It’s the commonly used name for a group of applications that allow you to access computers or devices from a remote location. RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol and is sometimes just referred to as Remote Desktop. Once it’s set up, that’s the way it stays. But if you forget to share a folder you need remote access to before you leave the office, you won’t be able to retroactively share the folder remotely with your VPN. Once you set up shared resources on the VPN – like printers, servers, or shared folders – you would have remote access to them.
One thing to keep in mind as you consider VPN vs remote desktop solutions is that VPNs only offer access to resources that are already shared on the network. With a VPN, you’d be able to virtually login to your office’s local network and print as if you were there. If you’re out in the field and need to print something, typically you’d have to wait until you’re back and can connect to the network directly. So let’s say you have a special printer in your office that’s connected to your office’s local network. The VPN can have specific settings and allow for more shared access among the devices connected to it.Ī VPN also allows applications that only work on local networks to be accessed through the internet once you’re logged into the VPN.
Essentially, a VPN creates a smaller, private network on top of a larger public network – most commonly the internet. There are other differences, like security vulnerabilities and levels of flexibility and control, but understanding what each one does will help you decide which solution will be best for you. The most important thing to know about the difference between VPN vs remote desktop solutions is that they are functionally different things.