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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Entry-level set up fee?
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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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- Competitors
- Tech Details
- Downloadables
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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).
Comparisons
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Reviews and Ratings
(240)Attribute Ratings
Reviews
(26-50 of 116)Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
Our company never had virtual desktops prior to using Parallels as the cost to set up seemed to be great when scoping Citrix or Amazon. Parallels is a great alternative and are compatible with many of our custom and aging systems
July 18, 2022
Affordable product with optimal features
Ease setup process up front the windows based applications were available to Mac users the platform independence helped us reduce the cost
July 17, 2022
Give it a chance you will not be dissapointed!
Now, the consultant or end user does not worry to know where an application is installed or asking to have installed locally. They just access the resource needed through a single tool, the Parallels client, and use the applications as usual.
Parallels Remote Application Server saved our company's limited IT staff time by simplifying the deployment of new applications. The interface is simple to use and required little to no training for the end users.
It is a simple way to deliver applications from a central console, which is easy to configure and user friendly.
July 09, 2022
Cost effective wrapper for MS RDP/VDI deployment. Worth it for consolidation and ease of management.
Definitely. Where legacy Windows applications are required, this makes it easy to manage (single installation) and also deploy in an almost-seamless work environment to the end-user.
the training for the new product was very easy as the Console is fast and understandable. Videos and live training are provided - a good consultant or admin from this department can work with the product very quickly
June 23, 2022
Remote Application Server, the way it should be.
We use Parallels with the RDS technology for a service that is always available, and in case they don't have any alternative up. We give everyone that has access to use Parallels this as a default option, and on the times there are other issues internally this will always be available whilst Parallels is available. We do not use the VDI section with Parallels. Most of our users (unless they use a company laptop) have access to remote directly onto their own office machine, this helps them with knowing that everything they use is already set up, etc).
June 20, 2022
Best and Easy RAS Solution
Our ERP system was legacy (server-client base) and it was almost impossible that remote users can access it on the fly. RAS solution was the only way we can run. We have been using Citrix and Parallels Remote Application Server for many years. Later on, we found to completely migrate to Parallels Remote Application Server as it is much easier to administrate and maintain.
June 15, 2022
Parallels RAS? More like RA-YES!
We have been able to deploy Parallels on desktops/laptops and thin clients. The thin client deployment was a little more time-intensive than the simple "install and configure" that it took for the PCs, but that was to be expected. We were able to tie access to the virtual applications to Active Directory permissions, which was also very helpful.
April 08, 2022
Make the switch to Parallels RAS!
The central console that Parallels RAS provides is very easy to administer. Parallels give you the option of using the web-based console or application-based console. The application console is more robust but with each upgrade, the web-based console is catching up quickly.
April 04, 2022
Controllers may love this.
Not aware of it, I'm a simple controller user and not IT.
It's fairly easy, though I feel the documentation is a bit lacking. They seem to rely more on videos for implementation which are great when you have time to watch videos, but sometimes it's better to just have step by step documentation that you can work with. Aside from that, the basics are pretty intuitive so it's not bad.
April 01, 2022
Good program but some improvements needed
Heavy program that is very fragile on network issues delivered over slow network to remote locations.
We typically didn't use virtual desktops before introducing RAS, but it was an easy adoption for us to move some of the manufacturing floor-level applications from published apps to a single virtual desktop deployed at parallels stations throughout the facility. Absolutely no issues with our end users in this approach and this includes many users who are not particularly computer savvy.
March 29, 2022
Parallels is a great application that works as it says
The best use we have had was with application publishing
March 26, 2022
Simple, secure, reliable
Yes, our organization actively uses VDI. This helps us in the orchestration of applications for employees and reduces hardware costs.
March 26, 2022
Falling behind the competition
While Parallels did technically deliver for the end-user, it did not deliver for the I.T. department tasked with managing the system. The user's interface was very well done, but only after a significant effort by the I.T. department to make that happen.
March 21, 2022
Parallels Remote Application Access
Yes. We added all our general labs’ desktops to parallels remote applications. And instructors were able to conduct their classes online by allowing the students to access the labs. Also, we grant access to dedicated Pcs using Parallels remote desktops to be used by Master students and Researchers to finish their work remotely.
March 17, 2022
Excellent Product from Parallels
Yes, We have benefited from moving citrix to Parallels
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
The Parallels Remote Application Server console is very simple to use. For example, it provides sections, the connection section where you can manage 2FA, publishing where you can set up the applications or desktops that are published and set availability by users and or groups to ensure the right people get the right applications. For example, we have two teams of people, both of which connect to two different Parallels Remote Application Server as each team use a different subset of apps, but at the same time, on the off chance that someone might need to access these apps, they can do. Another thing we do is if an external company is supporting a piece of software, we have them set up with Parallels Remote Application Server access to just the server they maintain. Which is then forced to use 2FA, but we can also revoke access easily and at any time.
March 02, 2022
Good to Go Software for Quick Conversion During Pandamic
as described earlier, we have put it to great use during Pandemic and this gave us a quick turn around of online access to our students during pandemic
February 28, 2022
Want your Remote Access to be available Anytime, Anywhere on Any Device ... Try Parallels Remote Application Server
The company quite aptly describes this product as an all-in-one virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
solution that delivers applications and virtual
desktops to any device, anytime, anywhere! That has been our experience.
February 26, 2022
An excellent product to deliver office working from home.
The reason we chose parallels was the ability to simplify the delivery of virtual desktops and physical hardware across the organization. We also hope soon to be able to expand our systems into a scalable cloud-based VDI environment to cover us for major DR events. Again this will not be visible to the user where they are logging in from. The idea is to be as seamless and flexible as possible and parallels allow this.
February 22, 2022
Parallels RAS - once you've used it you won't want anything else!
The console has made the IT team much more productive when deploying and monitoring published apps.
Gone are the days of trying to work out the logic of managing remote apps via Windows Server 2012+ Manager.
Granular console permissions help with security and mean that more members of the IT team can contribute in supporting the app and end users.
Gone are the days of trying to work out the logic of managing remote apps via Windows Server 2012+ Manager.
Granular console permissions help with security and mean that more members of the IT team can contribute in supporting the app and end users.