This honor celebrates our dedication to delivering world-class solutions tailored to our customers’ needs and highlights the impact Parallels RAS has had on organizations across the globe

From best-in-class capabilities to exceptional value and strong customer relationships, this award showcases how Parallels RAS stands out in the industry. 

What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that it reflects the voices of real customers who use and trust Parallels RAS daily.  

TrustRadius is one of the most respected review platforms for B2B technology, emphasizing transparency and authenticity by publishing verified customer reviews.  

Earning this recognition confirms that our users genuinely believe in the value and effectiveness of Parallels RAS—a belief that drives us to keep innovating and delivering even greater solutions. 

Outstanding capabilities: Delivering a reliable and scalable solution 

Parallels RAS has been consistently praised for its capabilities, which were a critical factor in achieving the TrustRadius Buyer’s Choice Award.  

Among our customers, 75% rated Parallels RAS as offering top-tier functionality.  

Our platform enables remote access to applications, desktops, and data seamlessly and securely, ensuring organisations can operate efficiently from any device, anywhere or anytime.  

With remote work and hybrid setups becoming the norm, Parallels RAS empowers IT teams to support a highly productive, distributed workforce with minimal effort. 

A few standout features that set Parallels RAS apart include its ability to centralize IT management, simplify deployment, and provide high-level security.  

Moreover, Parallels RAS is versatile enough to integrate with cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, Azure Virtual Desktop or Amazon EC2, making it ideal for companies with hybrid or multi-cloud IT environments.  

With such features, Parallels RAS remains at the forefront of virtual app and desktop delivery, addressing the unique needs of businesses across industries. 

Best value for price: Maximizing ROI for customers 

“Best value for price” was another significant factor in earning the Buyer’s Choice Award.  

Customers consistently praise Parallels RAS for delivering advanced remote access solutions at a competitive price point, avoiding the high license and maintenance costs often associated with similar products.  

The Parallels team takes that seriously, which is why our pricing structure continues to allow businesses of all sizes to benefit from virtual applications and desktop solutions without overextending their budgets.  

Whether an organization is a large enterprise or a small business, Parallels RAS offers a scalable and cost-effective option with advanced automation controls that deliver robust functionality and performance. 

On TrustRadius, Chris Little, IT Manager from the West Derby School shares, “We replaced our outdated Microsoft Remote Desktop solution with Parallels RAS, which has allowed us to offer remote desktop services to our teachers in the safest way possible, no matter what hardware they are using.” 

One reason Parallels RAS has remained a popular choice is our commitment to uncompromising quality combined with a simple concurrent licensing model.  

This combination has enabled many organizations to support remote work affordably, making Parallels RAS a valuable investment in the ever-evolving landscape of remote access technology. 

Building trust through exceptional customer relationships 

“The Best Relationship” category on TrustRadius considers customer feedback on key elements like repeat purchase intent, alignment between product performance and expectations, and the quality of engagement with sales and support teams.  

This feedback shows that Parallels RAS users feel supported throughout their journey—from initial discussions with sales to implementation and ongoing use. 

A strong relationship with customers is at the heart of our operations.  

Our teams are committed to meeting customer needs at every stage, ensuring that our solutions exceed expectations and are backed by the reliable support necessary to navigate any challenges.  

From implementation to troubleshooting, our customer feedback has consistently highlighted the proactive support and expertise our teams bring to each interaction. 

Winning the TrustRadius Buyer’s Choice Award underscores the trust and confidence our customers have in our products.  

As we look to the future, the Parallels team remains committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, and customer-focused solutions that empower organizations around the world.  

Thank you to our customers for their ongoing support and feedback, which drives us to continually enhance Parallels RAS. 

The post Parallels RAS wins the TrustRadius Buyer’s Choice Award appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

Read on for a high-level overview of the updates and discover how Parallels RAS 20 is the smoothest, most enjoyable version yet!  

Flexibility updates

Local App Launch

This feature enables local applications to be launched alongside published apps via the Parallels Client. This allows users to access and launch both local and remote applications seamlessly, providing a unified and streamlined experience. 

With Local App Launch, users can start local applications without first establishing a connection to a remote session. The process is nearly instantaneous, making it feel like all applications— local or remote—are part of the same environment. 

This capability is like our existing RemoteExec feature but with a key improvement—there’s no need to set up a remote session before launching an application.  

This enhancement reduces overhead and complexity while increasing productivity. It allows for a more responsive and fluid user experience, enabling users to work more efficiently with quick access to all necessary tools directly from the Parallels Client. 

Furthermore, administrators can configure alternate access to a local application by specifying a URL. If the configured local application in Parallels RAS is not installed on the local device or if the local application is accessed from a non-Windows device, the configured URL is opened as a fallback scenario. 

This feature also prevents the user from having to switch contexts, since all local or remote applications are accessible from the same place with Parallels RAS acting as the central workplace.  

It also allows admins to manage the user application shortcuts in their local start menus. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Availability Zones

Admins can now deploy virtual machines (VMs) from the same template version and within the same host pool across different AWS Availability Zones (AZ) within a single region.  

This support is crucial for high-availability deployments, ensuring that VMs are distributed across multiple physically separate locations within the same AWS region.  

By leveraging multiple availability zones, you can significantly reduce the risk of downtime and improve the fault tolerance of your infrastructure. In the event of an outage in one zone, your services can continue to run smoothly in another, minimizing disruption and maintaining business continuity.  

This feature promises the highest levels of reliability and performance in your AWS-hosted environments. 

