

Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) compete in remote access solutions. Parallels RAS has the upper hand thanks to its robust features and ease of deployment.
Features: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers seamless integration with Windows environments, scalability for enterprises, and cost efficiency. Parallels RAS provides centralized management, multi-platform support, and advanced load balancing.
Room for Improvement: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services could enhance its setup process to be less complex and improve multi-platform support. Parallels RAS might benefit from reducing initial costs, expanding documentation, and increasing forums or community support.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Parallels RAS is known for straightforward setup and comprehensive support. Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can require detailed configuration that could delay deployment.
Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is cost-efficient, appealing to budget-conscious decisions. Parallels RAS has higher initial costs, but its feature set and simplified management offer better long-term ROI.
By unlocking a locked situation, I mean we couldn't connect to a server in any other way, so we had to use RDP.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped us to be efficient; we are a team of five serving the entire region of Africa and the Middle East, and it has truly improved our overall efficiency as a team.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has saved us considerable time because we don't have to be on-site for support and have more accessibility to the machines.
I would rate the customer support of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a 10.
Interacting with Amazon's customer support seems to route the request to the correct team almost immediately, resulting in quicker responses.
If I have any issues related to the installation or initial setup, they have been great and a helping hand.
For Parallels RAS, the support is rated eight out of ten.
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is 10 out of 10.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services scales very well; I could scale it to however many users I would want.
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is high, as it is already providing me with the flexibility to access my system from anywhere.
I can start from fifteen users and scale it to nearly any size.
I have never faced any issues related to its working or its availability.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is stable, and I can confirm this.
I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365.
On macOS, we sometimes experience keyboard connectivity issues.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can be improved by better integrating it within Teams or providing a Teams integration to connect to customer support teams or other systems' accesses using Remote Desktop internally, rather than as a separate individual tool.
A potential improvement could be reducing the dependency on Microsoft solutions for Parallels RAS.
These licenses are not cheap, as they add up in cost.
I understand it can get quite expensive and also complex to manage these different licenses.
I don't think there was any cost, as this was built into our experience with Windows and Azure.
No additional fees for maintenance or support are required.
The main benefits that Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provide to me include streamlining my working process, ensuring security, and offering flexibility to connect to virtual desktops and apps from multiple devices.
Using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped my team save time and improve productivity because we had Microsoft servers that were impossible to connect from our MacBook Pro laptops, and once we started using RDP, we could connect and move forward to deliver the project.
The best features Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers include providing me administrator access, certain inbuilt client tools, and the ability to remotely access enterprise applications, as well as helping me validate whether certificates exist or are missing, or near to expiry.
In terms of Parallels Desktop, the coherence mode that allows Mac and Windows applications to run seamlessly side by side is highly regarded.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Remote Desktop Services | 6.1% |
| Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) | 3.6% |
| Other | 90.3% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 45 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 16 |
| Large Enterprise | 36 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 15 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provides secure, seamless access to remote applications with cross-platform compatibility and centralized management, enhancing productivity and resource sharing in Windows environments.
The robust security features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services enable efficient data handling and user support across devices. With a focus on remote application access, scalability, and ease of use, this solution integrates effortlessly with Windows environments. It offers centralized management, facilitating smooth IT operations. However, there is potential for improving interface intuitiveness and setup simplicity. Addressing keyboard compatibility with macOS, network connectivity challenges, and security vulnerabilities could enhance the user experience. Optimization for performance on slower networks and clearer license management would further benefit users.
What are the key features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?In numerous industries, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services supports remote server management, virtual desktops, and application virtualization. Organizations use it for collaboration, secure data handling, and accessing critical resources across different locations. It aids in troubleshooting, ensuring secure connections to client applications and facilitating testing and support for multiple users in diverse environments.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) offers efficient remote application and desktop delivery across diverse devices, providing businesses with easy management and robust performance, ensuring stable and secure access.
RAS simplifies remote access through its user-friendly design, encompassing app publishing, device compatibility, and management capabilities. Users benefit from its HTML 5 Client convenience and impressive speed. With features like security groups and client compatibility, RAS excels in providing a stable and flexible environment. Its scalability across platforms and affordability makes it attractive for many organizations. However, areas such as printing stability, customization, and performance monitoring could benefit from further enhancements.
What are the key features of Parallels RAS?Industry implementations of Parallels RAS include its use as a client gateway and an alternative to Windows RDS. With support for Macs, Windows, Linux, and Android devices, it facilitates application publishing and migration from platforms like VMware. Organizations employ RAS for remote control, VDI, and ERP solutions, improving remote workforce operations and geographic application distribution.
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