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VMware Horizon

VMware Horizon

Overview

What is VMware Horizon?

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users of VMware Horizon View have praised the software for its ability to provide secure remote access without the need for VPN or remote …
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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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Horizon Apps Standard

$4.67

Cloud
per month per user

Horizon Standard Plus

$5.79

Cloud
per month per user

Horizon Apps Universal

$6.00

Cloud
per month per user

Entry-level set up fee?

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

Offerings

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

VMware Horizon 7: Demo - Feature Walk-through

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Chrome Demo - VMware Horizon

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VMware Horizon 6 and AirWatch

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VMware Horizon 6 with View

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VMware Horizon 6 Hosted Applications Demo

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VMware Horizon 6 Tutorial | VMware Horizon 6 Training

YouTube
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Product Details

What is VMware Horizon?

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console and SaaS management services.

The solution also provides secure remote access to corporate resources from any device and leverage intrinsic security built into the VMware infrastructure to protect from the device to the data center to the cloud.

The vendor's value proposition is that the solution drives cost savings and business value by enabling more flexible and reliable access to resources.

VMware Horizon Competitors

VMware Horizon Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

A VDI solution used for the secure delivery of virtual desktops and apps from on-premises to the cloud. It is used to deploy, manage, monitor and scale desktops and apps across private, hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure using a cloud-based console and SaaS management services.

LISTEQ Cloud Desktop are common alternatives for VMware Horizon.

Reviewers rate Performance highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of VMware Horizon are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(157)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users of VMware Horizon View have praised the software for its ability to provide secure remote access without the need for VPN or remote desktop. This feature has allowed them to conveniently access internal web applications and legacy Windows XP applications from anywhere with an internet connection. IT staff utilize the software to connect to virtual desktops, while employees make use of thin clients to access email, file shares, and specific applications on the go. The software has been particularly valuable for organizations with multiple locations and remote workers, as it offers a cost-effective, hardware-independent solution with features like monitoring, resource utilization, and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, VMware Horizon View is widely used across various industries, including healthcare IT, where it improves end user productivity and user experience for clinical task users. However, some users have occasionally experienced connection issues and difficulties with setup. Despite these challenges, users find the software highly useful for accessing virtual desktops efficiently.

Administrative departments and clients also rely on VMware Horizon View to address hardware failures and crashes by providing access to virtual desktops. This flexible solution is used in various scenarios such as training environments, enabling external contractors' access, and providing workstations for IT staff. Moreover, towns benefit from VMware Horizon View by gaining access to shared applications for assessments, while healthcare professionals securely access internal network resources remotely. The software's reach extends even to Highway Patrol cars, ensuring complete access to internal network resources in areas with intermittent cellular data coverage.

VMware Horizon View has proven invaluable in saving time by virtualizing software and simplifying IT tasks like updates and upgrades. It has facilitated the efficient rollout of Windows 10 and provided a work-from-home solution. Additionally, VMware Horizon Mobile Manager aids with device restrictions, tracking, application deployment, email integration, and digital material delivery.

The flexibility and security offered by VMware Horizon View are highly appreciated by users as they can work from anywhere worldwide with an internet connection. The product serves as a standard platform for daily tasks requiring elevated permissions for IT administrators and developers. It finds value in providing a pool of secured desktops within backup networks, separate from standard production environments. Reviewers have commended the product for eliminating the need to ship laptops across the globe by providing VDI desktops.

VMware Horizon View has been described as a win-win situation for businesses, offering convenient solutions for remote work and data access. It also finds application in statistical analysis software like IBM SPSS. By organizing users into different groups called Pools, it efficiently manages PCs, ensuring desktops are always running or shut down when not in use. Loyola University Maryland relies on VMware Horizon as their enterprise application and VDI delivery system, providing easy access for all employees, faculty, and students across departments. Multiple departments in organizations leverage VMware Horizon View to tailor their IT experience, manage systems with less IT involvement, and ensure quick content delivery. This product has enabled a shift in the way employees work, allowing for centralized data, consolidation of offices, and remote work in different states and locales.

VMware Horizon is especially valuable for managing virtual machines and pools of virtual machines for remote classes and work, providing control over information, managing policies, and resolving problems remotely. In educational institutions, it offers dynamic management of computer and storage resources while reducing costs and complexity. Companies across industries such as operations, sales, and product teams use VMware Horizon View as a primary or remote desktop solution to provide a consistent desktop experience across locations and offices.