Azure Marketplace SaaS offering for pre-paid subscription

In addition to Bring Your Own License (BYOL) and Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) offers, customers can now buy a pre-paid Parallels subscription directly from the Azure Marketplace. 

This offering simplifies the procurement process, allowing businesses to easily purchase Parallels RAS licenses using their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) and Parallels partners to create private offers for their customers. 

Together with the existing Azure Marketplace offers, this approach enhances deployment ease and aligns with modern cloud-based purchasing strategies, offering a more convenient and cost-effective solution for managing remote access and virtualization needs.  

Security and system updates

Easily distinguish between farms in My Account

This feature securely transmits and displays the IP address of the RAS server (Primary Connection Broker of the License Site) to Parallels My Account. This enhancement helps administrators distinguish between different farms based on their assigned IP addresses, facilitating better support and security management. 

Read-only drive redirection

Read-only drive redirection allows drives to be redirected from client to server but restricts them to read-only access, thereby mitigating data leaks. This feature extends the existing drive redirection capabilities, providing more granularity when working with drive redirection. 

Updated system requirements

The Parallels RAS team has updated the system requirements for Parallels RAS to phase out support for operating systems. Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be discontinued, along with Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 as session hosts. 

This change is being implemented to prioritize security, as these older systems no longer receive critical updates, making them more vulnerable to security risks.  

It aligns with customer requests for up-to-date environments that meet modern compliance standards and security expectations. By focusing on newer, supported operating systems, we can ensure enhanced protection and a better overall user experience.  

Additionally, all infrastructure roles within Parallels RAS deployments will transition to Windows Server 2016-2022 due to the phasing out of support for Windows Server 2012 R2. This update reflects our commitment to providing a secure and optimized environment by focusing on more current, robust operating systems. 

New operating system support

Parallels Client for Android now offers full support for Android 15, while Parallels Client for macOS is compatible with macOS 15 (macOS Sequoia). Additionally, Parallels Client for iOS/iPadOS now supports iOS/iPadOS 18. 

Further information will be provided regarding the upcoming changes, including guidance on transitioning to supported operating systems and the implications for existing deployments.  

I encourage all customers to review this update and make the necessary adjustments to their systems to align with the new requirements, ensuring continued support and optimal performance. 

This knowledge base article contains detailed information on Parallels RAS 20 System Requirements. 

Admin improvements

New cost dashboard – coming soon

The new dashboard allows IT administrators to comprehensively view current and future cost utilization when using Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). Accessible via the Parallels RAS Console and Management Portal, this feature is an independent component that can be utilized in both cloud and hybrid environments.  

It provides real-time insights into resource usage and expenses, helping organizations optimize their Azure allocations, manage budgets effectively, and prevent unexpected costs.  

Furthermore, the dashboard enhances visibility into cloud spending, enabling more efficient financial planning and supporting strategic decision-making for virtualized IT environments. 

New admin console feature: Last used Secure Gateway

To enhance the usability and efficiency of the Parallels RAS administration console, a new, dedicated window that displays the “Last Used Secure Gateway” has been introduced.  

This window will clearly indicate the specific Secure Gateway utilization for tunnelling each user session, making it easier for administrators to see which users have used which gateways. 

It empowers administrators to filter and sort user groups based on the Secure Gateway value shown in the new window.  

This capability streamlines the process of managing user sessions and troubleshooting network-related issues, allowing quicker identification of patterns or problems related to specific Secure Gateways.   

Run Parallels Client on Windows 365 Cloud PC

Cloud PCs are great for providing the full desktop experience. The Parallels Client on a Cloud PC delivers seamless apps from Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), on-premises through RDSH, VDI, MSIX app attach apps, and Remote PC apps, all through a consistent interface. 

Please see the introductory video illustrating the end-user experience using Windows 365 Cloud PC and Parallels RAS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvHS0gySzUs. 
 

This solution unblocks customers from moving to Cloud PC, especially if application data backends still reside outside of Azure today or if applications require the client app to remain as close as possible to, for example, a backend database to mitigate latency.  

It also accelerates user onboarding to Cloud PCs since apps are now “following” the user onto their Cloud PC, decoupled from the OS.  

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) apps and/or MSIX app attach apps can be provided seamlessly and dynamically through dedicated application and session management with Parallels RAS.  

User Experience

High DPI session in Web Client (HTML5)

Introducing new support for high pixel density (high DPI) displays in the Parallels web client, enabling users to experience resolutions up to 8K.  

This enhancement allows for sharper, more detailed visuals, making it ideal for tasks that demand high-definition clarity and precision. 

Continue session across multiple devices automatically

This feature in the Parallels RAS client is designed to enhance user productivity and session continuity across multiple devices from a single session.  

It allows applications to automatically launch when a user logs into their Parallels RAS session, regardless of the different devices from which they are accessed. 

Users can then begin working immediately upon logging in without needing to restart applications they were previously using manually. It particularly beneficial for users who frequently switch between devices, such as shared workspaces, hot-desking setups, or when working remotely from different locations.  

Previously, this functionality was available when logging on to an installed Parallels Client — this release extends it to the User Portal. 

It’s particularly useful for ISVs or organizations publishing one specific app to a group of users who log on via the User Portal. As soon as authentication occurs, the specified application is launched without further user interaction. 

New French and Belgium keyboard layouts

The keyboard layout settings have been updated to include French and Belgium options when using the Parallels Client for the web, enhancing the user experience for those familiar with these layouts.  

