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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

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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

(242)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(51-75 of 139)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I'm the controller of the company and all the tools are in a cloud system for me to access it from different places (work or home), Parallels is the tool used in the organization that allow me connect to those tools in a secure manner. I normally use parallels clients on my PC but there is also time that I'm able to get information from my phone.
Craig Cormier | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using Parallels to improve the performance of terminal Services for our users in our office in the United Kingdom, where they connect back to our office here in Massachusetts. Because of the connection between our offices, using normal Remote Desktop proved to be fairly slow for the users. Once we were able to overlay Parallels, they found their performance improved greatly.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
We use Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) to remotely use customers' Production Management System that is specially made for the plastics industry. That program is very heavy, almost impossible to use over a VPN connection. And very fragile on network breakage/errors. When using RAS the program stays on the server, and only screen is mirrored to the users computer. No network issues when local network is only used. If users connect to RAS breaks, the job continues where it left off when the connection gets back. RAS is pretty good for this environment, users like to use two screens on the RAS web version, but now we have to satisfy the one screen with tabs. RAS makes it also possible to use PMS on phones and tablets.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have coded in-house applications to gather real-time information about our manufacturing process that is hosted on parallels RAS servers and accessed from the parallels client for windows, IOS, and android. We are predominantly a Citrix environment, but I shifted a third of our licensing off Citrix to Parallels mainly due to the cheaper cost of parallels licensing. Parallels are much faster from launch to load for our end users, easily by a factor of 3-4X versus our XenApp servers. Typically most endpoints using parallels are for data entry (either manual entry or tied in with USB/network data points), product labeling to direct thermal printers (USB mainly) or warehousing use (paired with Bluetooth scanners for counting finished products).
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are in the process of moving users to Parallels in order to replace our VPN. With Parallels we can control what the users have access to better than we could with our VPN or remote gateway. We liked it due to the ability to publish specific applications for users that don't have an assigned computer. This enables them to still be able to remote in as needed.
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The goal with Parallels Remote Application Server was to make a few specific Windows applications available remotely and in emergencies while a user's computer was being repaired or replaced. We were drawn to it because of how happy we were with their desktop offerings.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
- We used Parallels to run applications/software for MAC users through AppsAnyWhere. - Also, parallels were used to access Desktops in our University’s labs. - One of the main problems that we faced was adding new Desktops. It caused to get all the other available Desktops/labs on AppsAnywhere to be down.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We currently have all of our remote work running via Parallels Remote Application Server with multiple servers across our group internationally. This provides a great and easily manageable infrastructure with a versatile and reliable architecture that allows you to manage both users and devices connected to your network. It supports various forms of two-factor authentication. In our case, we use the Google authenticator as it also ties in with other services we use. It also allows us to set up redundant servers and have the ability to load balance on a per session basis. So that if we need to shut one of the production servers down for maintenance, it is easy to do so as it will push the sessions towards the other server.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our company develops software with C# for Windows. With Parallels Remote Application Server, we can publish our Windows client to our customers. Our customers have a cloud-like experience. The customer has a link on their desktop (Windows or Mac) and can start our program. The program starts on a server in the cloud, but the customer sees it on their computer. This is a great solution for us because we are working on transitioning to web-based, but we are not there yet. Customers want the cloud, so we provide it with this solution.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It's a good product to use the Applications that are compatible with the Mac os X Platform and we have extensively used it during Pandemic especially provisioning programs like Rhino and ArcGIS and many other applications.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Reseller
We, use Parallel RAS for WFH, VDI deployment for our own and Clients from different industries. Publishing Desktop, Seamlessly Applications. Both with their in-house datacenters. AWS and M365 give people access to all the apps they use for work — web, virtual, mobile, from one easy-to-use portal on any of their devices, from wherever they need to work. And because the entire workspace is centralized, IT can see everything that's going on and have a simple way to manage and control it all. Parallel RAS allows us to publish current applications and publish legacy applications securely.
Herbert Burt | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
TSG Networks is a Value-Added Managed Service Provider which has been serving the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years. During that time, we have supported our clients by offering many different Remote Access options. There are some good options available today, however, the only one that offers seamless connectivity, with ease of use, at a reasonable price point is Parallels Remote Application Server. Being able to offer a product that offers "Best of Class" technical support is also a priority when you need it. These last two years have been trying for organizations of all sizes. Having this easy-to-use remote access offering has let our clients concentrate on their businesses's not their technology. Going forward many of these same businesses have decided to alter the culture of how their staff works by allowing them to continue to work remotely part-time and some even full-time. This would not have been possible without a way for employees to easily and securely access their company data. Thank You Parallels Remote Application Server for providing a product that makes TSG Networks look like a "Hero" to our clients.
Rob Booth | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
At the start of the pandemic, we needed a quick, secure solution to get our workforce working from home. Using a combination of published desktop machines and Terminal server we were able to quickly bring users online as if they were sitting in the office without opening themselves up to messy VPN setups.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Parallels RAS not just for the publication of desktops to users, but for our in-house ERP app. RAS is the only remote access solution that we've used that has the customization options needed to publish this app successfully. It has plentiful, easily configurable, and granular options for each app published.
Nabin Poudel | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our team is using Parallels Remote Application Server to work remotely on a virtual desktop to share its applications while maintaining data security. It can be hosted on a scalable cloud environment that can handle up to 100 concurrent users. It allows SSL connection, FIPS 140-2 encryption, and graphics acceleration using RemoteFX, providing you with an unmatched remote working solution.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using Parallels Remote Application Server for providing and ensuring secure access for our engineers and development teams to the application servers for UAT and PROD. It has helped us ensure security for accessing the servers and software tools and applications hosted on the network.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Parallels [Remote Application Server] is being used across the entire organization to allow our staff secure cloud based access to our EMR. It allows us to deliver a legacy based applications to our users over a cloud based interface anywhere they may be working as long as they have some type of internet connection.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
During the Covid-19 pandemic lock down our users had to go offsite and continue their studies and work remotely. We use Parallels [Remote Application Server]:
To delivery existing high specification Windows workstations to users off site (who have any device, basic PC, MacOS, Chromebook etc.)
To expand and automate delivery and access to software on the AppsAnywhere hub offsite using virtual servers to users with any device.
March 30, 2021

Benefits of Parallels

Joe Castle | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We deployed Parallels to replace VPN access for our entire organization. Employees are able to access network applications and resources by simply going to our Parallels web portal or using the Parallels client. We protect access with two factor authentication via phone push. Some of the main goals were to provide a simpler experience but also more secure. Employees can now use their own devices when needed.

When COVID-19 sent employees home, we were fortunate to have had Parallels already in production. We transitioned to a remote work environment and it was a totally smooth transition.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
In our marine operation department, new applications require that we control all inventory in the company fleet. This application is not web-based. To run this application we should have access to the server remotely; without this application, we mistakenly buy materials twice or even more. To solve this we needed something to control this. The problem is that communication between ships and head office is very costly and slow.
Waqas Anjum Akram Javid | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Parallels RAS is used by various clients whom we are dealing with right now and we highly recommend it when customers are looking for solutions for publishing their applications and remote access. Due to the current epidemic situation we highly recommend Parallels RAS which is a robust and versatile proven solution to provide un-interrupted local experience with published applications and remote access.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Parallels RAS is used to provide remote access to our business applications for remote users, contractors, and consultants. It has been used by the whole organization, however, it has been utilized the most by dept. which outsources most of their functions to a 3rd party such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and purchasing. The application addresses the issue of offering a standard and easy way to access our business applications in a secured and controlled environment for remote users.
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