Overall, users find that VMware Horizon makes VDI easy with its fast and reliable connection options like VMWare Blast or PCoIP. It caters to the needs of remote agents and offsite workers by offering thin clients to connect remotely over VPN and providing a Windows application environment for Macintosh users. The product has been recommended by experts for clients in their data centers to provide standardized virtual desktops for critical groups within the company. By connecting users to Windows environments on the customer side, VMware Horizon offers a VPN-like experience for remote access.

With its wide range of use cases in various industries, VMware Horizon View continues to be a go-to solution for organizations seeking secure remote access, efficient management of desktops and resources, as well as flexible work arrangements.

Excellent Performance: Users have consistently praised VMware Horizon for its excellent performance. Many reviewers have stated that the software runs smoothly and efficiently, allowing them to access virtual desktops and applications with ease. Some users have mentioned that they experienced no lag or delay when working remotely, which has greatly enhanced their productivity.

Reliable and Efficient Virtualization Solution: Reviewers appreciate that VMware Horizon is a reliable and efficient virtualization solution. Numerous users have highlighted the stability of the software and its ability to provide stable and scalable virtual support. They find it to be a robust product that allows them to create new desktops easily and seamlessly integrate into the vSphere platform.

Easy Implementation and Use: The ease of implementation and use of VMware Horizon is another commonly mentioned positive aspect. Users appreciate the straightforward deployment process, finding it great for deploying new software quickly. They also find the user interface intuitive, making it easy for them to manage their catalogue of pools and devices.

Resource Consumption: Some users have reported that the software consumes more resources than expected, potentially leading to performance issues. This concern has been raised by multiple reviewers who have experienced slowdowns or lag while using the software.

Confusing User Interface: The user interface of the software has received criticism from several users. They describe it as confusing and not well integrated with the operating system. Users have mentioned difficulties in navigating through menus and finding specific features.

Expensive Licensing: Implementing VDI, including hardware and licensing, is seen as a constraint for small and medium-sized businesses. Users have expressed concerns about the high cost of licensing, which adds to the overall expense of adopting VDI solutions. Some users feel that more affordable options should be available for organizations with limited budgets.

User recommendations for using VMware Horizon include the following:

  • Talk with end-users to plan out application loading and day-to-day needs.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for customer service in telecommunications due to its options for call listening and security.
  • VMware Horizon works well, gives good results, and is free.
  • Use VMware Horizon for testing purposes and to avoid losing information.
  • Ensure a stable internet connection for optimal performance and stability.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for any company that needs to implement software and test different systems.
  • VMware Horizon provides solutions and the freedom to do anything with the virtual system.
  • VMware Horizon worked well for automating testing services.
  • VMware Horizon offers different features for configuring operating systems without adding dangerous software.
  • VMware Horizon is a good solution for central security management.
  • Understand use cases before deploying VMware Horizon and dedicate people to manage the environment.
  • VMware Horizon is a very accessible software with few glitches.
  • Set up server settings automatically to provide guidance to the vendor.
  • VMware Horizon is a lightweight solution for connecting to a virtual desktop infrastructure.
  • Using VMware Horizon improves productivity in the working environment.
  • Take advantage of the RSA generated token for extra security.
  • Design a solid backend infrastructure with enough storage for a smoother user experience.
  • Purchase enough resources for quick scalability.
  • Get solid state drives and provide extra training for help desk staff.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for programs that require processing power or access to different operating systems.
  • Try VMware Horizon on other platforms to address bugs or issues.
  • VMware Horizon is a perfect solution for delivering virtual desktops and integrating with existing VMware vSphere environment.
  • Consider alternatives like oVirt, Spice, or Citrix XenServer if VMware Horizon is not suitable.
  • Look at all the options on the internet and choose the platform that best fits the interests, especially for medium and big size companies.
  • VMware Horizon is recommended for virtual desktop users experiencing performance issues.
  • Understand the current environment and define use cases during the testing phase.
  • Use the right infrastructure to scale the VDI solution and choose a VDI solution that meets the appropriate needs.