Administrators can centrally manage keyboard layouts through Parallels RAS Policies, ensuring streamlined control and consistency across the environment. 

Try Parallels RAS 20!

The latest release of Parallels RAS 20 offers a comprehensive set of features and improvements designed to enhance both the administrative and end-user experience.  

These updates demonstrate our commitment to evolving the Parallels RAS platform to meet modern business needs, enabling organizations to provide a secure, efficient, and user-friendly environment for remote work and virtualization. 

We are happy to invite you to participate in the Technical Preview by going to https://my.parallels.com/ras/beta to access the mentioned new capabilities and much more. Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for the general availability of Parallels RAS 20 this fall!

The post Parallels RAS 20 technical preview: designed to elevate your entire experience appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

Recently, the Business Intelligence Group proudly announced the winners of the 11th annual, 2024 Stratus Awards, honoring the pioneers and teams advancing cloud technologies. 

And we are thrilled to announce that Parallels RAS was recognized as a leading Cloud Integrator in this year’s Stratus Awards.  

 “Couldn’t be happier for Parallels RAS to be recognized as a leading cloud solution, offering our customers the flexibility to choose between on-premises, public, or hybrid cloud environments,” said Arnaud Marliere, SVP of Marketing, Global Products, “This award is a true reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication, as we continue to provide seamless and secure cloud access.” 

Why was Parallels RAS recognized?

Parallels RAS stands out as a versatile solution for today’s – and tomorrow’s – cloud computing challenges.  

Designed to cater to a wide range of companies across various industries, Parallels RAS is a comprehensive solution designed for delivering virtual desktops and applications to any device, anywhere, anytime, with centralized management and control. 

In addition to enhancing anywhere work capabilities and streamlining IT infrastructure, Parallels RAS provides businesses with a robust and flexible way to ensure employees have secure and reliable access to the applications and data they need to do their work, regardless of their location or device.  

This simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability are what make Parallels RAS a top choice for businesses looking to implement efficient, flexible, and secure virtual desktop infrastructure and application delivery solutions.  

Simplicity

Parallels RAS is easy to set up and manage. The installation and configuration process is straightforward and can be set up quickly without requiring extensive technical expertise. A unified management console comes standard, providing a single, intuitive console for managing all aspects of the virtual environment, reducing administrative complexity and time, allowing for rapid adoption and deployment. 

Cost-effectiveness

Our affordable licensing model offers a competitive pricing advantage with all-inclusive licensing that covers all features, with no hidden costs. You can utilize your organization’s existing infrastructure and integrate with a variety of hypervisors and cloud providers, which offer additional opportunities to reduce costs. 

Scalability

Parallels RAS as a scalable and flexible infrastructure. Based on the business needs of our customers, businesses are able to scale up or down, allowing organizations to grow without worrying about outgrowing their virtual desktop infrastructure. Plus, it offers the ability to integrate into public, private cloud, or hybrid environments.  

About the Stratus Awards

The 2024 Stratus Award winners include leaders and globally renowned organizations; they were chosen by the Stratus Awards panel of judges because of how they add value to our daily lives.   

“Cloud technology has become the backbone of modern business,” says Russ Fordyce, Chief Executive Officer at Business Intelligence Group. “For 11 years, the Stratus Awards have celebrated the visionaries who are pushing boundaries, building cutting-edge solutions, and empowering businesses to thrive in the cloud era. Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding performances.” 

Winners of these awards have shown they play a crucial role in the industry’s growth, including enhancing our ability to work remotely, strengthening cybersecurity measures, and improving the means with which we communicate with one another. 

What is the Business Intelligence Group?

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, business executives—those with experience and knowledge—judge the programs.  

The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those whose achievements stand above those of their peers. 

Transform your cloud strategy and explore Parallels RAS today!   

Learn more and get in touch with the Parallels team. 

The post Parallels RAS honored with a 2024 Stratus Award for cloud innovation and leadership appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

In the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service, Parallels has been recognized as a Visionary for its Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. While included as an Honorable Mention in the 2023 version of the report, this is the first time Parallels has appeared as one of the placed vendors within the Magic Quadrant.

A comprehensive DaaS solution

Parallels DaaS (Desktop-as-a-Service) is a cloud-based app and desktop delivery solution that caters to the diverse needs of small to midsize businesses.

It offers a flexible and secure way to access critical data and apps from any internet-connected device.

Parallels DaaS’s unique, cloud-native architecture isolates the management infrastructure (which is managed by Parallels) and leaves critical business data where it belongs in the business environment.

This architecture not only dramatically improves security but also offers incredible scalability, addressing potential concerns about data security and system performance.

With its seamless integration with Microsoft Azure, Parallels DaaS simplifies the deployment, onboarding, and management process for IT admins.

This integration allows for easy migration of existing Azure resources, simplifies the management of virtual machines, and provides a unified platform for managing both Azure and Parallels DaaS resources.

Additionally, it offers intuitive administration controls and real-time dashboards that allow all types of businesses to deliver and use enterprise-grade IT solutions.

Built on extensive experience

While it is a new offering, Parallels DaaS has been expertly crafted based on the knowledge and experience gained from the teams behind the company’s mature, widely adopted VDI and cloud ready solution; Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server).

It’s a unified management platform that enables on-premises VDI, hybrid environments, cloud PCs, and physical endpoints.

With the seamless integration of cloud technologies like Azure Virtual Desktop and Amazon EC2, Parallels RAS offers a scalable, cloud-ready solution that ensures end-to-end security while simplifying deployment, configuration, automation, and cost optimization of IT environments.

