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Updated on in Remote access

The Difference Between Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop

Author: Helga York
Helga York Article author

In today’s HelpWire blog, we’ll find out how Windows Remote Assistance differs from Remote Desktop. Plus, we’ll have a look at some aspects of remote connectivity in different Windows versions and find out how to make sure your machine is not the most low-hanging fruit for all the hackers on the web.

Remote Desktop vs. Remote Assistance: What Are the Differences?

Remote assistance and remote connection both connect to remote computers via RDP. However, there are many differences between them based on how they connect, their objectives, their common use cases, and the level of user control each provides. 

The main difference between remote assistance and remote desktop connection is whether you can control your computer during an RDP session. 

In this article, we’ll discuss these differences side by side comparison.

What is Remote Assistance?

Remote Assistance is a standard Windows application that allows access to a remote computer over the network to fix whatever problems it may have. The Remote Assistance application is commonly used for tech support purposes. During your sessions, the user remains in control of your system and, in theory, can interfere if something goes wrong. Now, let’s find out how one can make Remote Assistance work.

Best suited for:

• Providing customer service 

• Managing distributed teams

• Troubleshooting and offering technical support for both simple and complex issues that need direct access to devices

Key features and benefits:

Some of the features and benefits of remote assistance:

  1. Connections security: Remote assistance secures your connections with features, such as intrusion prevention, multi-level password protection, etc. to safeguard your data.
  2. Hands-on support: Remote assistance allows agents to access devices directly and start troubleshooting the problems. It saves them significant time in back-and-forth communication.
  3. Efficient: With remote assistance, you can resolve issues remotely without having to travel to users’ locations. This saves huge time for both your agents and customers. This means agents can handle more tickets daily, provide better service, and stay more productive.
  4. Cost Savings: Apart from saving time, remote assistance eliminates travel expenses.
  5. Satisfied customers: You can provide complex troubleshooting and fixes faster with remote assistance. This means customers get to use their devices and restore their operations quickly. This is a recipe to make your customers happier with your services.

Main advantages:

Remote assistance offers the following advantages to businesses: 

• Helpful for guiding users and collaborating with peers

• User-friendly and easy to set up, which is perfect for remote work, troubleshooting, and training

Disadvantages: 

Although remote assistance offers many benefits, there are certain disadvantages too that you should know about:

• Restrictions in access controls

• Cybercriminals can exploit inadequate/weak access permissions to gain unauthorized access to systems and data to carry out widespread attacks and pose other security risks

• Remote assistance relies on permission requests, which is a problem if you want to troubleshoot complex technical problems. 

How to request remote assistance:

Here’s the step-by-step process to request remote assistance: 

  1. Request remote assistance
    • • On your Windows system, open the Run dialog or press Win+R. Next, Run msra.exe and click on “Invite someone you trust to help you.”
    • • You will need to send this invitation file to your helper along with its session password.
    • • Now, wait for the helper to accept the session.
  2. Grant remote assistance
    • • On the helper machine, launch the Run dialog again or press Win+R. Similar to the previous step, run msra.exe. Select “Help someone who has invited you.”
    • • Open the invitation file you have received. Input the session password that came with the invitation.
    • • Begin the session.
Note:   Note: To ensure remote assistance works properly, enable remote connection on both computers – local and remote. Let’s summarise this with a mini version of the above instructions:
• From System Properties, navigate to the Remote pane
• Tick both checkboxes, if not done already

What is a Remote Desktop?

Windows Remote Desktop connection is another app that allows you to access the remote computer and control its resources over the Internet connection. Windows Remote Desktop totally cuts off the user on the client-side, so there’s no way to even observe what’s going on with your PC for the time of the session. That’s why most people use it to access their own PC over a distance, e.g., the work machine from home or vice versa.

Best suited for:

    • • Managing devices: A remote desktop lets you configure multiple devices and update them from a central interface.
    • • Remote work: Individuals or companies operating remotely or in hybrid environments can use it to access devices, systems, applications, and files easily and efficiently.
    • • Personal use: individual users can use remote desktops to connect to a computer from a tablet or smartphone. This allows them to access and retrieve their files whenever they want and work with better productivity. 
    • • Education: Tutors can use the remote desktop to enable students to access lab programs directly from the comfort of their homes.

Key features and benefits:

Here are some of the features and their benefits: 

  1. Support for YOD: Remote desktop supports Your Own Device (YOD). This means you can use any device with cross-platform compatibility.
  2. Remote file access: You don’t require physical access to a computer to get to its files. Instead, a remote desktop allows you to access and collaborate on system files remotely from anywhere.
  3. Full control: You get full remote control over your devices. This means you can manage and operate it without restrictions, which includes managing software and handling updates.
  4. Data security: A remote desktop connection is encrypted, which helps protect the data when you share your screen or exchange information.

Main advantages:

Remote desktops provide full control and high performance, ideal for:

  • • IT management 
  • • Accessing multiple systems 
  • • Running resource-intensive applications without relying on personal devices.