These recommendations emphasize the importance of user involvement in planning, the suitability of VMware Horizon for customer service and testing, stability considerations, and scalability planning.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 35)
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August 24, 2023

VMware Horizon Review

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I deployed this solution for one of our company's client organization. That organization was speared over multiple location and worker were allowed to do work from home. it was not feasible for that organization to deliver hardware to every location and maintain the other aspects of hardware maintenance. In such situations, VMware Horizon Cloud was their choice. It is a cloud based VDI that enables the management of operating system in cloud. It is cost-effective solution in terms of hardware, flexible solution without the need for hardware dependency, In case of any incident, an easy and efficient way to restore or recover data. moreover, features like monitoring, resource utilization, multi-factor authentication makes this solution more feasible in terms of Security and performance.
  • Endpoints Management become very easy.
  • No Hardware labilities
  • More features and easy to maintain.
  • Managing the VDI needs training which should be freely available to everyone.
  • Cost could be the constraints for SMBs to adopt this model. For managing VDI you need trained IT Staff
As I have already explained that VMware Horizon is very attractive model for some organizations which are dependent on remote work and hardware management is problem for them. You have better performance because a server has more capacity compared to a laptop. from anywhere any time you can connect but off course internet connectivity is required.
M. Randy Harris, Jr. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon is a tool used within the VMware virtualization product line which allows me to manage virtual machines and pools of virtual machines. These virtual machines are provided to students and staff to allow for remote classes and work, respectively. This was particularly critical during the lock-down phase of the pandemic when the entire college was shut down.
  • Their vSphere product is the best in the industry in regards to virtualization.
  • Their products, although very sophisticated and technical, are rock solid. Uptime is above 99.99%.
  • Their documentation is extensive, thorough, and excellently organized.
  • Their support is top tier with quality support staff and excellent response time.
  • They could really improve their licensing. It is very very confusing.
  • They should provide a free license for non-business-related use, i.e., someone wanting to learn on the platform without a large monetary investment.
VMware Horizon is well suited for both private, public, and hybrid cloud environments due to the fact the same tool is used across all three platforms, and the behavior across all three platforms is the same. It provides significant value in allowing for the management of virtual machines and virtual pools with a smaller staff.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It's great to be able to set it up enough to support the stores I work for. My Big problem with it is that any form of connection issues on my primary PC - despite it reconnecting - the VM crashes and even after restarting the VM I sometimes need to reboot the primary computer just to get the desktop to display properly. Also getting it set up so I can see everything I want is extremely troublesome. Granted that part is related to it being locked on the desktop as a non-admin, I can do my best with the settings - but the settings aren't much.
  • Separation.
  • Individual connection.
  • Quick Reboot.
  • Saved openings when VM crashes.
  • Reloading after connection loss.
  • Better display adjustments.
Setting up remoting software to get into the specific company in which we support. It works a lot like a VPN, but it definitely has room to improve. There's nothing special that helps my job, it's a separate desktop that houses programs for me to remote into other computers and Linux systems.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The main reason for using a Horizon solution vs computer equipment was security. When starting to manage a hybrid (home office) scheme, it was important to have control over the information as well as to manage policies to increase productivity, the resolution of problems remotely was another major challenge to face for us. For this reason, we decided to test the Horizon solution that offers security, mobility, and technical support options in a single package, the part of smartphones was not included due to the cost issue.
  • The use of virtual desktops is very good, generate templates for areas is simple.
  • The security options that permit to block and allow applications for users are very important in this solution.
  • The remote support tools for the TI department are very good to resolve problems with a user of other areas that worked remotely.
  • Horizon has other tools to measure user performance and productivity.
  • The deployment of environments in smartphones is very useful (integration with workspaces one solution).
  • Creation of templates based of areas is easy.
  • We have some problems in Apple MacBooks with M1 processor in early phases.
  • The integration with Windows 11 is under development.
  • Optimization of resources to deployment all environment.
It is a robust solution with many functionalities, depending on the complexity of the company's environment, several versions of the software can be adapted, the price is not cheap since there are other cheaper solutions that allow virtualization of desktops, sales by subscription helps to solve the price. For a correct implementation, several virtual machines with sufficient hardware resources are required. An important point to consider is Microsoft's licensing, which initially makes a solution more expensive.
Josh Justic | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
We use VMware [Horizon (formerly VMware View)] for our VDI environment to provide standardized desktops, using linked clones. We also host View desktops for our clients. This solves the problem of deployment and management of multiple OS instances. We update just one golden image to deploy a patch or new application version.
  • Fast deployment
  • Simplifies management
  • Reduces latency to datacenter applications
  • High learning curve for support
  • Can be expensive for licensing and hardware requirements
[VMware Horizon (formerly VMware View) is] well suited for remote workers that can use any device to access their virtual desktops.
September 04, 2020