Simple and transparent licensing

One of the common pain points in the DaaS market is the complexity of licensing models.

Parallels addresses this issue head-on with a straightforward, easy-to-understand licensing structure.

Parallels DaaS is licensed on a named-user basis, with a minimum requirement of 15 users and a one-year commitment.

This simplicity in licensing makes budgeting easier by providing a clear understanding of the costs involved and ensures that businesses are not caught off guard by unexpected costs, such as overage charges or additional fees for advanced features. It provides a sense of relief and gives businesses confidence in their financial planning.

Industry expert assessment

“We believe that our position as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service is not only an accomplishment for Parallels, but also a testament to our commitment to simplifying the management of virtual machines and meeting the demands of the market,” said Prashant Ketkar, CTO at Parallels. “With Parallels DaaS, organizations receive an intuitive, user-friendly solution with simple licensing without sacrificing scalability and security.”

Parallels DaaS: a new Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant

Parallels is recognized as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant. A comprehensive and flexible DaaS solution offering seamless integration with Azure and a commitment to simplifying IT management, and we believe that Parallels DaaS is an excellent choice for small to midsize businesses looking to simplify budgeting and avoid unexpected costs.

Seeking a cost-effective and cutting-edge infrastructure solution for your business? Learn more about Parallels DaaS.

–

Gartner Attribution & Disclaimer

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service, By Stuart Downes, Eri Hariu, Mark Margevicius, Craig Fisler, Sunil Kumar, 16 September.

Gartner and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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This robust, secure, and flexible desktop solution offers an array of powerful features designed to meet the diverse needs of modern organizations.  

Over the past six months, we have been working to enhance the solution even further, making Parallels DaaS a standout choice for businesses worldwide.  

Let’s explore just a few of these new enhancements: 

Global Azure region coverage

One of Parallels DaaS’s standout features is its extensive coverage of the global Azure region. By leveraging Azure’s vast infrastructure, Parallels DaaS ensures that your desktops and applications are hosted close to your geographical location. This proximity minimizes latency and maximizes performance, providing a seamless user experience. 

Moreover, hosting in local regions ensures high performance and helps comply with regional privacy laws and local legislation.  

This compliance gives you peace of mind, knowing that your data is managed according to local regulations, adding an extra layer of security to your operations. Whether your business operates in North America, Europe, Asia, or beyond, Parallels DaaS ensures reliable, high-performance access to your virtual desktops and applications. 

Multi-factor authentication

Security is paramount when accessing corporate resources. Parallels DaaS enhances security by integrating seamlessly with Entra ID for Multi-factor Authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide two or more verification methods before gaining access. 

This robust security measure significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, ensuring  only authorized personnel can sign in to your desktops and applications. By incorporating MFA, Parallels DaaS helps you safeguard sensitive data and maintain a strong security posture for your organization. 

Windows 11 support

With Windows 10 nearing its end of support, transitioning to the latest technology is crucial. Parallels DaaS fully supports Windows 11, Microsoft’s newest operating system. Windows 11 brings a host of new features, improved performance, and enhanced security measures. 

By adopting Windows 11, your organization can benefit from the latest innovations and continue to receive critical security updates. This change ensures a robust and secure environment for your users, enabling them to work efficiently and securely with the latest tools and technologies. 

Flexible virtual machine sizes

Understanding that businesses have varying performance and budgetary requirements, Parallels DaaS empowers you with a wide range of virtual machine sizes to choose from.  

Whether you need a cost-effective solution for standard office tasks or high-performance machines with GPU capabilities for demanding applications, Parallels DaaS has you covered. 

This flexibility allows you to select a virtual machine size that aligns perfectly with your business needs.  

You can ensure optimal performance without overspending, making Parallels DaaS a cost-effective and scalable solution for businesses of all sizes. 

Parallels DaaS: The future of desktop virtualization

With features like global Azure region coverage, multi-factor authentication, Windows 11 support, and flexible virtual machine sizes, Parallels DaaS provides a comprehensive and secure solution for modern organizations.  

Combined with existing benefits such as simplified IT management, enhanced mobility, cost savings, and robust security, Parallels DaaS stands out as a powerful tool for businesses looking to optimize their IT infrastructure. 

Embrace the future of desktop virtualization with Parallels DaaS and unlock the full potential of your business today. Take a look at Parallels DaaS today, or register for a free 14-day trial. 

Parallels DaaS has been named a winner in the 2024 CRN Tech Innovators Awards in the Virtualization/Virtual Desktop Infrastructure category. 

The post Unlocking the full potential of Parallels DaaS: New features you need to know about appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

Winning this award is a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and delivering exceptional solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners. The CRN Technology Innovator Award is not just a trophy but a recognition of our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in a highly competitive landscape. 

“We are inspired by the commitment to continuous innovation among this year’s CRN Tech Innovator Award winners and finalists. Each of these technology vendors delivers cutting-edge offerings that meet evolving customer needs and create new opportunities for solution providers. We look forward to future innovations from the recipients and to seeing how they advance success across the channel.”

– Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel company

The CRN Award criteria 

The selection process for this esteemed award was rigorous and thorough. A panel of CRN editors reviewed hundreds of vendor entries and solution provider testimonials to determine the standout innovations of 2024. Our solution was evaluated based on multiple criteria, including key capabilities, uniqueness, technological ingenuity, and its ability to address the specific needs of our customers and partners. 

Being recognized among such a diverse and dynamic group of technology leaders is a tremendous honor. It reflects our team’s diligent efforts and creativity along with our commitment to developing solutions that meet industry standards and set new benchmarks for innovation. 

