Remote support
for mission-critical environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about PC-Duo Remote Support Software.

1. What is PC-Duo and who is it designed for?
   PC-Duo is a highly trusted, award-winning remote control solution by Vector Networks with over 30 years of proven deployment. It provides secure, fast, and reliable remote access to PCs, servers, thin clients, and VDI desktops. PC-Duo is specifically engineered for organizations operating in security-sensitive and mission-critical environments, including banks, hospitals, manufacturing plants, law firms, military organisations, courts, and federal police departments.
2. What security features does PC-Duo include?
   PC-Duo is built from the ground up with security as the primary design principle. It includes end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption, multi-factor authentication with out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Azure Active Directory, Windows and shared-secret authentication, SSL certificate authentication, LDAPS for encrypted Active Directory look-ups, IP address restrictions, customizable access rights policies, and stealth mode access. This layered security model is designed to satisfy the strictest compliance regimes.
3. What is the PC-Duo Gateway and why does it matter for enterprise deployments?
   The PC-Duo Gateway Server is a centralized server application that facilitates administration, network access, and security management for large numbers of remote and virtual desktops, both inside and outside the corporate network. It enables firewall-friendly connections without requiring port forwarding or VPN changes, supports Active Directory synchronization for organized device management, provides centralized authorization policies, and includes real-time activity reporting and centralized screen recording. For enterprise environments, the Gateway is the cornerstone of secure, scalable remote support.
4. What are the PC-Duo Express and Gateway editions?
   PC-Duo Express is the entry-level edition, delivering core remote control, file transfer, remote management, and security features including 256-bit AES encryption and customizable authorization. The Gateway edition builds on this with the full PC-Duo Gateway Server, adding centralized administration, firewall-friendly connections, Active Directory synchronization, 2-factor authentication, LDAPS, SSL authentication, centralized screen recording, real-time audit reports, and support for Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, virtual servers, and thin clients. Both editions include the PC-Duo Master console and Deployment Tool. View pricing to compare editions.
5. Does PC-Duo support thin clients and VDI environments?
   Yes. PC-Duo has unique, purpose-built capabilities for virtual and thin client environments. It supports Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop, Microsoft Terminal Services, VMware ESX, Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Wyse thin clients. The PC-Duo Terminal Services Host is a server-side component that provides remote access to virtual desktops with no bandwidth or CPU impact on thin client machines, a key differentiator for organizations running large VDI estates.
6. Can PC-Duo connect through firewalls without VPN or port forwarding?
   Yes. The PC-Duo Gateway architecture enables traversal of complex firewall configurations without requiring port forwarding or opening a VPN. This means IT teams can reach remote desktops outside the corporate network securely and reliably, without making changes to network or security settings, which is a critical requirement for organisations supporting distributed workforces or remote infrastructure.
7. How does PC-Duo's session recording support security compliance?
   PC-Duo's centralized session recording captures one or more remote desktop sessions concurrently, even when no active Remote Control connection is in progress. Recordings can be played back via the Gateway, a local file, or an HTML5 player, and converted to WMV format for use in any media player. A Recording Retention Guard prevents deletion of recordings, supporting compliance regulations. Combined with real-time activity reports and customizable audit reports, PC-Duo provides an accurate and complete audit trail for every remote session.
8. What remote management tools are built into PC-Duo?
   PC-Duo includes a comprehensive suite of remote management tools available in both editions. These cover hardware and software inventory, system settings, shared resources, user and group account management, process management, Windows service control, registry editing, power management (including reboot, shutdown, and safe mode restart with networking), and Windows Event Log access. Mass deployment and automated Host updates via Active Directory Group Policy are also included, making PC-Duo a complete endpoint management platform alongside its remote control capabilities.
9. What operating systems and platforms does PC-Duo support?
   PC-Duo supports a broad range of platforms. On the Microsoft side, it supports all versions of Windows desktop and Windows Server currently supported by Microsoft. macOS and Linux are supported in both editions with limited VNC Server-based access. The Gateway edition additionally supports virtual servers (Citrix XenServer, VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V), virtual desktops (Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, Microsoft Terminal Services), and thin clients including Wyse terminals and Pano boxes.
10. What support and purchasing options are available for PC-Duo?
    Vector Networks offers dedicated support for PC-Duo customers, including onboarding assistance, technical support, and regular product updates. To explore which edition is right for your organisation, view our pricing plans or schedule a demo to see PC-Duo in action. Our team is ready to help you find the right fit for your environment.