Managed service providers operate on a MUCH different scale than internal IT pros. A front-line technician at an MSP could be supporting dozens of different client environments in a single day, each with their own unique device mix, security needs, and services level expectations. An MSP needs a remote desktop platform capable of handling that much load without issue and must have tools that enable technicians to work fast and securely across every client relationship they manage.
In this guide to the seven platforms that impact how MSPs operate, Splashtop is covered first because it is so on-target, directly addressing the needs of this audience.
Splashtop
Splashtop has carved out its own niche in the MSP space, and once you scratch beneath the surface of its features, it’s easy to see why. Currently, a platform that supports remote access and remote support across Windows, Mac, Linux on mobile with iOS and Android provides technicians the flexibility to service whatever device mix a client environment happens to use. For remote desktop software for MSPs, the combination of session quality, security controls, and pricing that scales sensibly with technician count is what separates a genuinely MSP-ready tool from one that merely supports business use cases.
The management console from Splashtop provides a way for MSPs to see active sessions taking place as well as device inventories and user permissions across the client accounts. MSPs can use role-based access controls to determine which technicians have access to which client systems, and session recording provides a paper trail that resonates with clients aware of compliance-related pressures. The unattended access functionality is suited for MSPs working on routine, low-impact maintenance or patch deployments that typically would not warrant any interruption to a client end user.
ConnectWise ScreenConnect
ScreenConnect has been in the MSP channel for a long time and remains one of the most recognizable names. This licensing model better aligns with how managed service providers (MSPs) want to structure tech access, specifically enabling many dozens of technicians across multiple client environments to access the subhost interfaces simultaneously while avoiding unpredictable per-seat costs. White-label branding is a common feature, allowing MSPs to have customers encounter the remote support experience under their owned brand instead of that of a third-party tool.
ScreenConnect embeds deeply into the overall ConnectWise ecosystem (including PSA and RMM), making it a great match for MSPs that have already standardized on that stack. Even for MSPs outside the ConnectWise ecosystem, the platform works well on its own, though much of its value comes from that tighter integration.
NinjaOne Remote
NinjaOne Remote is included in the overall NinjaOne RMM platform, and for MSPs already using NinjaOne for monitoring and management, the remote access component eases the transition when switching between separate tools. Sessions starting from within the same console as endpoint monitoring, ticketing and reporting keeps technician workflows intact.
The platform has diagnostic tooling that surfaces device data and running processes for live sessions, supports Windows and macOS. This speeds up troubleshooting by giving technicians immediate access to the data they need to resolve issues quickly. The case for adopting NinjaOne solely for remote access is not very compelling to MSPs that are not already in the NinjaOne ecosystem but, if those customers are also NinjaOne users, the integration is a real operational benefit.
Any technology an MSP introduces into a client’s environment becomes part of that client’s broader technology supply chain, and that carries real weight. Government guidance on ICT supply chain security outlines how vulnerabilities introduced through third-party vendors, including managed service providers themselves, can affect every downstream user of a given technology or service. MSPs evaluating their own tool stack, including remote desktop software, should apply the same scrutiny to their vendors that they expect their clients to apply to them.
Kaseya VSA
Kaseya VSA takes an all-in-one approach for MSPs, combining remote control with RMM automation so technicians can manage patching, scripting, and remote sessions from a single console rather than juggling separate tools across a client base. The automation layer allows MSPs to script routine maintenance tasks across large batches of endpoints instead of handling each device individually.
For MSPs managing many client environments at once, Kaseya VSA’s strength shows most clearly at scale, where automation and multi-client tooling offset the platform’s steeper learning curve and setup complexity. Smaller MSPs or those supporting just a handful of clients may find the platform more infrastructure than their day-to-day operations actually require.
RemotePC
For MSPs, the switch to RemotePC comes down to cost efficiency in device-based pricing. MSPs managing high endpoint counts spread across lots of different clients can see real financial benefit from device-based pricing instead of per-technician fees. The platform runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and many mobile devices, with built-in file transfer, remote printing and always-on access as standard features.
Where RemotePC falls short compared to MSP-specific platforms is multi-client management and PSA integration that larger MSP operations pair with their remote control tool of choice. For smaller MSPs, or those managing a reasonably-sized client base, those savings can far exceed that gap. When the number of entities on the administrator, with many considerably different client environments, is larger, a more generic tool starts to see more and more work become needed as the business continues to scale.
Understanding the underlying architecture that MSPs are responsible for securing is foundational to doing the job well. A grounding in computer network fundamentals, including how local and wide area networks are structured and connected, gives MSP technicians and account managers a shared vocabulary for discussing client environments, diagnosing issues, and explaining technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders.
AnyViewer
With free and paid options, AnyViewer is ideal for small MSPs or independent IT consultants managing just a few clients. Platforms: Windows, iOS. Supported OSCore remote control and file transfer functionality without a subscription commitment at the entry-level.
AnyViewer limitations are quickly revealed for MSPs that have any meaningful scale. It does not include centralized multi-client management, white-label branding, PSA integration or that level of compliance-focused audit logging, the type of customers that are most worried about compliance expect from their service providers. Think of the platform more like a starting point for early stage MSP operations rather than a long term choice.
TsPlus
This specialized niche is TsPlus which most MSPs stumble upon when working with legacy Windows applications that require remote access without a complete application rebuild. Providing both cloud and on-premises deployment, session-based access, two-factor authentication and marketed as a lower-cost alternative to Citrix for Windows application publishing scenarios.
TsPlus is not a generic remote support tool for the common MSP (managed service provider) in the way the rest of this list is. Its approximate relevance hinges entirely on whether the client environment includes a legacy Windows application delivery conundrum like the one that TsPlus is designed to remedy. Instead of building a default tool in their larger stack, MSPs should assess it on a case-by-case basis with each customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes some remote desktop tools more suitable for MSP use?
The main differentiators are multi-client management, role-based access control that allows MSPs to restrict technician access based on client needs, integration with PSA and RMM platforms, white-label branding capabilities, and licensing models that scale reasonably per tech rather than the costly per-device rates often seen across multiple managed environments. Audit logging and session recording are becoming increasingly important because clients want a record of how their systems were accessed.
When evaluating a remote desktop offering, what should MSPs do to assess a vendor’s security posture?
MSPs must review the vendor encryption standards, authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication and single sign-on support, compliance certifications related to their target customers and the vendors’ own history on vulnerability disclosure and patching. As a result, the MSP also assumes responsibility for any vulnerabilities associated with those remote desktop tools, since the tools themselves are integrated into the technology stack that the MSP manages in every client environment.
Is it better for an MSP to standardize on one remote desktop tool or use different tools for different clients?
Standardizing on a single, well-chosen platform typically means lower operational complexity, easier training for technicians and better terms with the vendor as consumption scales. There are some edge cases where an MSP keeps a second tool available to support legacy applications, but ultimately, running multiple remote access tools across the same client base provides more administrative overhead and security variance than it does in terms of true flexibility.