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the CRN editors and the entire IT channel community for this recognition. Your support and feedback have been invaluable in our journey to innovate and excel. 

“With the launch of Parallels DaaS earlier this year, I couldn’t be more thrilled for its recognition as a winner in the 2024 CRN Tech Innovator Awards. It serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team here at Parallels and our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence with our suite of products, including Parallels Desktop, Parallels RAS, Parallels Browser Isolation, and Parallels Secure Workspace, for our customers and managed service providers (MSPs).” 

 – Arnaud Marliere, SVP of Marketing, Global Products

As we celebrate this achievement, we want to reassure you that our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions, like Parallels DaaS, remains unwavering. This award is a milestone and a testament to our dedication to innovation and excellence. 

Discover Parallels DaaS 

Parallels DaaS is revolutionizing how businesses approach remote work and IT management. By leveraging Parallels DaaS, organizations can provide employees with secure, scalable, and high-performance virtual desktops from anywhere in the world.  

The solution eliminates the need for costly hardware investments and simplifies IT management with its intuitive administration tools. With features like seamless integration with existing IT environments, robust security protocols, and the ability to scale resources on-demand, Parallels DaaS empowers businesses to enhance productivity, reduce operational costs, and ensure a flexible and resilient workforce.  

Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or on-site, Parallels DaaS offers a reliable and efficient way to deliver desktop services tailored to your organization’s needs. 

The Tech Innovator Awards will be featured in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators.  

Thank you for joining us in this celebration. Stay tuned for more exciting developments as we continue to shape the future of technology! 

Learn more about Parallels DaaS. 

The post Celebrating Innovation: Parallels DaaS wins the CRN Technology Innovator Award for 2024! appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

Parallels RAS and DaaS Solutions in the Foreground 

The IDC MarketScape reports evaluate vendors who deliver applications and desktop virtualization support directly to customers. Alludo (Parallels) has two products that were part of the evaluation for each report – Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) and Parallels DaaS (Desktop as a Service). 

Parallels RAS 

 Parallels RAS is a flexible virtual application and desktop delivery solution that empowers organizations of all sizes to work securely from anywhere, on any device. The platform offers an agile, cloud-ready foundation and end-to-end security, controlled by a centralized management console. Leverage on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud deployments and integrate with existing technologies like Azure Virtual Desktop and Amazon EC2.  

With Parallels RAS, gain the flexibility, scalability, and IT agility to quickly adapt to changing business needs. Best of all, Parallels RAS offers a single, full-featured licensing model that includes 24/7 support and access to free training. Discover more information on Parallels RAS.

Parallels DaaS 

 Parallels DaaS (Desktop-as-a-Service) is a cloud-based app and desktop delivery solution that offers a flexible and secure way to access critical data and apps from any internet-connected device. It uses a unique, cloud-native architecture that isolates the management infrastructure (which is managed by Parallels) and leaves critical business data where it belongs, in the business environment. This dramatically improves security and offers incredible scalability.   

 For IT admins, Parallels DaaS simplifies the onboarding and management process with intuitive administration controls and real-time dashboards, allowing all types of businesses to deliver and use enterprise-grade IT solutions.  Discover more information on Parallels DaaS.

Industry expert assessment 

“Parallels has continued to improve on their already powerful clients and multimedia protocol and is an excellent choice for an organization that needs to organize an existing heterogeneous VCC environment, including DaaS and most common hypervisors as an option,” said Shannon Kalvar, research director of IT Service Management and Client Virtualization at IDC. “Parallels delivers simple, flexible licensing, provides freedom of choice between desktop, server, and cloud, and has a clear roadmap that tracks with current and predicted trends.” 

About IDC MarketScape 

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market.  

 IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers. 

Parallels’ Commitment to innovation 

 “We’re honored by this recognition from the IDC MarketScape,” said Prashant Ketkar, CTO at Parallels. “Our goal at Parallels is to deliver flexible, customer-centric, and cost-effective solutions that provide secure access to desktops and applications on any device, anywhere.  

We believe these reports highlight our forward momentum and continuous innovation as we move toward integrating our products into a Parallels unified workspace ecosystem.” 

 For more information, visit our website. 

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This breach highlighted the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and the urgent need for robust security measures.  

I’ll explore how the attack occurred, delve into the technical details, and discuss how modern security practices such as virtual browsers, browser isolation, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) could have mitigated the impact.  

I’ll also emphasize the superiority of technical controls over training alone in combating such advanced threats. 

If you’re ready to start your browser isolation journey, get a free trial of Parallels Browser Isolation. 

How the cyber-attack occurred

The breach was detected on January 12, 2024, when Microsoft’s security team identified unusual activity within their corporate email systems.  

The attackers exploited vulnerabilities, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, including source code repositories and internal systems.  

This breach was part of a larger pattern of attacks by Midnight Blizzard, which is known for its persistent and sophisticated methods. 

The initial entry point is believed to have been through phishing emails, a common tactic employed by nation-state actors to deceive employees into divulging their credentials.  

Once the attackers had access to these credentials, they could move laterally within Microsoft’s network, exploiting further vulnerabilities to access critical systems and data. 

4 advanced tactics characterized the attack on Microsoft

1. Exfiltration of sensitive data from Microsoft’s email systems 

The attackers exfiltrated sensitive information from Microsoft’s email systems, including both internal communications and data shared with customers.  