VMware Horizon Review

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon is used by our staff at Orvis who do not work int the call center or home offices as a way to log safety into our company desktop so we may work remotely. This allows some of us to work from home or to work while traveling to other locations.
  • VMware Horizon allows us to safely access our company desktop.
  • Works well for use on windows, Linus and Mac Operating systems.
  • Easy to install and use by most employees (exception is in the negatives).
  • Requires very knowledgeable IT staff to maintain.
  • Set up on the company system can be complicated.
VMware is well suited to a business where there will be many remote users needing to connect to the companies desktop. The installation on a remote computer is simple and is easy to use remotely but can be complicated to set up on the back end on the office system. It may not be worth the effort for a company that has few people who need remote access.
Tim Enders | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Loyola University Maryland uses VMWare Horizon as our Enterprise application and VDI delivery system. Horizon is used across the University by all employees and faculty in all departments, as well as by our entire student body. Horizon provides VDI desktops to select employees, as well as serving as the sole point of access to our ERP system, various HIPAA compliant clinical systems, and delivery of applications for use by all employees and for instruction.
  • Application delivery
  • VDI Desktop delivery
  • The older Flash management console is occasionally slow (but is being replaced by HTML5)
  • Designing the architecture can be confusing, as there are lots of particular gotchas
Horizon is fantastic as a way to provide secure access to and control of sensitive data. You can deliver an application that is run on a server in your data center which you have full control over—all data and processing resides there and the user can access it securely from anywhere in the world. It's also fantastic as a replacement for more traditional VPN style remote access because it doesn't require you to trust the user's endpoint in the same way since you're not admitting any additional devices to your local network.
Gabriel Krahn | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Horizon to connect to our Windows environment on the customer side, which was set up by us. This way we don't need to mess around with Citrix or other authentication methods, it's just a VPN + Horizon. It works like a charm. Our customer is located on another continent, so VMWare Horizon was the best option for us until the end of the project.
  • Remote connection with no hassle.
  • File transfer between your local and VM.
  • It could show us a bit more detail about some connection errors. SSL errors with random messages are not helping us to resolve the problem.
We used VMWare Horizon to connect to a Windows environment set up on the customer side (overseas) by us. In my opinion, Horizon is the best option when you don't want to mess around with physical authentication methods like Smart Cards allied with Citrix or other complicated VPNs. With Horizon you just need to be on the same network as the target machine using any simple VPN (in our case, we use Cisco AnyConnect) and connect with an ID, password, and domain (the domain is set up on the target side).
Jason White | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
This software is used across the organization for access to VDIs. We have some line-level employees who access all computer functions this way, and others that use it to do certain admin tasks.
  • Easy access.
  • Quick connection.
  • Better reconnection.
  • Handle outages better.
The software is valuable for connecting to things like an admin VM that is used to host, say, Active Directory. It makes it easy for a Mac user to have access to a test box with Windows on it.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are currently using this in combination with a Single Sign-On solution to present our EMR to our users, and we are also using it to provide a work from home solution for several of our users, which allows the company to save money by allowing them to re-purpose the area where the departments that were sent home to work used to sit.
  • Manages the graphics and audio use well.
  • The initial setup is fairly easy and can be done in a day or two for a simple setup.
  • Very similar uses to VMware ESXi, and you can use vcenter to manager the devices.
  • Licensing. This goes hand in hand with cost.
  • Cost -- every feature tends to cost you, it would seem.
  • Support can sometimes be hit or miss.
In our situation, it has worked well for presenting a desktop that users can badge in and out of and launch our EMR, or use the Outlook web app, etc.
On the other hand, we have also used it as complete replacements for peoples' desktops. Several high-level users have made the switch, and they find it to be very convenient and easy to use.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware is being used by our organization to assist with the rollout of Windows 10. Instead of reimaging and moving all the user data to a new full system we use thin clients that connects to an orchestrator that goes to each View pool of computers. It makes a lot easier and trims down man hours for this migration.
  • It provisions and works with vCenter very well to access new virtual machines.
  • There is very little I need to perform on the systems infrastructure other than working on images and upkeep.
  • I think they are strengths because with so much that goes into creating a managing the images we roll out the last thing you need to worry about are simple issues with the backend infrastructure.
