Attended vs unattended access

Whether someone is present at the remote device to grant access (attended) or the device is reached with no user present via an installed agent (unattended).

What attended access is

Attended access means a person is sitting at the remote computer and approves the session. The operator asks to connect, the user sees a prompt naming who is asking, and nothing happens until they accept. It is the natural model for helpdesk and customer support: the user is there to describe the problem, watch what the operator does and end the session when the job is done.

Because the user makes the decision, the main risk is social engineering: a caller who talks someone into accepting. A good prompt therefore shows exactly who is connecting and what they will be able to do, and declines on its own if nobody answers.

What unattended access is

Unattended access means the computer can be reached with nobody at the keyboard. Software installed in advance keeps the machine reachable, and the operator authenticates with a credential set up beforehand. It suits servers, kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and office PCs that are administered out of hours.

Here the risk moves to the credential: anyone who holds it can connect without being seen. Unattended access should therefore use a strong secret per machine, a list of who may use it, and a log of every session.

How Vexaro Desk handles both

In Vexaro Desk, consent is the default. An incoming request shows the requester's device, account and 9-digit Vexaro ID, and the kind of session they want: view only, full control or file transfer. It is declined automatically if nobody answers, and during the session the user can take control away or disconnect.

Unattended access is a deliberate choice per machine. An administrator sets an access password, which is stored only as a one-way hash, and can restrict it to an allowlist of Vexaro IDs. The machine owner also chooses the default rights for new sessions: input, clipboard and file transfer. Unattended access is included from the Starter plan; the Free plan covers attended sessions.

Attended and unattended access compared

Attended and unattended access compared
	Attended	Unattended
Who is at the remote computer	A user who approves the session	Nobody needs to be
How access is granted	The user accepts each request	A credential set up in advance
Typical use	Helpdesk and customer support	Servers, kiosks, point-of-sale and after-hours administration
Main risk	A caller persuading the user to accept	A leaked or shared credential
In Vexaro Desk	Consent prompt, the default on every plan	Access password with an optional ID allowlist, from Starter

Set up unattended access in Vexaro Desk

Download the Windows client and install it on the machine. Use the installed version, not the portable copy.
The installed version runs as a Windows service that registers the machine when Windows starts and keeps the client up to date.
In Settings, set the machine's access password; changing it requires administrator rights.
Optionally, add the Vexaro IDs that may use the password, and choose the default rights for new sessions.
Connect from your own client with the machine's Vexaro ID and the access password.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between attended and unattended remote access?

Attended access needs a person at the remote computer to approve each session. Unattended access lets an operator connect with nobody present, using software installed and a credential set up in advance.

Is unattended access safe?

It is as safe as the credential and the controls around it: use a strong password per machine, limit who may use it, and keep a log of sessions. In Vexaro Desk the password is stored only as a one-way hash, can be limited to an allowlist of Vexaro IDs, and session starts and ends appear in the audit log on paid plans.

Does Vexaro Desk ask for consent by default?

Yes. A session needs the approval of the person at the computer unless the operator uses the machine's access password, which an administrator has to set first. A request that nobody answers is declined automatically.

Which Vexaro Desk plans include unattended access?

Unattended access is included from the Starter plan upward. The Free plan covers attended sessions: one operator, five devices and up to two sessions at a time, with up to five sessions a day of up to 30 minutes each.

See it in Vexaro Desk

Vexaro Desk brings attended and unattended access, NAT traversal, an adaptive codec engine and governance together in one console. It is in early access, and you can create a free account to try it.

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