UnParallel data access and protection
When protecting organisational data and information you need a solution to allow users access without restricting their ability to perform …
Starting at $120 per year per user
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What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS, formerly 2X RAS), is application virtualization technology, billed as a solution to extend the life of legacy OS (like Windows XP) with its virtual desktop for any device. Maltese company 2X Software developed the technology,…
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- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $120 per year per user
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What is Parallels RAS?
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is a remote work solution that provides secure virtual access to business applications and desktops on any device or OS—from anywhere. The platform offers an agile, cloud-ready foundation and end-to-end security fueled by a centralized management console with granular policies. Companies can leverage on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud deployments and integrate with existing technology like Microsoft Azure and AWS. Parallels RAS aims to give organizations the flexibility, scalability, and IT agility to adapt to changing business needs. Parallels RAS offers a single, full-featured licensing model that includes 24/7 support and access to product training. The vendor states its key benefits include:
- User experience—work from anywhere, on any device.
- Enhanced data security and compliance—centralized management console with granular policies.
- IT agility and business readiness—flexible hosting solutions to scale and adapt.
- Total cost of ownership—supports BYOD and includes a simple licensing model.
- Always-on support—access to 24/7 support and training at no additional cost.
Parallels RAS Features
- Supported: Advanced access controls: Secures corporate data with a client group policy in the Parallels RAS Console. Centrally manages and controls access by user, group, or device.
- Supported: Multifactor authentication: Requires users to authentication access via two-factor or smart card authentication. Parallels RAS also integrates with third-party security solutions.
- Supported: Encryption protocols: Parallels RAS Secure Gateway supports SSL and FIPS 140-2 encryption, helping organizations adhere to data compliance policies such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
- Supported: Centralized monitoring: Transforms raw data into custom visual reports to show traffic and resource usage from network infrastructure. Centrally monitors day-to-day user activities.
Parallels RAS Screenshots
Parallels RAS Videos
This video shows how to deploy virtual apps and desktops via Parallels RAS in Azure by using Parallels RAS in the Azure Marketplace. This is a fast way to create a proof of concept (POC) or test environment.
This video demonstrates the steps an administrator takes within the Parallels RAS Console to successfully deliver services to end users via Amazon EC2.
Parallels RAS themes allow an organization to transform what the user sees when they access resources delivered via Parallels RAS. For example, custom branding (white labeling) can be applied, a custom URL can be set for the end user, and access can be locked down to specific ...
Show More MSIX app attach is an Azure Virtual Desktop feature. It provides application modernization, improves application lifecycle management, and reduces hardware footprint and IT management overhead by using fewer templates.
Parallels RAS brings MSIX app attach technology to RDSH,...
Show More Automated certificate management with Let's Encrypt integration.
Parallels RAS includes cloud cost-reduction capabilities, including autoscaling, power management, and automated image optimization. Parallels RAS adds more cost-reduction measures by extending cost-saving capabilities to storage.
When the virtual machine (VM) is not running...
Show More Parallels RAS Integrations
Parallels RAS Competitors
Parallels RAS Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, Mac, Windows Server 2008R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2022, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11 |
| Mobile Application | Android, Mobile Web, iPadOS |
| Supported Languages | English, German, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean |
Parallels RAS Downloadables
Frequently Asked Questions
Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS, formerly 2X RAS), is application virtualization technology, billed as a solution to extend the life of legacy OS (like Windows XP) with its virtual desktop for any device.
Maltese company 2X Software developed the technology, but was acquired by Parallels (in Seattle, WA) in February, 2015 to extend their cross-platform support solutions.
Parallels RAS starts at $120.
Citrix DaaS, VMware Horizon, and VMware Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure are common alternatives for Parallels RAS.
Reviewers rate Availability highest, with a score of 9.6.
The most common users of Parallels RAS are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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(240)Attribute Ratings
Reviews
(1-25 of 87)Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
August 31, 2023
Easy to deploy and use, good end user experience
We provided hosted solutions to our customers, primarily moving their on-prem environments to the cloud.
- Simple User GUI
- easy to support
- quick to deploy
- support turn around could be quicker
August 30, 2023
Parallels Remote Application Server - it just works.
We have been using Parallels Remote Application Server on a small scale for a number of years to allow partner organizations securely access resources. With Covid-19, we had dozen of requests per day for remote work and since we had Parallels already, all we had to do was to expand Parallels Remote Application Server capacity and everything worked smoothly.