Disadvantages:

Remote desktop connections are not risk-proof. Since the user enjoys full access permission privileges, security risks may arise, such as unauthorized access, insider threats, etc.  

Steps to activate a remote desktop connection:

Note:   This app is only available for the Pro version.

Step 1: Type Remote Desktop into the system search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Select Remote Desktop Connection from the search results.

Step 3: Enter the name of the remote machine you want to access and click Connect.

Steps to activate a remote desktop connection on an iOS or Android device:

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store and search for the Remote Desktop app.

Step 2: Download and install the Remote Desktop app on your device.

Step 3: Enter the name of the remote machine you want to access and tap Connect.

Main Differences Between Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop

Are you wondering – “how does remote assistance differ from remote desktop”? 

The table below compares MSRA vs RDP to establish their differences. The differences are based on parameters, such as ease of use, performance, security, scalability, and compatibility with other systems or Windows versions. 

So, let’s compare remote assistance vs. remote desktop to understand which is better to meet your individual or business needs, such as IT support, troubleshooting, etc. 

Characteristic

Remote Assistance

Remote Desktop

Ease of Use

User-friendly and intuitive to troubleshoot technical issues in real-time with minimal configuration

Excellent for offering ongoing remote desktop management but needs a complex setup

Security

Offers a moderate level of security with basic authentication and data encryption, which is suitable for short-term sessions

Offers a high level of security with advanced capabilities, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access controls (RBAC), and virtual private networks (VPNs), which makes it suitable for extended use

Performance and Speed

Performance relies on network strength and session length; best for single remote sessions

Better performance over extended use; optimized for long-duration remote sessions 

Compatibility

Works with most platforms and devices with limitations on older devices

Works seamlessly across various devices and platforms, including both modern and legacy systems

Features and Functionalities

Focuses more on troubleshooting issues and offering remote assistance in real-time; doesn’t offer advanced features, such as multi-monitor support

Comes with advanced features, such as multi-monitor support, file synchronization, and session recording, which is useful for complex troubleshooting, collaboration, and remote work 

Cost-efficiency

Often available for free or comes as part of OS features, for instance, Windows Remote Assistance

Often paid as they offer enterprise-grade scalability and rich features

Accessibility and Unattended Access

User presence is required for the initial connection; not great if you seek unattended remote access.

Best option for unattended access and 24/7 device management

Scalability

Scalability is more suitable for individuals, but not enough for enterprise-level needs

Scales smoothly for enterprises with features, such as multi-user and session support

Reliability

Usually stable but you may face interruptions if the network is unstable

Highly reliable and stable, great for persistent connections in different IT environments

Support and Documentation

Third-party software or OS vendors offer support and come with basic documentation

Excellent customer support, especially in paid solutions, and comes with the most detailed documentation

 

Remote Assistance vs. Remote Desktop: What to Choose?

Both Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop are useful solutions that have their own sets of advantages and limitations. Choose one between them based on your business needs, workflows, complexity, and budget. Here’s what we recommend:

• Remote Assistance: Choose this if your main focus is troubleshooting and IT support. It’s perfect for assisting users in real time and resolving technical problems remotely.

• Remote Desktop: Choose this instead if you’re looking for a powerful and secure solution to run your remote workforce operations. It offers a high level of security when employees access their devices and cloud resources. It also empowers administrators to manage remote users, run maintenance work efficiently, and handle updates, security, and other critical tasks. 

However, you may also want to combine remote assistance and remote desktop to get the best of each world. It will make a super powerful remote solution. It will offer your remote employees a secure and easy way to access data and systems and enjoy flexible and scalable remote desktop tools. Also, your IT team can benefit from the best remote troubleshooting and real-time IT support with greater security and controls.

If you’re a business looking for an all-inclusive solution that integrates the benefits of remote assistance and remote desktop both, versatile platforms, such as HelpWire, are excellent to enable productive remote access.

FAQ

Both remote assistance and remote desktop use TCP port 3389 as the default port. It is also called “Windows Remote Assistance port” or “MSRA port” as it has been used for remote desktop connections since Windows XP.

TCP port 135 links your Windows computer with another computer installed outside the local network during a remote assistance session. The remote assistance port helps you set up initial connections between two devices.

Cyberattackers frequently target TCP port 135 with malware, such as:
  • • Reatle E@mm Worm: It’s a bulk email worm used to compromise a system’s security.
  • • Blaster Worm: It exploits vulnerabilities in a system to allow attackers to gain unauthorized remote access to the system.
It’s possible to mitigate these security vulnerabilities if you keep your system up-to-date with the latest updates and patches available. Also, you must use reliable antivirus software to detect and remove vulnerabilities from your systems.

Yes, you can secure your system after changing the default port. Here’s what to do if you use a custom port:
  • • Under the Actions pane, you must find the Windows Firewall management console. Now, add the new port number as a rule.
  • • Use the same custom port for connecting all devices in a session.
  • • Safeguard your systems from cyber threats by using antivirus software and updating your system to the latest version.
Tags:
Comparison, RDP, Windows Remote Assistance