This data was used to identify further vulnerabilities and potential targets within Microsoft’s infrastructure. 

2. Exploitation of vulnerabilities  

 Using the information obtained, the attackers attempted to gain further unauthorized access to other internal systems and data repositories.  

This included efforts to access source code repositories, potentially allowing the attackers to identify and exploit software vulnerabilities more broadly. 

3. Increased attack intensity

 In February 2024, the volume of password spray attacks increased tenfold, indicating a concerted effort by the attackers to leverage the stolen information for broader access.  

Password spraying involves attempting a few common passwords against many different accounts, capitalizing on weak or reused passwords. 

4. Advanced persistent threat (APT)

 Midnight Blizzard is known for its coordinated and resource-intensive attacks, involving long-term surveillance and sophisticated intrusion techniques.  

 This APT strategy allows the attackers to remain within the network for extended periods, continually extracting valuable information and identifying new vulnerabilities. 

 Watch our Zero Trust on-demand webinar for valuable advice from security expert, Dr. Chase Cunningham. 

The role of virtual browsers and ZTNA play in mitigating

In response to such sophisticated threats, adopting advanced security measures is crucial.  

Here’s how virtual browsers, browser isolation, and ZTNA could have significantly mitigated this breach. 

Virtual browsers and browser isolation

• Containment of threats 

Virtual browsers and browser isolation technologies can contain potential threats by executing web content in a remote virtual environment.  

This prevents malicious code from reaching the endpoint, significantly reducing the risk of exploitation. 

• Protection against zero-day vulnerabilities 

By isolating browsing activities, these technologies can protect against zero-day vulnerabilities, often exploited in APT attacks.  

Since browsing activity is isolated from the local machine, any malicious code executed through the browser remains confined to the virtual environment. 

• Enhanced security controls 

Browser isolation can enforce security policies at a granular level, ensuring that only safe content is rendered to the user.  

This reduces the risk of phishing attacks and drive-by downloads, common tactics used by attackers to gain initial access. 

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

• Micro-segmentation 

ZTNA implements micro-segmentation, dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments.  

This limits the movement of attackers within the network, containing the breach and preventing lateral movement.  

Each segment is secured individually, and access is granted based on strict verification processes. 

• Least privilege access 

By enforcing the principle of least privilege, ZTNA ensures that users and devices only have access to the resources they need.  

This minimizes the potential damage if credentials are compromised, as attackers cannot easily access sensitive systems without additional verification. 

• Continuous monitoring and verification 

ZTNA continuously monitors and verifies user activities, ensuring that any suspicious behavior is promptly detected and mitigated.  

This proactive approach helps in identifying and responding to threats in real-time, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers. 

Watch our Zero Trust on-demand webinar for valuable advice from security expert, Dr. Chase Cunningham. 

Superior technical controls vs. training alone

While user training is an essential component of any cybersecurity strategy, it is not sufficient on its own to defend against sophisticated threats like those posed by Midnight Blizzard.  

Technical controls provide a more reliable and consistent means of protection. 

Human error reduction

Training can help reduce human error, but it cannot eliminate it.  

Technical controls like virtual browsers and ZTNA do not rely on user vigilance, making them more effective at preventing breaches. 

Automated defense mechanisms

Technical controls offer automated, consistent defense mechanisms that do not depend on user behavior.  

For instance, browser isolation automatically protects against malicious websites, while ZTNA continuously enforces access controls. 

Comprehensive threat detection

Advanced technical controls can detect and respond to threats in real time.  

Continuous monitoring and automated response mechanisms ensure that potential breaches are identified and mitigated promptly, reducing the impact of any successful attacks. 

Scalability and consistency

Technical controls can be scaled and applied across an organization. 

Training effectiveness can vary significantly between individuals, whereas technical solutions provide uniform protection. 

Watch our Zero Trust on-demand webinar for valuable advice from security expert, Dr. Chase Cunningham. 

Defend against attacks with virtual browsers, browser isolation, and ZTNA

The Microsoft breach by Midnight Blizzard underscores the evolving threat landscape and the need for advanced cybersecurity measures.  

Virtual browsers, browser isolation, and ZTNA offer powerful tools to defend against such sophisticated attacks.  

By isolating potential threats and enforcing strict access controls, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of breaches and protect their sensitive data more effectively. 

Moreover, while user training remains important, the superiority of technical controls lies in their ability to provide consistent, automated, and scalable defenses that do not rely on user behavior.  

As cybersecurity threats continue to grow in complexity, adopting these advanced strategies will be essential for safeguarding digital assets and maintaining trust in our digital infrastructure. 

If you’re ready to start your browser isolation journey, get a free trial of Parallels Browser Isolation.

The post A deep dive into the recent Microsoft cybersecurity breach: Understanding the attack and mitigation strategies appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

This recognition is a testament to the exceptional partnership between Parallels and IGEL, a collaboration spanned over two decades since 2002. The award was officially accepted by our CRO, Michelle Chiantera, at IGEL Disrupt earlier this year.

What is the IGEL Ready program?

The IGEL Ready program is a pivotal strategic initiative that enables hardware, software, and peripheral vendors to seamlessly integrate their solutions with IGEL OS and jointly embark on market ventures with IGEL.

This collaboration offers customers an extensive range of verified, secure, and productive digital workspace offerings, empowering them with greater choice and flexibility. Parallels and IGEL play a pivotal role in revolutionizing end-user computing. Through a shared commitment to community programs, both teams gain invaluable insights into customer needs.

