In today's business world, servers are at risk of remote desktop attacks due to the increasing demand for remote work and access. These attacks, which can provide unauthorized access to sensitive data, systems, and networks, pose significant security challenges. In this article, we will explore strategies to understand and effectively protect against remote desktop attacks targeting servers.

What is Remote Desktop Attack on Windows Servers?

Remote desktop attacks involve malicious attempts by unauthorized individuals to access a server's desktop remotely. These attacks may target remote desktop protocols running on servers, putting your organization's data at risk.

These attacks are often carried out automatically by bots rather than individuals nowadays. Therefore, it's crucial to be prepared to defend against these attacks rather than pondering why someone would target your server.

One negative impact of these attacks is that even if bots don't breach your system, they can overwhelm your server by continuously sending numerous requests, diverting resources away from serving you and your clients.

Types of Attacks and Threats

Brute Force Attacks: Attempts to gain access by trying username and password combinations. Bots can persistently conduct these attacks for years and gain entry regardless of password strength by Remote Desktop Protocol attacks.

Zero-Day Attacks: Exploiting security vulnerabilities in RDP and SSH access due to operating system issues, allowing unauthorized access to the server. Both individuals and bots can execute these attacks.

Phishing Attacks: Deceiving users to obtain sensitive information, often aimed at seizing server credentials or personal data like email addresses.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Resulting in capturing user information by monitoring or manipulating communication. This can occur when the attacker shares the same network as the user.

How Can I Detect If My Windows Server is Under Remote Desktop Attack?

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks are often automatically initiated by bots on the internet. Therefore, especially when obtaining a server from a data center, hosting company, or cloud provider, attacks are likely to start shortly after activating your server.

You can view attacks through "Event Viewer." Follow these steps: "Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Security"

Security Strategies and Solution Recommendations

Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication: Encourage users to use strong passwords to make attackers' jobs more difficult. However, it's crucial for users not to reuse the same passwords across personal accounts or other places, as attackers can easily infiltrate your servers in such cases.

Firewalls and Security Software: Use firewalls and security software behind servers to control incoming and outgoing traffic.

Regular Software and System Management: Regularly update server software and operating systems to close security vulnerabilities.

Education and Awareness: Provide training on safe internet usage and phishing attacks to users.

Use of Static IP: Grant access to your server only from specific IP addresses, maximizing security but narrowing your working space.

Proxy Server Usage: Lease a different server from the same data center or hosting provider and perform RDP access through this server, allowing you to close RDP access to the internet on the existing server. While this comes with usability challenges, it will protect your servers from these attacks.

These strategies are crucial in protecting servers against remote desktop attacks. Each organization can tailor these strategies according to their needs to enhance security.

How Does Protect Remote Solve the Remote Desktop Attack Issue?

Protect Remote is a cybersecurity product that can be integrated with different platforms, securing these platforms. Instead of preventing cyber attacks, it isolates the integrated platform from the internet entirely, allowing access only to authorized devices.

In essence, when using Protect Remote, the RDP port of your server is closed to the entire internet by default. Attackers, whether individuals or bots, cannot launch attacks directly through RDP on a server that is not accessible from the outside.

With Protect Remote, your users with authenticated remote desktop access can access the RDP port when they open the Protect Remote application on their relevant desktop or mobile devices. The Protect Remote service notes the IP address of your authenticated user in the security firewall of your server.