- Force specific browser
- VDI management
- supports a variety of Operating systems
- Shadow of remote sessions
- Health Check on client OS - allow only supported OS if above certain patch level
August 30, 2023
easy and cost effective Solution for Home Office activities
We use Parallels Remote Application Server (Parallels RAS) to easily connect from internal or external to our server farm. We had to make a decision because of the corona crisis and we had to look for a easy solution for home office activities. So we decided to work with Parallels RAS because it has a good pricing and it is easy to configure.
- secure connection
- multiscreen
- connect policies for different departments
- configuring multi factor authentication for third party products was a little bit difficult
- teams integration
- redirection of camera and microphone from applications
August 29, 2023
Parallels RAS provides a cost effective user experience.
We use parallels to provide virtual desktop infrastructure to our users. This enables them to be more flexible when working. Set up and administration of parallels is pretty straightforward and support is generally pretty responsive if you have any issues. Parallels will also allow your users to connect to other company resources such as terminal apps.
- Connection broker
- Remote app server
- Administration
- Better thin client support
- Improvements to "shell" mode
- Ease of use for users
August 22, 2023
Very good product - poor sales and renewal experience
We use it to host our in house developed primary LoB applications as remote apps for our users. This allows us to centrally manage and control access, configurations, and usage of these applications. Parallels RAS has really developed over the 7-8 years I have been using it across several versions and a couple of re-deployments/migrations. It is a solid product for our needs.
- Ease of application publishing
- Secure remote gateway and integrations
- Robust and redundancy can be built in
- Wide range of platform support and use cases
- Product support has been good when needed
- Licensing, our perpetual license was forcefully removed from us after 8 years without warning, causing a doubling of the price, after providing a signed sales quote for renewal through our VAR. Parallels sales team did not seem to care, and was willing to throw away a customer who used their services for nearly a decade, and throw our VAR under the bus.
- continued addition of new features for existing platforms, not just a focus on the hot new cloud offerings.
August 21, 2023
Positive Experience
We use Parallels Remote Application Server across the whole company and for quicker remote connections from China. The problem that I was experiencing was that when our employees in China tried to RDP into our servers in the USA, the screen would paint line by line. It was possible but it was slow. After hearing about Parallels 2X, I thought I would try. The user experience is much smoother and our users are very satisfied.
- Just much faster than standard Microsoft RDP
- Screen stopped freezing
- I don't see any for our usage
August 21, 2023
Parallels Remote Application Server is our go-to Citrix replacement because of it's easy implementation and security options (SAML)
We are an MSP Provider, we use Parallels Remote Application Server in our own Workload but also provide it to customers. Ranging from small use cases up to 200+ user deployments. The main reason we switched to Parallels Remote Application Server coming from its competitor was its ease of deployment and its security options. Especially when SAML MFA came into the picture we increased our deployments.
- SAML Integration
- Customization
- High Availability
- We had a bug present for many months before a fix was implemented
- Better integration with Azure functionality would be a plus
May 04, 2023
Easy to use with great value
Parallels Remote Application Server is an application and desktop
solution that allows users to access their applications / data from any device. The Cost is lower than some other offerings available. Enabled us to transition to home working during the pandemic allowing for both windows and mac users to connect with centralized application management, reducing the overhead to manage it
- Central Management
- Secure
- Low Cost
- Initial Setup is complex
- Slow to support new vcenters
- Reporting
October 27, 2022
Progressive Platform for Remote Management.
Parallels Remote is resourceful in managing different processes remotely, where there are systematic approaches for file and systems sharing. Besides, Parallels Remote includes the functionality of the different database, where realistic compliance mechanisms and measures are highly utilized. More so, Parallels Remote increases the direct communications that individuals have, which is a professional way of bringing new ideas to the business. Finally, content zipping and accurate data encryption are handled by the program.
- Practical data encryption, which increases safety.
- Speedy customer help, which brings progress and more satisfaction.
- The productivity of every employee, whether they work in any location through remote system access.
- Parallels Remote has an aggressive systems request and this calls for extra machines.
- Parallels Remote has a price challenge, which demands some businesses to invest heavily.
- Other features from Parallels Remote are perfect and useful.
October 27, 2022
Sustainable and Efficient Remote Enhancement Platform.
Parallels Remote is extensive in ensuring various operations are accurately managed and handled remotely, which brings the teamwork together, and supports the productivity of the company. More so, Parallels Remote has inclined the coordination with different IT programs, where smooth and supported integration are well enhanced. Besides, Parallels Remote provides perfect end to end lock or encryption of data, where advanced analytics is well conducted.
- Parallels Remote provides an extensive and resourceful user experience.
- Parallels Remote increases the support offered by the customer desk.
- The data support, compliance and consolidation are managed by Parallels Remote.
- Parallels Remote is quite stable, but it also calls for extra machines and systems.
