Want your team to work from anywhere, on a server you own? A remote desktop server lets your staff log into one central Windows server, from the office, from home, from a job site, or from the road, and work as if they were all sitting in the same room. Same files, same programs, same desktop, from any device. ASAP Computer Services builds, sells, installs, and configures remote desktop servers for San Antonio businesses, sized for 1 to 25 users, and we have been building them since 1999. Want the whole thing managed? We can. Just want the box built, installed, and your users set up so you can run it yourself? That works too. Call 210-497-1424 or request a quote.
What Is a Remote Desktop Server?
A remote desktop server (also called an RDS server, a work from home server, a terminal server, or a remote desktop services server) is a Windows server your business owns and runs, configured so your people connect to it remotely and run their applications and desktops on the server instead of on their own PCs. The heavy lifting happens on the server; your staff just need a screen, a keyboard, and an internet connection. A laptop, a home PC, a thin client, even a tablet becomes a full workstation the moment it connects.
Your data and your programs live in one place, on your server, under your roof. Nothing important lives scattered across a dozen laptops that can be lost, stolen, or die with last quarter’s numbers on them.
The Benefits of a Remote Desktop Server
- Work from anywhere. Your team logs in from home, the office, a client site, or the road, and gets the exact same desktop and applications every time. Remote work stops being a compromise.
- One place for everything. Files, line-of-business software, and shared applications all live on the server. No more emailing files back and forth or wondering which laptop has the current version.
- Your data stays yours. Everything runs on a server you own, in your office, not on scattered personal devices and not on someone else’s cloud you rent forever. You keep control.
- Cheaper, longer-lasting workstations. Because the server does the work, your staff can use inexpensive PCs or thin clients that last for years instead of expensive workstations that need replacing. Buy the power once, in the server.
- Easy to add people. Hire someone? Add a user and hand them a login. They are working in minutes, from any device, with no new PC to build and configure.
- Simpler backups and security. One server to back up, patch, and secure instead of chasing 25 individual computers. Multi-factor authentication on the front door, encrypted connections, and everything important in one protected place.
- Runs the software you already use. QuickBooks, industry and line-of-business applications, Office, and shared databases all run on the server and are available to everyone who needs them, from wherever they are.
- Predictable, owned cost. You buy the server once instead of paying per-user cloud desktop fees every month forever. For many small businesses, ownership is cheaper over the life of the hardware.
Sized for Your Business: 1 to 25 Users
There is no one-size server, and we do not sell one. We spec the machine to the number of people using it and the software they run:
- 1 to 5 users. A compact, quiet tower server that fits in a closet or under a desk. Perfect for a small office or a professional practice that wants remote access and central data without a server room.
- 5 to 15 users. A properly specced tower or rack server with the RAM, cores, and SSD storage to keep a growing team fast and responsive, with room to add people.
- 15 to 25 users. A robust server, often with redundancy built in, sized so 25 people working at once still feels instant. At this size we plan for growth and for keeping the business running if hardware hiccups.
Under-powering a remote desktop server is the fastest way to make everyone hate it, a slow server means slow work for every single user at once. We size it right the first time, with enough headroom that it stays fast as you grow, and without selling you capacity you will never use.
Sold, Installed, and Configured, Not Dropped in a Box
We deliver a working remote desktop server, not a pile of parts and a login you cannot use:
- We spec and sell the hardware, sized to your user count and software, from business-class brands built to run 24/7
- We supply the licensing, Windows Server and the Remote Desktop user licensing you need, quoted up front so there are no surprises
- We install and configure everything, the operating system, Remote Desktop Services, your applications, user accounts, printers, and secure remote access
- We lock it down, multi-factor authentication, encrypted connections, and a proper firewall so “accessible from anywhere” does not mean “accessible to anyone”
- We migrate your data and set up backups, your files and programs moved over, with local and offsite backup running before we call it done
- We support it after, if you want us to, on a managed plan or simply as-needed. Plenty of clients just want the box built, installed, and their users set up, and then they run it themselves. That is a perfectly good way to buy a server, and we are glad to do exactly that
Is a Remote Desktop Server Right for You?
It is a strong fit if your team needs to work remotely on the same programs and data, if you run line-of-business software like QuickBooks or an industry application that everyone shares, if you want your data on a server you own rather than rented cloud desktops, or if you are tired of managing a scattered fleet of individual PCs. It may not be the right answer for a fully cloud-based office with no shared server software, and we will tell you honestly if that is you, because the goal is the right solution, not the biggest sale. You can buy it as a one-time build and setup, or add ongoing management, your call. If you would rather not own the hardware at all, ask us about hosted virtual servers and colocation.
Remote Desktop Server FAQ
Is a remote desktop server the same as a work from home server?
Yes. A work from home server is a remote desktop server put to that specific use: your team logs into one central server from home, job sites, or the road, and works as if they were in the office. Same files, same programs, same desktop, from any device, on a server you own and keep on your premises.
Do you have to manage it, or can we run it ourselves?
Your choice. Many clients just want us to build, install, and configure the server and set up their users, then they run it themselves. Others want us to manage it on an ongoing plan. Both are fine, and we will not push a management contract you do not want.
What is the difference between a remote desktop server and just using a VPN?
A VPN connects a remote PC to your office network, but the work still happens on that PC, so it is only as fast and as capable as the device and the internet connection. A remote desktop server runs the applications and desktop on the server itself; the remote device is just a window into it. That means consistent speed, one place for data, and a full workstation experience from even a cheap laptop.
How many users can one remote desktop server handle?
It depends on the software they run, but we build them for 1 to 25 users, sized to the workload. Light applications support more users per server; heavy line-of-business software or databases need more horsepower per person. We spec the hardware to your actual user count and applications so it stays fast.
Do you provide the server hardware and the Windows licensing?
Yes. We sell the server hardware, supply the Windows Server and Remote Desktop user licensing, install and configure everything, migrate your data, and set up backups. You get one accountable package and a working server, not a parts list.
Can my team use QuickBooks and our other programs on it?
Yes. QuickBooks, Office, industry and line-of-business applications, and shared databases all run on the server and are available to every authorized user from any device. Having everyone on the same central copy also ends the “which computer has the right version” problem.
Is it secure to access a server from home?
When it is set up correctly, yes. We secure remote desktop servers with multi-factor authentication, encrypted connections, and a properly configured firewall, so your team can reach it from anywhere while keeping everyone else out. Remote access done wrong is a real risk, which is exactly why professional configuration matters.
Ready for a server your whole team can work from? Call 210-497-1424, contact us, or see our related server sales and installation and server virtualization services.
