Many of our customers take advantage of the remote application that we call RPMSCloud, allowing users to run RPMS from anywhere with an Internet connection. RPMS desktop users can do much the same thing. By using Microsoft Remote Desktop, home-based employees can log in to their office computer and operate it remotely as though they were in the office. There are generally three steps to enabling and using Microsoft Remote Desktop. Consult with your company’s network administrator or IT firm to see if your company would or should set up remote access.

• First, you will need to have remote access enabled on your office PC. Do not take this step until you have consulted with your network administrator or IT support firm, as you will want to maintain security on your office computer.

• Second, you will likely need to allow access to your office computer via your office’s internet router. Unless you are familiar with editing router permissions and ‘port forwarding’, you’ll probably want to have your network administrator or IT support firm adjust this hardware setting for you. If you need multiple computers in your office to allow remote access for multiple users, you will need multiple entries in your router tables. While your network pros are doing that, they should be able to provide you with the credentials you’ll need for the last step.

• Finally, from your home computer, use a Remote Desktop client to connect to the computer that was set up for you in the above two steps.
  • On a Windows 10 PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection. In Remote Desktop Connection, enter the credentials you received in Step 2, and then select Connect. If all goes well, you’ll see your office desktop. If you have any trouble or the connection is refused, contact your network administrator or IT firm.
  • On an Android or iOS (Mac) device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store) and add the credentials you received in Step 2, and then select Connect. If all goes well, you’ll see your office desktop. If you have any trouble or the connection is refused, contact your network administrator or IT firm.

Many rep firms are moving their entire RPMS systems off site temporarily, to their home-based computers. We have fielded a number of calls about how to accomplish this, and are glad to send along the links to install your home computers to the current version. We can’t help much with setting up Remote Desktop aside from this general information, as it primarily involves adjusting your own computers and networks. But our hope is that this email finds you considering precautionary measures and gives you some guidance about how to go about the process of setting up for remote access.

If you have questions about what we’ve described, please contact us and we will answer them as best we are able. Our RPMS employees have been home-based and virtual for a number of years now, still functioning at a high level. I have no doubt that things are changing dramatically for all of you, and especially for your outside sales reps.

Our best to all of you during this difficult time. Stay safe, and stay healthy.