- Parallels Remote is fruitful to different companies, but small enterprises are slightly ignored.
- However, Parallels Remote has perfected the remote access procedure or act.
October 20, 2022
Substantial Virtual Support Program.
Parallels Remote ensures all the applications and business details are virtually accessed, where it offers a secure cloud space for any device or operating system. More so, Parallels Remote ensures users can work while in any locality, as accessing desktops and applications is made virtual. Again, Parallels Remote focus on data security, where standard compliance mechanisms are well deployed to strengthen the privacy that businesses need.
- Parallels Remote has absolute data compliance and security.
- Besides, Parallels Remote has virtual work system, which gives more collaboration.
- The tool is IT prepared, where credible integration is well enhanced.
- The price demands that Parallels Remote requires is hefty.
- The new users experience may take a while.
- However, Parallels Remote is quality in its performance and there is the free training.
October 12, 2022
Parallels RAS has more than delivered on our expectations
We have many customers (mostly banks and mortgage companies) who use our software. One of the biggest headaches we have is installing our software on-premises and interacting with different organizations IT departments. Parallels Remote Application Server allows these customers to have access to our Windows applications without needing to install them on their machines, essentially allowing us to host our products and services in the cloud. It reduces our customer's costs and provides our company with another revenue stream.
- Host applications in the cloud
- Allow access to applications regardless of platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Excellent security & access filtering
- Difficult setup for single sign on
- IP filtering for customers using Parallels client has some issues (with workarounds)
September 22, 2022
Parallels Ras Review.
The use case is always the same: A simple way to set up application publishing for a company Problems that arise sometimes is good file integration ( like Awingu ), so users can up and download files in a much simpler way than now.
- Html5 gateway.
- Simplicity of installing/managing.
- Compatibility
- File transfers in the html5 interface.
- Clipboard transfers in the html5 interface.
September 15, 2022
Does what it needs to do.
We use Parallels to distribute Windows applications to several thousand users worldwide in a cloud-based environment. Users needed to access Windows-based apps from multiple networks over the Internet, on machines where software may or may not be possible to deploy, so a web-based interface was a must. Printing is also a major portion of those custom applications, so printing functions need to be absolutely seamless and fully featured across all sorts of devices for users in very varied environments.
- The printing driver is quite excellent, both in the Parallels Client and on the HTML5 client.
- Setup is incredibly easy; the default setup is very functional, and adding features is a breeze.
- Speed is very acceptable in general for end-users, the clients adapt quite well to the amount of bandwidth available, and features are available to adjust further.
- Automation through PowerShell is great.
- Support is usually quite fast and efficient.
- Lots of undocumented error codes, and documentation, in general, is often lacking and often very outdated for RAS specifically.
- Upgrades between versions are sometimes flaky; lots of testing is needed to ensure you have a functional gateway after an upgrade.
- The Parallels console is generally quite good, but some changes are applied instantly, but others are applied after confirmation with no real feedback to the administrator.
September 09, 2022
When the product speaks for itself!
We use RAS for delivering our SAAS software in North America. Since our software is developed on Microsoft technologies, we always felt we were missing out on the opportunities for macOS or Linux users. Implementing RAS allowed us to increase our market share.
- Support is Top Notch!
- Easy to configure policies
- Easy Sync with AD
- UI, could be better. Specially for HTML clients.
- Interaction with end-user file system is very combursome and does not allow easy access.
September 07, 2022
Very Happy with Parallels Remote Application Server
We use Parallels Remote Application Server to deploy legacy fat-client applications to our remote users. The applications are bandwidth-intensive, so deploying them in this way allowed us to provide access over a VPN and solve the significant lag and crashing that had been happening previously. It immediately added tremendous value and end-user satisfaction.
- Simplify access.
- Setup is easy compared to Citrix.
- Very stable and reliable.
- I honestly cannot think of any.
August 30, 2022
Simple to configure and use
We sell and support Sybiz ERP and Payroll software. We have Sybiz users who needed to upgrade their infrastructure but were put off by the projected costs. We configured our own Azure server with the Parallels image and now provide those resources to 12 client entities. We provide their users with published apps via the Parallels client. Our Azure server has 20 to 30 users connected most days.
- Published apps
- Local printers
- Support
- It just seems to work
August 17, 2022
A solid product for a good price, but support is mediocre
At first it was used as a Call Center application suite, so that our call center users could connect to their apps via thin clients, which worked very well and cut down the maintenance overhead for our support team. As we migrated more and more servers to AWS, we needed a way for some departments to run their apps at the proper speed, as the network connection between us and AWS was too slow to support the programs locally. Parallels became the go to for any apps that required heavy network traffic, as the Parallels app could be run in the same AWS region as the one hosting the app server, basically creating a local network in a remote location.