  • We run into issues a decent amount of the time with nonpersistent desktops not being able to roll over quick enough. This means the end-user gets a black screen while it gives them a new machine. They don't know that so we receive calls that users cannot connect to VMware.
  • The upgrade process is fairly tedious and most of the knowledge-based articles from VMware are not really real-world scenarios.
  • The support for this is not the greatest. Each time we have reached out to support for assistance the process has been drawn out and usually, we are unable to get an engineer who is knowledgeable on the phone until we reach out to our contact at VMware.
I think for a situation where you would need a small number of images for users that need basic things out of their non-persistent linked clone. This becomes more and more difficult when you have a complicated environment when you have people who want one-offs for their machines. Then you are managing a ton of persistent machines which can be fairly difficult but even so when you need a new machine you can always spin a brand new one up quickly. All in all this product is useful from A-Z but when using the non-persistent make sure that your image is a very basic image and won't need a ton of fine-tuning or changes. That's where things get difficult.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We utilize it to bring remote user desktop applications closer to the source data in the data center, as well as a standard platform for IT administrators and developers' daily tasks that require elevated permissions. We also just recently started using a pool of secured desktops in our backup networks, which are segmented off from the standard production environments.
  • The desktop experience is much better for remote users because the desktop is next to the applications, all running in the data center.
  • Mobility is fantastic. I can have the same desktop experience whether I am on a Windows PC, Mac, Apple/Android mobile device, or even if I am just wanting to connect through a web browser.
  • Application streaming is difficult. The monthly recompose process can be a bear if there are a ton of applications in the base image and implementing the technology that allows for application pools that aren't in the base VM image is time-consuming and unmanageable for a small team or individual.
Remote access enabling workforce mobility is where Horizon really shines. I can leave my session running at the office, then remotely access my machine from any other device at home, or otherwise, and pick up right where I left off without the need to keep my office laptop with me at all times.
Stefan Semo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As a not-for-profit educational institution, we needed a way to reduce costs while controlling productivity and maintaining standards across our schools and offices. Deploying independent operating systems on standalone hardware provides better performance due to lack of layering, but in the end, the costs and efforts to deploy, manage and update/maintain are many orders of magnitude more problematic. Horizon allows us to dynamically manage computer and storage resources, as well as networking, to achieve a cohesive deployment platform, reduce costs and complexity. With a small IT systems team and helpdesk, most issues are resolved quickly and equality without the need to dispatch engineers or rebuild computers.
  • Keeping a configuration consistent across large numbers of devices.
  • Reducing costs of deployment.
  • Greatly simplifying management.
  • It improves security and simplifies compliance.
  • Leverages datacenter resources for multiple desktops.
  • 3D support could be optimized, but most organizations do not have a big need for it.
  • It cannot suit every business need and should be evaluated based on organization requirements.
  • Until version 7 it was very hard to deliver space-optimized desktop pools without instant clones.
The best scenario for VMware Horizon is in businesses where there is consistency needed for a platform. For example in education, healthcare and government. All these enterprises need a consistent platform and depend on having access to the same applications at the same version and build levels as well as the same databases. They all have cloud-based or datacenter-based resources that can be leveraged to deploy desktop virtualization.
As for less appropriate scenarios, any small organization that does not benefit from centralized resources (servers) would not be able to deploy desktop virtualization without initial investments in the infrastructure that would not be justified.
Ben Moore | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
All of our employees utilize VMware Horizon for access to our company resources. We deploy thin-client laptops so that in the event of any equipment loss, no data is compromised and systems are easily replaced to get users back up and running. VMware Horizon also provides the same experience regardless of whether the user is located in one of our offices or accessing resources remotely.
  • Device agnostic: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and HTML5 clients all available.
  • Ease of use: The end user's experience is simple and consistent, regardless of device type.
  • Stable: Once configured properly, system components are redundant and highly reliable.
  • Video conference/meeting integrations: Currently only has direct integration with Skype for Business. It would be great if they would provide enhancements for WebEx, Zoom, etc.
There are very few scenarios where I would not recommend the use of VMware Horizon. That would be for "road warrior" type users that are commonly working from areas with little or no internet coverage available, as there aren't any good "offline access" solutions currently available.
September 28, 2019

