How Can Remote Applications Be Implemented on Windows Server: A Comprehensive Guide

As the demand for remote work continues to grow, IT professionals and Microsoft resellers are increasingly turning to Remote Desktop Services (RDS) as a solution to implement remote applications on Windows Server. RemoteApp, a feature of RDS, allows users to access Windows-based applications hosted on a remote server as if they were installed locally on their devices. This article will walk you through the step-by-step process of implementing remote applications on Windows Server, providing you with the best practices for a secure and scalable deployment. To finish with, you can see how RDS-Tools contributes to making this seamless, secure and efficient as can be.

What Is RemoteApp on Windows Server?

RemoteApp is a technology built into Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services (RDS) that allows users to run applications remotely on a Windows Server but display them on their local device. Unlike traditional remote desktop sessions, where users connect to a full desktop, RemoteApp delivers only the individual application window. This minimizes bandwidth usage and enhances user experience.

Key Benefits of Using RemoteApp

• Centralized Management: Administrators can install and update applications centrally on the server.
• Seamless User Experience: Remote applications look and feel as if they are installed locally.
• Cost Efficiency: Instead of managing multiple desktops, resources are shared on a single server.
• Enhanced Security: Applications and data remain on the server, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Remote Applications on Windows Server

This guide focuses on Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022, but the core steps apply across most versions. Here's how you can deploy RemoteApp using Remote Desktop Services.

1. Install Remote Desktop Services Roles

First, you need to install the key RDS roles that will allow you to host and manage remote applications:

• Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH): Hosts the Windows applications that will be remotely accessed.
• Remote Desktop Connection Broker: Manages user sessions and ensures that users can reconnect to existing sessions.
• Remote Desktop Web Access (RDWA): Enables users to access applications via a web portal.
• Remote Desktop Gateway (optional): Provides secure remote access to applications from external networks.

Steps to Install RDS Roles:

1. Open Server Manager.
2. Click on Add roles and features.
3. Select Remote Desktop Services installation.
4. Choose Session-based desktop deployment for RemoteApp deployment.

For more detailed setup steps, you can follow Microsoft’s official documentation on Remote Desktop Services installations. Also, don’t hesitate to check out our previous article on RDS server structure deployments and benefits.

2. Configure Session Collections and Publish RemoteApp Programs

Once RDS roles are installed, you can configure a session collection. This is where you organize the applications you want to make available to users.

1. Open Server Manager and click on Remote Desktop Services.
2. Under Session Collections, create a new session collection by clicking on Tasks > Create Session Collection.
3. Name the collection and assign it to your RD Session Host server.
4. In Server Manager, select your session collection and click Publish RemoteApp Programs.
5. Choose the applications you want to publish from the list or manually browse for specific programs.

Once published, users can access these applications via the Remote Desktop Web Access portal.

3. Secure the RemoteApp Environment

Security is a top concern for any IT professional. When implementing RemoteApp, ensuring that your environment is secure from external threats is crucial. Here’s how:

• SSL Certificates: Install and configure SSL certificates to encrypt data and secure communications. Use the RD Gateway role for secure external access, tunneling RDS traffic over HTTPS.
• Network Access Protection: Limit access to authorized users using Network Access Policies and consider deploying Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enhance security.
• Advanced Security Tools: Consider implementing RDS Advanced Security solutions, which include IP filtering, geo-location-based access restrictions, and brute-force attack protection.

4. Monitor and Optimize Performance

Once RemoteApp is deployed, it’s essential to continuously monitor the performance of your RDS environment to ensure smooth operations. Tools like RDS Server Monitoring allow you to:

• Track session activity and resource usage (CPU, memory, etc.).
• Detect performance bottlenecks.
• Ensure that applications are running efficiently without interruptions.

This proactive monitoring helps ensure that your deployment scales effectively as user demand increases.

5. Licensing Considerations

Ensure that your RDS deployment complies with Microsoft’s licensing requirements. Each user or device connecting to the RemoteApp environment needs an RDS Client Access License (CAL). Configure your RD Licensing server during setup to avoid connection issues.

Best Practices for Remote Application Deployment

1. Scalability

As your organization grows, so will the demands on your server infrastructure. Deploying load balancing across multiple RD Session Hosts ensures that user sessions are evenly distributed, avoiding performance bottlenecks.

2. Hybrid Deployments

Consider a hybrid deployment model that combines on-premises infrastructure with cloud services. This gives you flexibility to scale resources up or down based on demand, as well as enhances disaster recovery capabilities.

3. Security Enhancements

Using RDS Advanced Security from RDS-Tools can further protect your environment from cyber threats. This suite offers additional tools like IP address restrictions, brute-force protection, and real-time alerts.

Conclusion

Implementing remote applications on Windows Server using RemoteApp is an effective way to deliver applications to remote users securely and efficiently. By following the steps above, you can set up a robust RDS environment that centralizes application management and enhances user experience.

If you are looking for additional tools to improve your RemoteApp deployment, RDS-Tools solutions like RDS Advanced Security, RDS Server Monitoring, and RDS Remote Support are a great option. These tools will help optimize performance, enhance security, and ensure a seamless experience for all users. With a 15-day free trial, discover RDS-Tools today, no strings attached, and take your remote application deployment to the next level!