- Very easy to set up
- Works well with profile redirection
- Easy to switch servers in and out of service, for easy maintenance.
- In switching servers in and out of service, it would be nice if Parallels migrated the user session immediately to an available server. As it is, you need to wait for them to close their apps before they are out of the old server, or kick them out, which ends their session. (Note : I am still on version 16, so this may be a thing now)
- I've found that Parallels needs to be set up with the HTTPS cert directly on the app in order to host secure traffic for the HTML5 site. Would be nice if it allowed HTTPS traffic to be sent to it via the load balancer, so the cert can be managed there instead.
August 12, 2022
Parallels Remote Application Server - it works every time!
We have different versions of certain applications that need to be available all at once - streaming these via Parallels Remote Application Server has provided the flexibility needed to meet our SLA. Additionally, certain web applications need a certain browser to work correctly and having the ability to force the browser to open the application has been invaluable to us.
- OS independent; work from various devices
- Does not need a plugin to work as it works in HTML5 just fine
- Redundancy model using HALB
- VDI out of the box without the need for additional software
- Ability to Shadow sessions
- Ability to better finger print client OS and version and deny access if client OS is obsolete. This worked in windows 7 but in windows 10 - it does not detect os level
- Ability to customize the GUI/frontend more than currently possible
August 12, 2022
Goodbye Citrix.... hello Parallels Remote Application Server
We use Parallels Remote Application Server in multiple ways. The first use is for our remote works, allowing them to secure access to our networks with little fuss. The biggest things for us are the ease of security and also the ease of access. It feels like a great combination of secure but simple. Sometimes simpler is better!
- Simple RDP / Application access
- Setup is a breeze compared to competitors
- Simple layout for management
- In constant development
- I feel it could give more options in the Parallels Remote Application Server client around connection settings
- Personally not a fan of the default settings applied to some settings
- Parallels Remote Application Server tenant broker could be better sign posted
We use Parallels Remote Application Server internally and for multiple clients to provide an easy and secure remote access method for end users. It allows users with limited technical ability to be able to access secure corporate systems from a variety of different device types, usually with little to no setup assistance from a technician.
- It's versatile - can be accessed from almost any device.
- It's secure - it gives administrators the ability to only allow users remote access to applications they need.
- It allows for a flexible deployment model with redundancy .
- The initial design and setup takes some time to work out.
- The name recognition for users outside the IT field is limited; they are more familiar with competing products.
- Technical support is not always as responsive as they could be when there are issues.
August 02, 2022
Parallels RAS saved our bacon
We used and advised clients to use it for centralized access to our general ledger software, line of business apps, and files.
- Access from anywhere with an Internet connection.
- Easy to manage.
- Excellent price/performance.
- Managing non-standard printers (large format - KIP printers, HP plotters.
- Easier setup for MFA.
- Easier setup for non-standard display sizes.
We use Parallels Remote Application Server to replace Citrix Servers and deliver a simple yet powerful tool to our end users for running published applications and accessing network resources from either mobile platforms or from other locations that are offsite. We found it simpler to get up and running and much less expensive than Citrix.
- Printing from published applications.
- Easy to set up and keep running.
- We would like to be able to do what we do with Citrix published ICA files—essentially free-standing configurations that once ran function like a local application while they log in (in the background).
July 27, 2022
Parallels is awesome for what it is for
We use it as a remote access tool for users to access our resources away from the hospital. It gives them the ability to remote into their desktop as well as let us publish single apps instead of having to give access to the whole network. It combines those tools into one central interface that is pretty easy to learn.
- It is great for creating remote desktops
- Publishing single Applications
- easy to use administrator console
- Requires that a client is installed on your PC
- VDI's built in Parallels crash sometimes requiring us to rebuild them
One of our major clients uses Parallels Remote Application Server and has over 500+ end users. The software allowed simplified deployment and management of custom Apps including security group management and granular personalization based on user login. This addresses the problem of requiring each remote desktop server previously have non-standard apps installed with no standard build. It was previously a major headache when patch Tuesday came around. Parallels Remote Application Server solved that! We reviewed the customer's requirements both internal Lan-based customers and those working remotely We investigated the large number of out of the box and custom and often ageing applications and found that all of them were easily deployed and managed by Parallels.
- Remote Access when Network Down
- Mobile Application is amazing
- Centralised management of remote applications
- Granular configuration of user properites
- Iphone App graphics a bit lacking
- More Customised Reporting
- Support Team pre-testing of Microsoft apps to assess impact