No more typing reviews! Try our Samantha, our new voice AI agent.

BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs Microsoft Remote Desktop Services comparison

Sponsored
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.6
Microsoft Intune offers ROI by reducing costs, enhancing productivity, and simplifying IT management with seamless Microsoft integration.
Sentiment score
4.8
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access delivers quick ROI, saving time and costs, ensuring compliance, and enhancing IT operations efficiency.
Sentiment score
4.7
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services improves efficiency and saves time, though some users view it as costly with excess features.
Everything we've gained from it makes my job easier day after day, and I see value in it as an engineer.
IT Systems Engineer at Syracuse University
Microsoft Intune not only saves costs by reducing the number of personnel needed but also offers a comprehensive solution for managing laptops, applications, security, individual access, and enrollment.
Subject Matter Expert at Engage IT Services Pvt Ltd
With Microsoft Intune, tasks such as device provisioning, policy deployment, application delivery, and compliance enforcement require less manual effort than in more traditional management models.
Endpoint Cloud Solution Architect at Lutech
By unlocking a locked situation, I mean we couldn't connect to a server in any other way, so we had to use RDP.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped us to be efficient; we are a team of five serving the entire region of Africa and the Middle East, and it has truly improved our overall efficiency as a team.
System Engineer, Grid Software MEA at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has saved us considerable time because we don't have to be on-site for support and have more accessibility to the machines.
Managing Director
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.8
Microsoft Intune support is knowledgeable and effective, but service quality varies by tier and complex cases may be slower.
Sentiment score
4.8
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access offers quick, knowledgeable support with high user satisfaction but some communication and ticket system concerns.
Sentiment score
4.6
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services support varies in speed and consistency, with experiences influenced by licensing, partners, and contact points.
When a support ticket is submitted, it directly reaches someone with Intune support expertise.
Collaborations engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
When I contacted Microsoft, they had the same expertise, if not more, which is phenomenal because I felt heard and my problem was solved.
IT Systems Engineer at Syracuse University
Sometimes, the support provided is excellent, and the representative is knowledgeable, while other times, the service needs improvement.
Engineer at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Support now requires opening a ServiceNow ticket, which can be time-consuming.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
I would rate the customer support of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a 10.
Sr. Compliance Analyst at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Interacting with Amazon's customer support seems to route the request to the correct team almost immediately, resulting in quicker responses.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
If I have any issues related to the installation or initial setup, they have been great and a helping hand.
Lead Engineer Senior Forntend Developer at Adobe
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft Intune offers scalable, cloud-based device management with flexible licensing, centralized control, and seamless integration for diverse organizations.
Sentiment score
6.3
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access scales well for enterprises, though challenges exist with cloud deployments and backend scalability opinions vary.
Sentiment score
6.6
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is scalable and reliable, though seen as complex and costly due to licensing and hardware limitations.
The scalability of Microsoft Intune is ten out of ten.
Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Ideally, we want to automatically segregate devices based on user properties like primary use, but currently, dynamic groups seem limited to device properties.
Engineer, Systems Admin . at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
It supports organizations with 200 endpoints and those with more than 15,000 endpoints.
Director at Provisioned
I would give it an eight or nine out of ten for scalability, possibly even a ten, as I do not see a limitation in scaling.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is a scalable solution based on user requirements.
Lead Engg. Information Assurance at ACPL Systems Pvt Ltd
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is 10 out of 10.
Head Of Product & Engineering (Cpto) at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services scales very well; I could scale it to however many users I would want.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is high, as it is already providing me with the flexibility to access my system from anywhere.
Lead Engineer Senior Forntend Developer at Adobe
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.2
Microsoft Intune demonstrates high reliability in endpoint management with minor sync issues, achieving user satisfaction and consistent performance improvements.
Sentiment score
5.0
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is stable and secure, but experiences occasional post-update bugs and recovery issues after outages.
Sentiment score
8.0
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is praised for reliability and performance, with minor early challenges but overall strong dependability.
We have not experienced downtime, bugs, or glitches.
Head of IT at TWM SOLICITORS LLP
It appears Microsoft Intune undergoes changes without informing customers.
Support Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
In my experience, Microsoft Intune is a stable platform as it is a cloud-based service, and updates are regularly delivered by Microsoft.
IT Administrator at Newrest Inflight España, S.A
Updates sometimes introduce bugs or issues, especially with non-English versions.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
I have never faced any issues related to its working or its availability.
Lead Engineer Senior Forntend Developer at Adobe
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is stable, and I can confirm this.
System Administrator at VATSIN Technology Solutions Pvt
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Intune struggles with compatibility, usability, and support issues, impacting policy management and integration with non-Microsoft tools.
