Unable to access shared drives after connecting NetExtender

06/28/2022 28 People found this article helpful 365,997 Views

Description

Windows Defender Firewall works to protect the Operating System and user data on the computer from improper or unapproved access, use, and possible infection. The software permits or denies programs on a computer from accessing network or internet resources.

Cause

Generally, the shared drives pass as SMB(Server Message block) traffic which is a network file sharing protocol. It requires protection from attacks in which a Windows computer might be tricked into contacting a malicious server that's running inside a trusted network or to a remote server outside the network perimeter.

So after get connected to the NetExtender, the Windows Defender on the office PC might consider the remote machine as untrusted so sometimes the SMB ports will be blocked on the Windows Defender.

Resolution

Go to Windows defender with advanced security settings|Inbound rules and click on new rule.
Click on port and click next
Click on TCP and enter the port 445 and click next
Allow the connection and click next.
Select all the profiles and click next.
Add a specific name to it and click Finish.
Now the specific TCP port 445 which is used for SMB traffic (shared drives or files) is allowed and the remote machines can access the shared files or drives on the office machines after getting connected to the NetExtender.