Does BankID work with an Oslo desktop?
Yes. BankID authentication is completed through the BankID app on your phone or a code device, not on the desktop itself. When you log in to your bank, Altinn or NAV from the Oslo desktop, you confirm the login on your phone as usual. The desktop simply provides a consistent Norwegian IP and a secure Windows environment. BankID never leaves your phone. Many Norwegians abroad find this combination makes routine tasks much smoother. BankID on mobile works even when you are travelling, as long as your phone has a connection.
What does intrusion prevention protect against?
Intrusion prevention measures on the Oslo network monitor traffic for suspicious patterns, such as repeated login attempts, port scans and known attack signatures, and block them before they reach your desktop. This reduces exposure to automated attacks that target remote desktops across the internet. You should still use strong passwords, keep Windows updated and consider restricting RDP access to your own IP addresses. Together, these measures provide solid security for everyday use. Brute-force attacks on RDP are among the most common threats, and blocking them at the network edge is very effective.
How does the 99.9 percent uptime guarantee work?
The Tier III+ facility and redundant infrastructure are designed to keep your desktop available at least 99.9 percent of the time, which allows only minimal downtime over a month. If the service falls below this level due to infrastructure issues, you may be eligible for service credits under our terms. Most Oslo users go months without noticing a single interruption. Maintenance, when needed, is planned to minimise disruption. The Tier III+ design means planned maintenance rarely affects customer systems.
Can I hard reboot my desktop myself?
Yes. On-demand hard reboots are available, allowing you to restart a frozen desktop immediately through our client area or by contacting support. This is useful if an application locks up Windows and you cannot log in to restart normally. A hard reboot is equivalent to pressing the power button, so any unsaved work is lost; use it only when a normal restart is not possible. It is particularly useful when a Windows update hangs during restart. Any open documents should be saved first where possible.
Which size suits a small Norwegian business?
For a small business using Tripletex, Fiken or PowerOffice in the browser, together with email, Office and the occasional Altinn submission, the four-core size with 8 GB of memory is comfortable for one or two users. If several employees log in at the same time, or you use desktop accounting software alongside many browser tabs, choose a six- or eight-core size on Windows Server and license Remote Desktop Services appropriately. Seasonal businesses, such as tourism companies in the fjords, can upgrade for the summer peak and step down again in autumn without losing data or their Norwegian IP.
Is Oslo hosting environmentally friendly?
Very. Norway generates almost all of its electricity from hydropower, one of the cleanest energy sources available, and the cool climate means data centres need less energy for cooling than those in warmer countries. A desktop in Oslo therefore has a much smaller carbon footprint than one hosted on a fossil-fuel-heavy grid. Companies that publish sustainability reports or answer environmental questions from clients can point to this, and individuals simply get the satisfaction of knowing their remote computer runs on renewable power. Performance and pricing are unaffected, so the environmental benefit comes at no extra cost.
Can I type æ, ø and å on an Oslo desktop?
Yes. Add Norwegian Bokmål or Nynorsk in the Windows language settings and the Norwegian keyboard places æ, ø and å exactly where Norwegians expect them, with a keyboard shortcut to swap back to English. If you connect from abroad on a Spanish or American laptop, choose the Norwegian layout inside the remote session and the letters will type correctly regardless of the labels on your keys. The whole interface can also be switched to Norwegian for family members or colleagues. This matters when filling in NAV forms, writing to Skatteetaten or corresponding with Norwegian clients, where names and addresses must be spelled correctly.
How quickly is my Oslo desktop ready?
Provisioning is automatic and normally completes within minutes of payment; the Norwegian IP, Administrator account and a temporary password are emailed to you straight away. Because Oslo is a new location on our site, send our team a short note before ordering so we can confirm capacity. After your first login, change the password, install updates and add the tools you need, such as your bank's recommended browser, Office or Tripletex in the browser. Norwegians abroad often set the desktop up in April, before the tax return deadline, so that BankID logins to Skatteetaten are tested in good time.