BeyondTrust needs simpler third-party access, improved integration, enhanced automation, refined support, and optimized interface and deployment.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services needs an improved interface, simplified setup, better compatibility, clearer documentation, and enhanced connectivity options.
Features like unlocking devices sometimes fail, and the support offered for other operating systems is insufficient.
Strategy & Portfolio Advisor at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
There are communication issues, so you might start working with a feature without knowing if it will be deprecated six months from now.
Collaborations engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Many third-party companies offer single-pane-of-glass reporting that shows you what your update environment looks like, how your patch is doing, application status, etc., but Intune's reporting is not intuitive.
Engineer at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
BeyondTrust should focus on automating the update process to reduce unnecessary ticket creation.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
We are looking for a feature where if someone is doing something risky during their session, it should alert and possibly disable their credentials.
Lead Engg. Information Assurance at ACPL Systems Pvt Ltd
I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
On macOS, we sometimes experience keyboard connectivity issues.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can be improved by better integrating it within Teams or providing a Teams integration to connect to customer support teams or other systems' accesses using Remote Desktop internally, rather than as a separate individual tool.
technology consultant at Bank of America
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Intune is cost-effective within Microsoft 365 bundles but may be costly standalone, requiring careful evaluation for needs.
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access offers variable pricing, justified by rapid ROI and functionality, with crucial licensing understanding for cost management.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services pricing is mixed; integration reduces costs, but additional licenses and complex models increase expenses.
Introductory professional services, like a fast-track service, were included with our E5 membership, and there have been no additional costs.
Senior Systems Architect IV at a aerospace/defense firm with 10,001+ employees
The Intune suite and add-ons, such as batch management and remote help, are costly.
Technical Sales Professional (Microsoft Modern Workplace) at Alnafitha IT
It costs approximately forty euros per user per month.
Cyber Security Officer at Gudu
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that it is expensive, yet not the most expensive in the market, so the price can be considered justifiable.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
These licenses are not cheap, as they add up in cost.
Chief Technology Officer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
I understand it can get quite expensive and also complex to manage these different licenses.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
I don't think there was any cost, as this was built into our experience with Windows and Azure.
Managing Director
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Intune offers seamless management, security, and compliance, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort with automation and integration features.
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access offers flexible, secure remote management with easy deployment, multi-factor authentication, and strong integration capabilities.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers secure remote access with cross-platform support, easy management, and enhanced productivity for users.
Intune excels in configuration and compliance management for Windows 10, ensuring devices receive timely updates and adhere to organizational standards.
Microsoft Practice Lead at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Dynamic groups allow us to set conditions for automatic membership, eliminating the need for user intervention or manual review and ensuring a seamless workflow.
Engineer, Systems Admin . at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Windows Autopatch is the most valuable because it removes the burden of patch management.
Director at Provisioned
The secure access must be audited live, ensuring patient data protection.
CEO at MICRODYN AG
The session monitoring and recording feature definitely helps security and audit with BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access.
Lead Engg. Information Assurance at ACPL Systems Pvt Ltd
The main benefits that Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provide to me include streamlining my working process, ensuring security, and offering flexibility to connect to virtual desktops and apps from multiple devices.
Technology Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped my team save time and improve productivity because we had Microsoft servers that were impossible to connect from our MacBook Pro laptops, and once we started using RDP, we could connect and move forward to deliver the project.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The best features Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers include providing me administrator access, certain inbuilt client tools, and the ability to remotely access enterprise applications, as well as helping me validate whether certificates exist or are missing, or near to expiry.
technology consultant at Bank of America
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Intune
Sponsored
Ranking in Remote Access
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
377
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (1st), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (1st), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (1st), Microsoft Security Suite (1st)
BeyondTrust Privileged Remo...
Ranking in Remote Access
15th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
Privileged Access Management (PAM) (13th), Secure Remote Access (2nd)
Microsoft Remote Desktop Se...
Ranking in Remote Access
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
91
Ranking in other categories
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Remote Access category, the mindshare of Microsoft Intune is 5.4%, down from 10.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is 1.9%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is 6.6%, down from 10.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Remote Access Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Intune5.4%
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services6.6%
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access1.9%
Other86.1%
Remote Access
 

