How to configure access control for remote desktop activities

Remote Control lets you take-over Windows and Mac OS devices to solve issues, install third-party software and run system maintenance.

This article explains how to enable or disable remote permissions by profile or by role.

Process in brief:

Configure permissions by profile:

• Click ‘Configuration Templates’ > ‘Profiles’
   
• Click on a Windows or MAC profile
   
• Open the ‘Remote Control’ tab (or click ‘Add Profile Section’ > ‘Remote Control’)
   

• Click the 'Device Takeover' or the 'File Transfer' tab to configure access rights for the respective operation

• Use the ‘ON/OFF’ switches to configure remote access rights for devices on the profile
   
  • Note: You can configure separate settings for device takeovers and file transfers.
     
  • For example, you can disable remote takeover, but still enable file transfers

Configure permissions by role:

• Click ‘Users’ > ‘Role Management’ > ‘Roles’
   
• Click on the role you want to configure
   
• Open the ‘Role Permissions’ tab
   
• Enable or disable remote access permission as required
   
• The ‘In detail’ section has a list of the permissions related to remote access

Process in detail:

Configure permissions by profile

• Login to Xcitium
   
• Click ‘Applications’ > ‘Endpoint Manager’
   
• Click ‘Configuration Templates’ > ‘Profiles'
   
• Click the name of the Windows or MAC profile that you want to work on

 

• Click 'Remote Control' tab (or click ‘Add Profile Section’ > ‘Remote Control’)
   
• Click ‘Edit’
   
• Note - ‘Device Takeover’ and ‘File Transfer’ are independent of each other. You can disable device takeover and still enable file transfer operations.

‘Device Takeover’ tab 

• ‘Device Takeover’ gives you full control of the remote device like a traditional RDP connection.

• For example, you can move your mouse around the remote desktop, open programs, configure the control panel, etc.

• Use the ‘ON/OFF’ switch to allow or block remote control of devices on the profile:
   

 

• Click ‘Save’ to apply your changes
   
• Test the new setting:
   
  • Click ‘Devices’ > ‘Device List’ > select an affected endpoint > Click the ‘Remote Control’ button
     
• You will see the following message if you attempt a takeover:
   

‘File Transfer’ tab – Use the ‘ON/OFF’ switches to allow or block various file activities:
 

 

• Click ‘Save’ to apply your changes
   
• Test the new setting:
   
  • Click ‘Devices’ > ‘Device List’ > select an affected endpoint > Click the ‘File Transfer’ button
     
• Any activities you disabled are grayed out:
   

Configure permissions by role

• Click ‘Users’ > ‘Role Management’
   
• Click the ‘Roles’ tab
   
• Click on the role you want to configure:

• Open the ‘Role Permissions’ tab
   
• Enable or disable remote access permission as required
   
• The following permissions relate to remote access:
   

Name	Determines the ability to:
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control	Connect to remote devices at all
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer	View files on the remote device
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.crud	Copy / read / update /delete (CRUD) files on the remote device
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.download	Copy files from the remote device to the local device
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.upload	Copy files from the local device to the remote device
inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.takeover	Assume control of the remote device

 

• The permissions above have a parent-child relationship. You must enable the parent to configure the child.
   
• The hierarchy is as follows:

Inventory.devices.actions  <master permission >
         |              
         |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control
                               |         
                               |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer
                               |                      |         
                               |                      |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.crud
                               |                      |         
                               |                      |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.download
                               |                      |         
                               |                      |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.file_transfer.upload
                               |
                               |__ inventory.devices.actions.remote_control.takeover       

• Users with the affected role with see the following error if file transfers are disabled: