transfer
Platforms	Windows hosts; clients on all platforms	Any OS	Mainly Linux and Unix hosts
Bandwidth	Low to moderate	Higher (pixel streaming)	Very low
Built-in security	TLS and Network Level Authentication	Varies by product; tunnel it	Strong encryption and key login
Default port	3389	5900	22

Teams with both systems often SSH into Linux servers and RDP into Windows ones from the same laptop. For the Linux side, see what SSH is.

What do people in India use RDP for?

RDP is used whenever a job needs Windows running somewhere other than your desk, around the clock or for several people. The most common Indian cases are trading terminals, accounting software and remote office desktops.

Trading terminals

MT4 and MT5 stay connected through power cuts and home broadband drops; trading VPS plans are built for this.

Accounting software

Tally and Busy run on one Windows server that the accountant and the owner both reach; see Tally on cloud.

Remote office desktop

Staff reach one fixed Windows desktop from home without carrying hardware.

Windows-only tools

CAD, billing and legacy ERP that will not run on a Mac, Chromebook or Linux.

Automation and bots

Scheduled scripts and Windows-only tools that must run while the office is closed.

Testing and support

A clean Windows build for .NET staging and installer tests, or a technician viewing the real error.

More scenarios are collected in what a Windows VPS is used for.

How do you secure an RDP server?

Keep Network Level Authentication on, use long unique passwords with account lockout, restrict port 3389 to known IP addresses or a VPN, and install Windows updates promptly. An RDP port open to the whole internet receives automated password-guessing attempts within hours of going live.

Network Level Authentication (NLA): forces sign-in before a session is created, blocking many attacks; it is on by default in current Windows Server.
Firewall allow-list: in Windows Defender Firewall, scope the Remote Desktop rule to your office or home IPs.
Account lockout: set a lockout threshold in Local Security Policy so repeated wrong passwords lock the account temporarily.
Rename or disable the default Administrator: attackers try that username first.
VPN or RD Gateway: for teams, put RDP behind a VPN or Remote Desktop Gateway instead of exposing it.
Patching: past RDP flaws such as BlueKeep (CVE-2019-0708) let attackers in without a password on unpatched systems.

Changing the port from 3389 cuts down noise in the logs but is not security on its own. Keep a backup or snapshot of the server so a compromised or broken system can be rebuilt quickly.

How many people can use one RDP server at the same time?

Windows Server allows two simultaneous administrative RDP sessions out of the box; more concurrent users need Remote Desktop Services (RDS) client access licences. Windows Pro, by contrast, allows only one remote user at a time, and the local user is signed out.

For a small office where an owner and an accountant both log in, two admin sessions are usually enough. A team of five or more working on the same server at once needs RDS licensing, which changes the quote. Ask support@webji.services before ordering; the desk answers 24/7 in Hindi and English, with an average first reply under 60 minutes.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can Windows 11 Home act as an RDP host?

No. Windows Home editions can connect to other machines as an RDP client but cannot accept incoming Remote Desktop sessions. Hosting needs Windows Pro, Enterprise or Windows Server.

Is RDP traffic encrypted?

Yes. Current RDP sessions use TLS to encrypt the connection. Encryption does not stop someone guessing a weak password, which is why NLA, lockout policies and IP restrictions matter more than the encryption setting.

How much internet speed does RDP need?

Office work is comfortable on a few megabits per second with stable latency. Video, large screens and multiple monitors need more. Lower the colour depth and turn off the desktop wallpaper in the client's display settings on a slow mobile connection.

What happens to my programs if I close the RDP window?

Closing the window disconnects you but leaves the session and its programs running on the server, which is how traders keep MT5 open overnight. Choosing Sign out ends the session and closes the programs.