A real business gamechanger

Dan Reynolds | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Desktop virtualization has changed the way we work and even the way we think about working. VMware Horizon has been the tool we've used to accomplish that. First and foremost, it allowed us to centralize our data across offices. Then as we grew and our business climate changed, we consolidated offices, started using "co-work" spaces in other towns and now we even have employees in other states and locales. Most of the employees are only in the office a couple of days a week now.
  • Horizon provides a robust and mature desktop interface.
  • Horizon is flexible enough to configure to fit your environment - whether large or small.
  • Horizon has decent tools to manage the infrastructure.
  • The interface to the management console has depended on Flash technology for far too long.
  • Horizon needs much better graphics drivers, and not just to depend on outside hardware GPU vendors. Those solutions can be incredibly expensive and also incur additional licensing costs (Nvidia for example).
  • Horizon needs to move away from the PCoIP protocol, it's time to improve and move the display protocol forward. And get away from third party's monopolizing on the display protocol (Teradici).
You have to look at your user base - what kind of users are they and what do they do? From a very practical standpoint - can you buy PC's and keep these users up to date - does it make any financial sense to remove the hardware? What kind of work do they do? If everybody is editing video then maybe desktop virtualization is not for you. Another consideration - do you need or want your employees to work from home? Will this give you an advantage in attracting talent? Can you reduce your overhead by having a "distributed" workforce? Can your employees work out of rented "co-work" spaces with no dedicated physical presence?
February 07, 2019

Brief Overview of Horizon

Sam Majam | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon is used in a few ways: (a) to provide access to training environments (b) to provide workstation access to external contractors (c) to provide workstations for IT staff

  • Powerful platform for providing end user computing in a secure and efficient manner
  • Integrates seamlessly with VMware vSphere that is a proven and reliable virtualization platform
  • Integrates well with popular Cloud Providers
  • Hardware and licensing costs can be a challenge
  • Steep learning curve
Found it great for environments with many external users that need access to corporate environment. It provides great end user computing experience for such users in a secure fashion. Care must be taken, however, in deploying applications as not all applications are suited for virtualized environments.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have utilized this solution to address many diverse user needs. We use this to give our towns access to an application that is shared for assessments. It provides a secure connection to an internal network where we house and backup the data and maintain the application. Each desktop gets refreshed from a defined image after the user logs off to maintain uniformity and reduce the number of licenses needed in a dedicated desktop environment. Another use is for Healthcare professionals that do home visits. We can allow them complete access to all internal network resources remotely in a secure connection. No HIPPA or other compliance related data resides on the local laptop as the session is running on an internal server session. This eliminates the concern of data loss/theft in the event that the laptop is accessed by unauthorized users or it is stolen. We use this solution in our Highway Patrol cars to allow them complete access to all internal network resources remotely in a secure connection. In this mobile environment, there are areas where cellular data coverage drops or is missing. If the cellular signal drops the connection, the officer is able to reconnect when the signal is restored and resume operations right where they left off. I use a dedicated desktop for after-hours remote access 24/7/365. It gives me full access to all applications and data. There is no need to install applications on my laptop or desktop that I am remotely connecting. There is no need for large amounts of data to traverse over a VPN connection. All data and applications run in a server session inside a secure network over a thin connection that does not require large amount of bandwidth. Usage cases are as limited as your imagination.

