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SSL Certificates for Remote Desktop Gateways: Why Choose Thawte?

Jerad Cook

Jan 28 2020

3 min read

As companies strive to acquire top talent, decentralized, remote workforces are becoming more and more prevalent in today’s business world. One technology that can help facilitate remote work is a Remote Desktop Server environment. This environment, which often consists of multiple servers configured for load balancing, can be used by remote employees for accessing individual apps or full desktop environments. With the use of Microsoft Azure, this environment can live entirely in the cloud, removing the need for a company to host and maintain its own physical equipment in an office.

When discussing this type of cloud-hosted environment with clients, security is often a top concern. On top of some of the standard recommendations, such as good anti-virus and a properly configured gateway, we also recommend the use of an SSL certificate to secure the Remote Desktop Gateway. The RD Gateway is a service that runs on a server in an RD environment and handles client connections. By using an SSL certificate, connections to the RD Gateway are secured with encryption, preventing anyone from eavesdropping, and stealing account information.

SSL certificates must be purchased from third-party sellers. In order to be a seller of digitally signed trusted SSL certificates, the company must comply and be audited against security and authentication standards that are established by web browsers. There are many options to choose from when purchasing an SSL certificate. At Sikich, we recommended using Thawte as your provider.

Why Thawte for Remote Desktop SSL Certificates?

Unlike many of the other providers out there, digital certificates are the core of Thawte’s business. This is one of the reasons they can offer a full range of SSL products, including EV, OV, DV, Wildcard, and SAN SSL certificates. They are also the first international certificate authority, building up a customer base that spans 190 countries. This has led them to be a known and trusted name in online security. A known provider is an important factor when making a choice, especially if a certificate is being used in an eCommerce environment. Savvy customers appreciate seeing the use of a certificate from a name they’re familiar with.

While this post focused on the use of SSL certificates primarily to secure Remote Desktop Gateway’s, they have many other applications across the internet. If you need assistance with purchasing and deploying an SSL certificate for any purpose, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sikich. We can assist with the process from start to finish.

This publication contains general information only and Sikich is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or any other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should you use it as a basis for any decision, action or omission that may affect you or your business. Before making any decision, taking any action or omitting an action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. In addition, this publication may contain certain content generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) language model. You acknowledge that Sikich shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by you or any person who relies on this publication.

About the Author

Jerad Cook

Jerad Cook is a Senior Network Consultant at Sikich, assisting clients in achieving their business objectives through technology and trusted advice. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Kent State University, as well as several Microsoft certifications that give him a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) status. His primary area of focus revolves around Microsoft’s Cloud services, which he has ten years of experience with. This includes working with both Azure and Office 365 environments in order to drive clients toward full cloud enablement.