Security providers - Devolutions Documentation

The Security Provider allows for encrypting the data source content. To access the security provider, navigate to Administration – Security Provider.

This feature requires an advanced data source.

Regardless of the selected security provider, passwords stored in data sources are ALWAYS encrypted using AES 256 bit encryption.

When configuring a Certificate Security Provider in a published app environment (Citrix, RemoteApp, XenApp) as a Security Provider, the user who will run Remote Desktop Manager in the RemoteApp environment (Citrix) will require a Read permission on the certificate.

If the Read permission is not correctly set, Remote Desktop Manager generates the CryptographicException - Keyset does not exist error dialog. Follow Certificate Security Provider in a Published app Environment to resolve the issue.

Using a security provider ensures that nobody can read entries configuration data, even when people have a direct access to the database(s) or a backup. Shared data sources should always be secured with a security provider.

Prior to applying a new or changing an existing security provider, make sure that every users are disconnected from the data source. If you are changing an existing Shared Passphrase or Certificate, please note that users will get back access to the data source when they enter the new Shared Passphrase or Certificate on their computer.

Settings

Note that changing a security provider on a data source with a great number of entries is a lengthy operation.

Applying a new security provider does process the entire database, therefore we advise you to create a backup prior to this operation.

Go to Administration – Security provider in the ribbon of Remote Desktop Manager.
Click on Change security settings to change the security provider.
Security provider
Select a security type from the drop-down list.
Security type

Click on Change security settings to change the security provider.
Security provider - Change security settings
Select your new security type from the drop down menu.
Security provider - Security type

OPTION	DESCRIPTION
Default	The XML content stored in the database is not encrypted by default. Please note that the passwords are always encrypted.
Shared passphrase (V2)	The security provider encrypts the XML content stored in the database using AES with a passphrase mixed to a private key. The passphrase will be asked once on each machine.
Shared passphrase (V3)	The security provider encrypts the XML content stored in the database with a passphrase. The passphrase will be asked one on each machine.
Certificate	Set up a Certificate for the Security Provider. Requires elevated privileges.
Certificate (V2)	The security provider encrypts the XML content stored in the database using the private key of a certificate.
Keyfile	The security provider encrypts the XML content stored in the database using a keyfile provided by you.

Shared Passphrase

If the passphrase is lost, nothing that can be done to recover the data. When using a passphrase, always copy it to a secure location.

Entries configuration data is encrypted using a mix of a key stored in Remote Desktop Manager and the passphrase you have entered.

The passphrase is required only when configuring the data source. A policy can be enabled to always prompt for the passphrase when connecting to the data source.

When configuring a security provider with a shared passphrase, you have the choice of whether or not you wish to save it in the registry. Remote Desktop Manager will try first to save it on the LOCAL_MACHINE, if unable it will save it in the CURRENT_USER instead.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\RemoteDesktopManager.shk
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RemoteDesktopManager.shk

If the option is not enabled, then the passphrase is saved locally at the following location:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Devolutions\RemoteDesktopManager.shk

In a Terminal Services environment, it should be saved at this location:

%APPDATA%\Devolutions\RemoteDesktopManager.shk

In a portable installation of Remote Desktop Manager, the passphrase will be saved at the same location as the portable Remote Desktop Manager instance.

Certificate

When choosing Certificate as Security Provider, entries configuration data is encrypted using a mix of a key stored in Remote Desktop Manager and the private key contained in the certificate.

OPTION	DESCRIPTION
Location	Indicate the certificate location. Select between: Current user Local machine
Store	Indicate the store location of the certificate. Select between: Other people Third-party root Certification authorities Intermediate vertification Untrusted vertificates Personal Trusted root certification authorities Trusted people Trusted publisher
Thumbprint	Select an existing RSA certificate.

Create Certificate

It is possible to create a Self Signed certificate by clicking on Create Certificate.

OPTION	DESCRIPTION
Common name	Name of the certificate.
Key size (bits)	Indicate the key size (bits) of the certificate. Select between: 384 512 1024 2048 4096 8192 16384
Valid from	Start date of the certificate.
Valid to	End date of the certificate.
Saving method	Save the certificate as a pfx file and secure this certificate with a password. Indicate the location and the store to save the certificate.
Password	Specify a certificate password.