  • It provides a robust, secure, rich desktop environment that is able to access all internal network resources.
  • Addresses security and compliance concerns as all data resides within the internal network. All data accessed stays within the internal network and does not need to traverse a VPN to the local desktop where it may be cached, etc.
  • The connection is thin client that does not require large amount of bandwidth.
  • Client application is available for all common devices and O/S’s.
  • No need to install, configure and maintain applications on local desktop.
  • Cost of backend systems hardware (servers, memory and storage) is initially very expensive.
  • VMware software purchase, licensing and ongoing support is also somewhat expensive.
  • Requires knowledgeable technical staff to setup and maintain.
  • Sometimes there are issues with printing to the remote desktop that needs to be troubleshot to resolve.
  • Needs a better means to upgrade versions without it being a major difficult undertaking.
Horizon View is well suited in larger organizations where there are needs to securely access applications and data from outside the internal network. It allows users a complete desktop experience remotely with access to all resources that are available on the local internal private network. It is fast and robust as data does not need to traverse the connection like a VPN connection and stays within the local internal network increasing data security. Cost for hardware and software is a high initial investment so smaller organizations will find it hard to justify the financial costs. In a diverse user environment, there are many uses for Horizon View. When faced with a need for a solution for users to access information or applications outside the internal network, having Horizon View is one of the best go to's to have available. Use your imagination and creativity to solve many business needs.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is used at the moment to virtualize software and deliver to end users personal machines in a way that could not be done before. In the past users would need specific computers, maybe stronger hardware depending on software solution, and users would constantly need to switch their between personal and work machines in order to complete anything. This could be frustrating; what Horizon does is give access to everything you need in simpler way. On the other hand it simplifies work from the IT prospective, where in the past we had to update/upgrade each machine; here we upgrade the base and push to all users in few steps. It is great time saver.
  • Easy to use and setup
  • Very robust set of features from end user and administrative perspective
  • It solves many problems that Microsoft RDS cannot address
  • Provides better support and performance when it comes to GPU intensive software solutions
  • It can integrate with our ERP system in order to simplify user management and automate process
  • Move away from Adobe Flash version in UI, currently on the path but they need to hurry up
  • Speed up the boot process of the environment when servers need maintenance
  • Provide clear steps on what should be upgrade path in terms of components, the order
  • price! A bit too much
It is great for universities and the large corporate world, as it has a lot of control while giving users access on their own machines (BYOD), but the small business would not benefit as the solution is pricey, and if you have small number of users, like 30-50, it would cost you more than getting 50 PCs, server, support, license...
Ho'omana Nathan Horton | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
In the lab, we use VMWare to access various software provided by the university but which we can't or don't want to install on the machines in the lab. Most commonly, we use VMware Horizon to access statistical analysis software, especially IBM SPSS. We use VMware Horizon to access software from on campus and off-campus (in conjunction with a VPN).
  • The ability to access local files is an excellent feature.
  • The ability to preserve the state of logged-in users is also nice.
  • In my experience, this is about as close as one can get to using Microsoft Remote Desktop.
  • The interface isn't always super straightforward and newer or less proficient users may need some detailed help getting it set up.
In a situation like ours, where one hosts a server with software and wants to grant access (but not licenses) to others, this is a great solution. It's particularly nice in situations where the users may want to easily work with files on their local machines. It's also a little better in some cases than Microsoft's Remote Desktop because you don't have to worry about giving AD access to certain people. It can be a little clunky, so whenever you use it, it's probably best to give detailed walkthroughs, especially for less proficient computer users.
June 06, 2018

Virtual Success!!!!