This understanding empowers them to give customers the freedom to choose between on-premises, cloud, or hybrid solutions tailored to their specific requirements. Additionally, the partnership promotes sustainable IT practices by enabling customers to repurpose hardware and support any device, fostering productivity on the go while prioritizing Zero Trust security measures.

Why Parallels was recognized

Parallels was the first partner-built platform app on the IGEL app portal, a testament to the close technological partnership between the two organizations. The integration between the two companies enables IGEL customers to deliver Windows applications and desktops to their users, empowering them with seamless access to the resources they need to excel.

Through the IGEL Ready program, Parallels® RAS has increased the number of active customers. Additionally, Parallels has tapped into IGEL’s vast channel partner network, expanding its reach and providing customers with convenient access to the combined strengths of both solutions.

IGEL’s secure and manageable endpoints and Parallels’ comprehensive application delivery and VDI platform offer customers a compelling value proposition.

The Parallels Client has undergone a meticulous rebuilding process for IGEL, leveraging the IGEL SDK to ensure native support and seamless availability in the App portal. This strategic move has enabled the teams to refine the offering over the past twenty years, consistently exceeding customer expectations.

Parallels and IGEL together

Notable improvements include enhanced peripheral redirection, multi-monitor support, and the ability to display published RAS apps directly on the IGEL desktop. Customers can use both Parallels and IGEL solutions out of the box. They can access either through the Parallels Client integrated into the IGEL firmware or via the App portal.

The teams are diligently working on delivering the next update to the Parallels Client for IGEL. Both companies are committed to fostering innovation while maintaining simplicity and accelerating customer time-to-value. Customers migrate to Parallels because of its technological flexibility, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness.

Parallels RAS boasts native integration with Azure Virtual Desktop, extending AVD capabilities for hybrid deployments, optimizing costs, and simplifying management and deployments through a user-friendly wizard-driven console.

The Parallels-IGEL partnership provides the following key benefits to customers:

1. Comprehensive and secure virtualization and endpoint management solution. The integration of Parallels RAS with IGEL OS creates a powerful combined solution that enhances endpoint security, extends the life of endpoint hardware, lowers endpoint management overhead, and reduces end-user computing costs.
2. Cost savings and improved productivity. The combination of Parallels RAS and IGEL OS allows organizations to minimize capital expenditures by enabling access to virtual applications and desktops from any endpoint. IGEL OS can extend the hardware lifecycle and avoid disruptions from investing in new computers, helping improve workplace productivity.
3. Streamlined IT management. Parallels RAS is simple to install and configure, allowing users to access enterprise applications quickly without extensive IT intervention. Similarly, IGEL OS is easy to install and manage through drag-and-drop profiling, streamlining IT management for organizations.
4. Enterprise-grade security. Parallels RAS and IGEL OS together deliver robust security features, such as locking down device usage and preventing unauthorized app installations, protecting organizations from data breaches and malware attacks.
5. Flexibility and scalability. The partnership allows organizations to deploy corporate resources in heterogeneous environments. Parallels RAS and IGEL OS are hardware-agnostic and can be installed on a wide range of devices, providing customers with greater flexibility and scalability.

IGEL has been strategically selected as Parallels’ technology partner, and in 2024, the partnership is poised for further expansion through increased joint marketing opportunities.

By joining forces, Parallels and IGEL can provide customers with a comprehensive end-to-end solution for accessing virtual applications and desktops from on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments. This empowers organizations to achieve greater operational efficiency, security, and agility in their digital transformation journeys.

Start your journey with Parallels now!

The post Parallels awarded 2024 IGEL Ready Platform App of the Year appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.

Accordingly, the Zero Trust model — built on the principle of “never trust, always verify” — has become a crucial element of cybersecurity, particularly for organizations leveraging cloud architecture. Zero Trust offers better visibility, consistent and comprehensive security, and the speed and agility necessary to combat rapidly evolving cyber threats.

I’ll explore five key strategies for integrating Zero Trust into the fabric of your cloud infrastructure, ensuring your data remains secure and your operations resilient. I’ll also delve into the criteria for assessing the impact of Zero Trust strategies on your organization.

If you’re ready to start your Zero Trust journey, get a free trial of Parallels Secure Workspace and Parallels Browser Isolation.

Key criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of Zero Trust strategies

Let’s kick off our discussion on integrating Zero Trust into cloud architecture by establishing some evaluation criteria. Consider the following three criteria to determine if an approach is effective.

1. Security

The foremost priority is to assess how well the strategy enhances the cloud environments’ security. A solid strategy prevents unauthorized access, detects threats in real time, and responds to security incidents effectively.

2. End-user experience

It’s essential to ensure that security measures do not make the user experience overly complex. Strategies should allow seamless access to necessary resources with minimal disruption to daily activities, thus maintaining or improving productivity.

3. IT admin management efficiency

Evaluate security strategies based on how they impact IT admin efficiency. The evaluation criteria include ease of deployment, ongoing management, and the ability of IT staff to maintain oversight without excessive overhead. By examining each strategy against these criteria, we can ensure that your Zero Trust approach secures the cloud environment and supports positive user experiences and efficient IT management.

1. Identity and access management (IAM)

Comprehensive IAM Solutions

The cornerstone of Zero Trust is robust identity verification. Implementing multifactor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and least privilege security policies ensure that only verified users have access to your network and only to the resources they need.

Identity Providers (IdPs) such as Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, and PingFederate play a crucial role in smoothly linking different apps and boosting security with OpenID Connect (OIDC). OIDC enhances authentication, allowing only authorized users access.

