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How to Enable Remote Desktop and Allow Access through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008 using Group Policy

Prerequisites

You will require the Group Policy Management Tools on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008, Windows or Server 2012. These are part of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) availabale form the Microsoft web site.

Target Platforms

Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008

For Windows 8 and Server 2012 please see “How to Enable Remote Desktop on Windows 8 and Allow Access through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security using Group Policy”

Instructions

To enable Remote Desktop and Allow Access through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008 using Group Policy please follow these instuctions.

Turning on Remote Desktop using Group Policy

    1. Edit an existing Group Policy object or create a new one using the Group Policy Management Tool.
    2. Expand the Computer Configuration/Policies/Software Settings/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Remote Desktop Services/Remote Desktop Session Host/Connections node and open the Allow users to connect using Remote Desktop Services setting.Group Policy Management Editor
    3. Check the Enabled radio button. Click the OK button to exit and save the new setting.Allow users to connect using Remote Desktop Services
    4. Make sure the Group Policy Object is applied to the relevant computers using the Group Policy Management Tool.

 

 

Allowing Remote Desktop access through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security using Group Policy

    1. Edit an existing Group Policy object or create a new one using the Group Policy Management Tool.
    2. Expand the Computer Configuration/Policies/Windows Settings/Security Settings/Windows Firewall with Advanced Security/Windows Firewall with Advanced Security/Inbound Rules node.Group Policy Management Editor
    3. Check the Predefined: radio button and select Remote Desktop from the drop down list. Click NextNew Inbound Rule Wizard
    4. Check the Remote Desktop rule and click Next.New Inbound Rule Wizard
    5. Check the Allow the Connection radio botton and click Finish to exit and save the new rule.New Inbound Rule Wizard
    6. Make sure the Group Policy Object is applied to the relevant computers using the Group Policy Management Tool.