Eric Krueger | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are currently using VMWare Horizon View for approximately 200+ users in multiple departments. This has allowed us to control relevant content for the different departments and tailor their IT experience. It also allows us to manage the systems with less IT involvement/support and allows us to focus on other areas. Content delivery has been a snap since we moved to Horizon View and when system issues arise it is easy to get them back on track quickly.
  • It allows us to do more with less in creating an environment tailored for each department.
  • The amount of technical knowledge needed to run and support from infrastructure means more focus can go to other areas. More personnel can easily be involved in support.
  • Systems issues, windows problems, drivers etc, can all be easily addressed through the management console to keep end users up and running.
  • Some of the proprietary application delivery could be a bit better.
  • Some additional single points of failure to consider.
  • Roaming profile issues on a particular server can cause issues.
VMWare Horizon View works great in both an SMB or enterprise setting when configured correctly. From a support standpoint and cost savings it can make an IT department more efficient as well as increase productivity. That being said it needs to be set up well and network infrastructure needs to be taken into account for the number of users running a VDI system.
Chris John | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use VMWare Horizon throughout our organization. It's used primarily for remote access purposes. This allows our users access to email, file shares, and certain applications on the go.
  • Secure. Doesn't allow copy and paste if configured. Allows for 2FA.
  • Flexible. Allows you if you have the resources to setup different images for people.
  • Seamless experience for users.
  • Setup can be cumbersome.
  • Thin apps are hit or miss. Depends on licensing for the application.
  • Administration site is based in Flash. Terrible and laggy.
Suited for an environment that has the resources capable of standing up a full horizon environment. Can be pretty intense setup.
Isaac Beyda | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon View is being used by the administrative department because they have virtual desktops. In addition to that, many of our clients use it because they have virtual desktops as well. It addresses all problems relating to having hardware failures, crashes, etc.
  • Management
  • Configuration
  • Console
  • User Interface
  • Connection
  • Support
  • Easier Access
  • Mobile Access
  • Better Access
It is well suited for an organization with virtual servers or virtual desktops even a mix of virtual and physical servers is OK.
Brad Daugherty | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
VMware Horizon View is being used by every employee in our operations department. We have also deployed it for parts of sales and product teams. It is used as a primary desktop for many users and as a remote desktop for other users. The product provides us with the ability to provide users that want the same desktop experience and applications when they move across all of our datacenter locations and offices.
  • Renders graphics using PCOIP and Blast protocols with great graphic quality.
  • Provides users a persistent desktop experience without the need for persistent desktops using their linked clone or just in time technologies.
  • User Environment Manager allows us to control registry values and other user and application specific needs that couldn't easily be done on a non persistent desktop before.
  • App Volumes gives us the ability to virtualize the applications and then deliver then using GPO to our end users based upon location and permissions. It also give us the ability to only update a single copy of the application and push it live to our employees.
  • Monitoring of end user session details has been lacking in the product since its beginning. They are starting to work on modules to help this aspect but they are immature and slow to develop.
  • Troubleshooting issues to the PCOIP protocol are not easy and usually require VMware assistance. Better logging and analysis of errors though the VMware admin utility would be beneficial.
  • Many users when switched permanently to a Virtual Desktop have a predisposed feeling that they are going to have a slow and laggy experience. This is an issue from previous revisions or bad deployments, but once someones mind has been made up it is hard to sway them back into giving a technology another shot.
  • Simple to install and manage the product.
  • Provides users with a great BYOD option to be able to use the desktop that they would like anywhere and on any device.
  • Great performance.
  • Can reduced overall costs after initial investment in the product and phase out of PC lifecycle.
  • Can reduce support tickets and calls if implemented properly.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Horizon Mobile Manager is being used primarily for device restrictions, device tracking and analytics, application deployment, Network management, email integration and digital material delivery. One of the use cases is a feature like application management. We have a mobile app team that creates an in-house application. The application management makes it easy to deploy these apps on all the employee's device instead of IT doing it individually on each device
  • Cloud Based Solution
  • Ability to manage devices globally
  • Very simple to use
  • Ability to create "application bubble" for BYOD devices
  • Expensive to implement because you'll most definitely need a professional partner for implementation
  • As easy it is to use, it is complex to install. We have about 4 servers in our infrastructure only for this.
  • Tech support almost never gets back to you on the same day. Even for the critical issues.
If you're a large company with enough budget to maintain infrastructure and pay the expensive professional partners, only then should you consider this solution. If you have a lot of folks on the move and need to remotely deploy the application Horizon Mobile Manager could be a great help. Another typical scenario where it is appropriate is when you allow BYOD and need to create an application bubble that contains the apps, secure content locker etc. preventing employees to share it or open the content in other apps
Kurt Ferguson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our organization is extremely VDI-heavy. We have nearly 400 employees. Most users (80%+) rely solely on VDI for access, with 50 or fewer users relying on local access on desktops or laptops. VMWare Horizon makes VDI very easy. The Horizon agent works much better than web access overall, and provides a very fast, reliable VDI connection. The versatility of being able to connect via VMWare Blast or PCoIP is also a great feature if users have trouble with one protocol at home or remotely.
  • Easy to use. It is very easy to access Virtual Desktops from VMWare Horizon View. Performance is great, and using the program is practically the same across multiple platforms.
  • Multiple platforms. VMWare Horizon View is available on Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS, amongst others. The user experience is very similar across these various platforms. This is crucially important, especially for unplanned access to VDI when a full fledged Windows/OS X machine isn't available.
  • Great performance - Even without especially robust internet connections, the VDI performance is typically very good. I've accessed it at work, in coffee shops, tethered to my phone, and at home. I can almost always get a usable connection regardless of the connection I am using.
  • Peripheral access - The peripheral access in VMWare Horizon Client is great! It isn't limited to simple keyboard and mouse access, which certainly does work seemlessly, but also allows multimedia peripherals. We actually have webcams attached to all of our thin and zero clients, and they are perfectly usable from inside VDI, be it in Skype for Business, WebEx, etc.
  • USB throughput - USB storage throughput over Horizon isn't great. It definitely needs some tweaking in that regard. It is acceptable for small file transfer from flash drives and the like, but far too slow for large file transfers.
  • More connection quality options - There are very limited options for adjusting the connection quality from the Horizon Client. These would be helpful especially when dealing with very low speed connections.
  • Resolve minor memory leak issues - The application does sometimes leak memory in Windows 10, causing it to consume more resources than it should.
VMWare Horizon View is really good for companies that invest in the VMWare Horizon environment. This is a fairly substantial investment since you have to have ESXi licenses and VMWare Horizon Server licenses, to have a functional VMWare Horizon environment. It's a fairly big upfront investment, so for very small companies with limited IT budgets, it may be a pretty tall order.

For an organization our size, we have benefited tremendously from using VMWare Horizon for VDI. It saves us quite a bit of money as we expand since we only really need to expand our ESX licensing to accommodate new ESX hosts or adding Horizon Connection/Security servers.

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