Effectiveness

• Security. IAM enhances security by controlling access with MFA, RBAC, and least privilege policies, using IdPs like Okta for smooth app integration. For legacy systems, use tools like Parallels Secure Workspace for secure single sign-on integration. This setup enhances security by seamlessly integrating modern and legacy systems.

• End-user experience. IAM can complicate access with additional security steps but streamlines it via single sign-on capabilities across applications.

• IT admin management efficiency. IAM reduces IT workload by automating access control and user verification, improving administrative efficiency and system control.

Use case: Consider a healthcare provider managing access to sensitive patient records. By integrating MFA and RBAC, the provider ensures that only authorized personnel can access specific data based on their roles, significantly mitigating the risk of data breaches.

2. Network Segmentation

Microsegmentation

This strategy involves segmenting your cloud network into smaller, highly secure zones.

Employing a secure intra-network gateway enhances control over resource access within these zones, mitigating unauthorized movements across the network. If one segment is compromised, the breach’s impact remains confined to that segment alone, thus preserving the integrity of the rest of your network and safeguarding critical resources.

Effectiveness

• Security. Microsegmentation confines security breaches to small areas, reducing overall risk and protecting critical network resources efficiently.

• End-user experience. Minimal impact on user experience; maintains regular access to necessary resources without interruption.

• IT admin management efficiency. Enhances control and simplifies network traffic monitoring, improving response to threats and maintenance efficiency.

Use case: A manufacturing firm operates two networks—a locally managed administrative network and a headquarters-controlled production network. Historically, accessing applications and data across these networks was a lot of work for local staff.

By implementing a secure intra-network gateway, the company now enables seamless and secure access to the production network, enhancing efficiency and reducing overhead. Parallels Secure Workspace serves as a secure gateway, facilitating streamlined access to data and applications on the production network. It also allows for secure, audited sharing of documents with external contacts, eliminating the need for local installations. Users can access this gateway through any browser on any device.

3. Continuous monitoring and analytics

Audit tools are essential for real-time anomaly detection and response, which is critical for maintaining transparency and enforcing dynamic security measures. These tools provide in-depth insights into user activities and potential threats.

Effectiveness

• Security: Audit tools enable real-time anomaly detection and response, significantly enhancing network security and threat mitigation.

• End-user experience: Minimal impact on users, maintaining system transparency while safeguarding data integrity.

• IT Admin management efficiency: Improves IT productivity by automating threat detection and security responses and streamlining administrative tasks.

Use case: A financial institution uses remote browser isolation to boost security when accessing cloud-based financial tools. This approach protects against cyber threats by isolating each browsing session and monitoring usage in real time.

4. Embracing the hybrid cloud

A hybrid approach is essential for balancing security and functionality. It allows organizations to keep sensitive data and confidential operations securely on-premises, minimizing exposure to external threats while leveraging cloud solutions for less critical business operations.

This setup enhances operational flexibility, scales resources efficiently, and ensures compliance with data protection regulations, providing a strategic mix of security and accessibility to meet diverse business needs.

Effectiveness

• Security. Keeps sensitive data on-premises, reducing exposure to external threats while using cloud resources for less critical tasks.

• End-user experience. Enhances flexibility and accessibility, seamlessly integrating on-premises and cloud resources for a smoother user experience. Utilizing Parallels Secure Workspace further elevates this by offering a unified workspace where users can access both on-premises and cloud applications through a single platform, simplifying navigation and improving productivity.

• IT admin management efficiency. Improves resource scalability and compliance management, streamlining operations and ensuring data protection efficiently.

Use case: An e-commerce company employs a secure workspace solution to integrate its on-premises inventory management with cloud-based customer service applications. This strategy ensures seamless and secure access, enabling the company to manage sensitive data internally while leveraging the cloud for less critical operations.

5. Enhancing the user experience with a browser-based unified secure workspace

With the rise of remote work and the proliferation of SaaS and web applications, users need a reliable, simple way to access their work tools.

The Zero Trust model can extend through an entire virtual workspace, resulting in a unified access gateway that facilitates secure, browser-based access to business applications, SaaS platforms, web apps, and even entire desktops, all without the need to install any new software. This solution ensures that users experience frictionless access to their applications while maintaining high-security standards.

Effectiveness

• Security. Extends Zero Trust to virtual workspaces, ensuring high security across all accessed applications without additional installations.

• End-user experience. Offers smooth, browser-based access to work tools from any browser, on any device, and from anywhere, boosting convenience and productivity for remote work.

• IT admin management efficiency or productivity. Reduces IT workload related to software installations and updates, streamlining application access management.

Use case: Consider the needs of a multinational corporation with employees spread across various regions, including remote and on-site workers. By implementing a unified secure workspace solution, the company allows its employees to securely access essential financial, HR, and operational cloud applications via any web browser.

This capability is particularly advantageous during travel or when employees log in via insecure public networks. This seamless integration ensures that all employees, regardless of location or device, have consistent and secure access to their work environments.

Why Zero Trust is essential for cloud architecture

Integrating Zero Trust into your cloud architecture is a necessity, not just a nice-to-have upgrade. By applying these five strategies, organizations can thoroughly protect their data and infrastructure, transforming their cloud environments into secure digital strongholds.

Tools like Parallels Secure Workspace and Parallels Browser Isolation empower your organization to address immediate security challenges while building a more secure and resilient digital future.

The post 5 Key Strategies for Zero Trust integration in Cloud Architecture appeared first on Server and Cloud Blog.