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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,…

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Recent Reviews
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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

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Pricing

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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
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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 ...
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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,...
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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...
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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).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(243)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 116)
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Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It simplifies the delivery of applications to local and remote users alike. No matter the device or location. It eliminates the need for a separate VDI solution such as VMware horizon because it does it all. VDI deployments have historically been complex and expensive. Parallels is capable of spinning up VDI images on a fly right out of the box.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our organization does benefit from the ease of use because almost all our technicians are able to deploy the solution and are certainly able to maintain and support it. Little to no formal training is needed for our juniors to get up & running with the workings of the product solution
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The central console allowed for a simplified deployment process, reducing the amount of time and resources we needed to set it up and to manage it during day to day use. Users had very little trouble adapting to using it and were quickly able to transition to working with it.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Virtual accessibility of various application and desktops ensure it is time-saving, there is a collaborative work environment, and people share their ideas freely. More so, Parallels Remote creates a compliance work environment that is secure and more accessible. Finally, the simplicity of sharing information, which brings equality to the entire business performance.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our organization and our customers have absolutely benefited from the ease of use in setting up and delivering applications to end users. Simple access to these applications via HTML5 on any platform has broadened our customer reach and reduced costs for these customers.
September 15, 2022

Does what it needs to do.

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As a smaller business with a very small IT team, we've obviously benefited greatly from the ease of use of Parallels. It's incredibly easy to onboard new administrators into using the console. It's also incredibly easy for those administrators to push new apps, provide new users, and just generally use the platform. The ease of use doesn't prevent more advanced users from using the PowerShell-based cmdlets for scripting and automation as well.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Yes, Parallels RAS has enabled the delivery of specific specialized cloud services (desktop applications) to clients virtually. Coupled with Azure, It has helped remove the bottlenecks of traditional on-prem infrastructure and enabled secured access for the clientele across different organizations.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Consolidating our hundreds of users into a single platform supported by thin clients has made troubleshooting and issue reduction much simpler with far fewer instances of issues. Most users, when encountering an issue would simply reboot their thin client and self-resolve. This reduces the tech support workload from spending all day troubleshooting various applications, to only needing to handle the occasional password reset. From an application server management standpoint, it has allowed us to provide department-wide access to new applications in minutes. No GPOs pushing software MSIs, no desktop visits to find out why this person or that's application is messing up. Just publish, test it for yourself, and then open it up to the users.
Ryan Snelson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
I believe the ease of use is such a massive bonus of the product. It means that the support and install overhead is minimal compared to other options. We as a business benefit massively from this as it allows us to spend more time doing other things as well, and the product helps us work more efficiently.
Brandon Barrett | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
I've found that our clients benefit from the intuitive central console when it comes to provisioning and onboarding new users. Compared to some competing solutions, the time saved getting a new user up and running with Parallels makes that first impression with the end user better, as well as makes them more productive.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
The easy-to-use console allowed us to learn and implement the product within a week or so. Competitors would have taken weeks or months. It's easy to define apps and integrate with Active Directory in order to assign users/groups.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have been using Parallels Remote Application Server since 2005. We have migrated our setup over several server generations with little effort. The original setup has not much changed since. We have benefited from the ease of use.
iain Stephen | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is definitely a good way to provide virtual and remote desktop access for specific users. VPNs are ok, but there are times when applications need the speed of a local area connection to function well, and Parallels certainly does allow the illusion of a local application that runs at network speeds since it is actually happening on the server. The central console is simple to understand and it's easy to add/remove users to available applications and resources.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It definitely streamlines the process of delivering apps remotely as well as setting up and using remote desktops. It's cross platform hardware capability is also a great feature in today's work environment with the proliferation of BYOD
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