Skip to main content
TrustRadius
Parallels RAS

Parallels RAS

Overview

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,…

Read more
Recent Reviews
Read all reviews

Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Reviewer Pros & Cons

View all pros & cons
Return to navigation

Pricing

View all pricing

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.parallels.com/products/ras/…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $120 per year per user
Return to navigation

Product Details

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

Screenshot of Parallels RAS supports on-premises, private and public cloud providers, including Azure and AWS, from a single console.Screenshot of The Parallels Web Client is accessible from any HTML5 browser or choose one of the many local clients.Screenshot of Parallels RAS integrates MSIX app attach for modern, dynamic app delivery.Screenshot of Parallels RAS supports multiple MFAs for security and flexibility.Screenshot of Integrated Let's Encrypt security certificates, to issue and manage certificates in Parallels RAS.Screenshot of Expression-based filtering makes it easier to set policies in the Parallels RAS.Screenshot of Visual reporting in the Parallels RAS Management Console is used to monitor and troubleshoot issues.

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 Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Linux, Mac, Windows Server 2008R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2022, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11
Mobile ApplicationAndroid, Mobile Web, iPadOS
Supported LanguagesEnglish, German, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean

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).
Return to navigation

Comparisons

View all alternatives
Return to navigation

Reviews and Ratings

(242)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(51-75 of 110)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
Waqas Anjum Akram Javid | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Parallels RAS can work with granular permission policies, multi-factor authentication, encryption, user access control, and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to secure the envoironment. This gives you an extra layer of protection for your Parallels account data against unauthorized access. This is particularly important if you are using remote computers with Parallels Access, or being an administrator of business account.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Parallels Remote Application Server provides a nice integration with Windows Active Directory which is the key identity of our organization. This integration helps us to simplify the control of user access to our app based on the pre-established AD groups that we already have. Also, with multi-factor authentication and SSL encryption, RAS adds another layer of secure access to our application and data.
Clint Rankin | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
PRAS can be set where end-users need to use 2-factor authentication in order to log into their accounts. Part of our security policy states this as a requirement. Having this set is essential to ensuring that even if someone were to gain an employee's password and attempted to log in, they would be halted at the prompt for 2-factor authentication. So many apps don't support 2-factor authentication, so it's a blessing that Parallels Remote Application Server does.
Tom Robertson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Policy-based permissions are very useful and easy to use for different user types and we are currently testing MFA with one client. Security and encryption abilities have helped us pass several audits. The company was also responsive to adding additional settings when one auditor gave us feedback.
Jason Chafin | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Combining Parallels RAS, with SSL, encryption, and multi-factor authentication is wonderful, because it allows us to stay in compliance with HIPAA when access SPI remotely. When combine with local firewall hardware and local firewall software, the layers of security continue to grow. Now add a few additional layers and what you now have is a highly secure and versatile solution for many different environments.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We run multitenancy RDS farms so being able to integrate with Active Directory to maintain our basic security setup was very important. We have had no issues with the ability to publish farms and apps based on security groups are able to divide up our resources into secure collections exactly as we did before. The user access control levels are excellent. Implement SSL certificates on the login portal was incredibly easy as well. The integrated password reset functions for end-users work much better than Microsoft's own reset functionality. Once we go fully live with it, we will look at MFA. In testing the parallels implementation is easy enough to use that its actually a possibility for our client base now.
Jorge Acopa Galera | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Active directory integration with Parallels RAS helped us to use the same accounts we already have on our AD, so all the user policies and restrictions can be set based on AD users and groups in a very granular way, all our communications are sent thru SSL encrypted data. In case we need to restrict access it's easy to disable or delete user account in AD users and computers.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We audit every logon, application launch, and file access throughout the organization as part of company policy (we are healthcare non-profit). Parallels Remote Application Server also allows us to separately log and record application access, launch, and use for granular auditing. It's easy integration with other tools also allows our central alerting system to pick up and monitor it.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
One of the primary reasons that I invested the money in the product was for this reason. The product is only as good as the implementation IT persons skills. 12/17/17 we were hit with a Crypto because the IT person didn't "close" a backdoor.
Udo Janssen | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
In particular, the out-of-the-box presets for the secure provision of the Parallels RAS environment have been solved well. "Free" HA load balancers virtual appliances are offered for external publication. The connection of countless 2FA solutions is easily realized.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We provide access to users via AD groups. This access is a privilege and not granted to all users. SSL and encryption are deployed to provide the necessary security for the organization. We do not have multi-factor authentication.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
No breaches related to remote access using Parallels to date.

We use remote Mac computers in guest mode so no client data is stored on the remote computers. Many are exposed to the public and could be easily stolen. Using a terminal server enables us to keep all client and corporate data in our locked server room while providing access to the data from anywhere.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Previously we would have exposed a large number of ports at the DMZ/Border level. With the implementation of Parallels Remote Application Server, this was reduced to one. The fact that the software follows best practice means that as advisories have recommended changes to protocols, permitted we have easily been able to implement these changes directly.
Return to navigation