Featured Reviews

HA
Senior Business Development Executive at Digitaltrack
Centralized device management has automated onboarding and improves remote security compliance
One thing I feel Microsoft Intune could improve is troubleshooting visibility. In many cases, when a policy or application deployment fails, the error messages are a bit generic. So, admins still spend time checking logs manually or testing on devices one by one. Compared to the simplicity of deployment, troubleshooting sometimes feels less mature. I also think reporting and real-time monitoring could be stronger. The dashboard gives useful information, but in large environments, many teams still depend on additional tools or scripts for deeper reporting and analytics. If I had to focus on one area first, I would probably choose troubleshooting and reporting. Deployment through Microsoft Intune is generally straightforward, but when something fails, identifying the exact root cause can still take more time than expected. Error messages are sometimes too generic, and admins often have to dig through logs, sync status, or multiple portals to understand what actually happened. I think user experience and policy management could also improve further. Microsoft Intune has become much better over the years, but sometimes the admin portal still feels fragmented because certain configurations open in different sections or redirect to older interfaces. For new admins, especially, it can take time to understand where everything is located. Another thing is policy conflict handling. In larger organizations, multiple device policies, compliance rules, and configuration profiles can overlap. When conflicts happen, the visibility is not always very clear, so admins spend time figuring out which policy actually won or caused the issue.
Hahn Rolf - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at MICRODYN AG
Securely manage high-privilege remote access with granular configurations
I recommend that we improve integration with other products like PasswordSafe, aiming for smoother integration. Better alignment between products would enhance manageability from a single point. Additionally, BeyondTrust should focus on automating the update process to reduce unnecessary ticket creation. Improved quality control for non-English language versions is needed to avoid translation and layout errors.
reviewer2795433 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Secure remote access has protected sensitive country data and supports strict compliance needs
I understand from the IT team managing Microsoft Remote Desktop Services that it is complex to set up the multiple roles, certificates, and networks required. Networking is quite complicated. Even though on the data center side it is quite simple, maintaining the farm of other connections that connect to that server is the complex piece. I understand there are more modern systems replicating what this solution does, which are easier to use, such as Azure Virtual Desktop within Microsoft Azure Cloud or Amazon WorkSpaces, which I have used before. Rather than having to manage all the complex networking, you could abstract it away a little further in the cloud for easier use. I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365. I do not believe further features will be rolled out due to its end-of-life state, making it a legacy solution now.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Remote Access solutions are best for your needs.
908,834 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
7%
Construction Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Construction Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business192
Midsize Enterprise62
Large Enterprise186
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business12
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise7
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business45
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise36
 

Questions from the Community

How does Microsoft Intune compare with VMware Workspace One?
Microsoft Intune is a great tool for managing a mobile device fleet while keeping access control. The solution makes ...
What are the pros and cons of Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune is a great configuration management tool and has a lot of good things going for it. Here are some of...
How does Google Cloud Identity compare with Microsoft Intune?
Microsoft Intune offers not only an easy-to-deploy data protection and productivity management solution, but also ...
What needs improvement with BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access?
Improving technical support for BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is essential. When I communicate with technical ...
What is your primary use case for BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access?
When we are using BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access with FortiGate or some Cisco third-party products, we collabor...
What advice do you have for others considering BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access?
I have not utilized the endpoint least privilege management feature in BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access as I have...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
The experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the pricing is based on licensing costs and the setup ...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can be improved in several areas. Currently, it requires a license cost, it has per...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
Our main use case for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is to allow multiple users to remotely access our Windows mac...
 

Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Bomgar Privileged Access
Remote Desktop Services
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway
Horizon Beverage, Air Liquide, Gateway Bank of Florida
Bank Alfalah Ltd.
Find out what your peers are saying about BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access vs. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
908,834 professionals have used our research since 2012.