Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) is a powerful virtual application and desktop delivery solution developed by Parallels, a Corel company. Built to extend Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Parallels RAS adds robust publishing capabilities, centralized management, and broad cloud support — all from a single, unified platform.
For organizations across India looking to enable secure, flexible access to Windows and Linux applications and desktops, Parallels RAS delivers a compelling answer. Whether your workforce is in the office, working remotely, or spread across multiple locations, Parallels RAS ensures that the right applications reach the right users on any device, from anywhere.
Core Capabilities
Parallels RAS is designed to simplify and scale application and desktop delivery across diverse IT environments. At its heart is a centralized management console that gives administrators full visibility and control over all workloads — whether hosted on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid configuration.
Key platform capabilities include:
- Multi-hypervisor and multi-cloud support: Parallels RAS integrates with Microsoft Azure, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Nutanix AHV, VMware vCenter, and Scale Computing HC3. The new Custom Provider Framework further extends this flexibility, allowing organizations to connect to additional infrastructure providers.
- Multi-cloud high availability: Deploy across availability zones in both AWS and Azure to ensure business continuity and resilience for mission-critical workloads.
- Broad client support: Users can connect via native clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and IGEL OS — or through a fully featured HTML5 web client that requires no local installation.
- Centralized workload management: Publish applications and desktops from a single console, regardless of where the underlying infrastructure lives.
This breadth of support means IT teams can standardize on one delivery platform even as their infrastructure evolves.
Security
Security is a top priority for any organization delivering applications remotely, and Parallels RAS provides a comprehensive set of controls to protect data and access.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Supports RADIUS, TOTP, Microsoft Authenticator, and email-based OTP, giving organizations flexibility in how they enforce strong authentication.
- Identity provider integration: Seamlessly integrates with Azure Active Directory, Okta, and Ping Identity via SAML SSO, enabling centralized identity governance.
- Data loss prevention: Granular clipboard and drive redirection controls allow administrators to restrict what users can copy, paste, or transfer between local and remote environments — significantly reducing the risk of data leaks.
- Trusted Launch for Azure VMs: Supports Secure Boot and virtual TPM (vTPM) for Azure virtual machines, providing hardware-level security assurances.
- PCI-DSS compliance enhancements: Purpose-built controls help organizations in regulated industries meet payment card industry standards.
- Smart card and Windows Hello for Business: Supports modern, passwordless authentication methods for a streamlined and secure user experience.
- Read-only drive redirection: Allows users to access local drives in a read-only mode, preventing unauthorized data exfiltration.
Together, these capabilities give IT and security teams the confidence to extend application access broadly without compromising on control.
User Experience Highlights
A secure platform is only valuable if users actually adopt it. Parallels RAS is designed with end-user experience as a first-class concern.
- Local App Launch: Users can run local and remote applications side-by-side from a single Parallels Client interface, creating a seamless, unified desktop experience.
- Session continuity: Users can resume sessions across different devices without losing their work, supporting flexible, mobile work styles.
- High DPI support in the web client: Ensures crisp, clear rendering on modern high-resolution displays, even when accessing applications through a browser.
- Local file access and multi-file transfer in the browser: Users can access files on their local device and transfer multiple files within the HTML5 web client — no native client required.
- Passthrough authentication for IGEL OS12: Thin client users on IGEL OS12 benefit from seamless single sign-on, reducing friction at login.
- Dark and light mode UI: The Parallels Client supports both dark and light themes, accommodating user preferences and reducing eye strain.
These features collectively reduce the gap between the remote and local computing experience, driving higher user satisfaction and productivity.
Admin and IT Efficiency
For IT teams managing large-scale deployments, operational efficiency is critical. Parallels RAS includes a range of tools designed to reduce administrative overhead and keep environments running smoothly.
- Template versioning and scheduled image updates: Administrators can version desktop and application templates and schedule updates during off-peak hours, minimizing disruption to end users.
- Agent Auto-Upgrade: Automatically keeps Parallels RAS agents up to date across the environment, eliminating the need for manual, machine-by-machine maintenance.
- Cost Insights dashboard for Azure Virtual Desktop: Provides visibility into AVD spend directly within the management console, helping organizations track and optimize cloud costs.
- FSLogix Profile Container integration: Ensures fast, consistent user profile loading in non-persistent VDI environments, improving the experience for roaming users.
- PowerShell cmdlets and REST APIs: Enable automation of common administrative tasks and integration with existing IT workflows and toolchains.
- Web-based management portal: Allows administrators to manage the Parallels RAS environment from any browser, without needing to be on the corporate network.
These capabilities translate directly into reduced IT workload, faster response times, and lower total cost of ownership.
Key Use Cases
Parallels RAS is a versatile platform suited to a wide range of industries and organizational models:
- Remote and hybrid work: Deliver a consistent, secure desktop experience to employees working from home, on the road, or across multiple office locations.
- Manufacturing and field operations: Provide shop-floor workers and field technicians with access to line-of-business applications on ruggedized or shared devices.
- Education: Centralize application delivery for students and teachers, ensuring equitable access to software regardless of the device students bring to class.
- Call centers: Standardize the agent desktop environment, simplify onboarding, and reduce endpoint management complexity.
- Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and ISVs: Leverage multi-tenant capabilities to deliver and manage applications for multiple clients from a single platform.
- Windows 365 Cloud PC application extension: Extend the capabilities of Windows 365 Cloud PCs by publishing additional applications through Parallels RAS.
Latest Release Highlights: RAS 21.2
The most recent release of Parallels RAS, version 21.2, brings a number of meaningful enhancements for both administrators and end users:
- Nutanix Prism Central support: Deeper integration with Nutanix infrastructure for organizations running AHV-based workloads.
- Custom Provider Framework: A new extensibility layer that allows organizations to connect Parallels RAS to infrastructure providers beyond the built-in integrations.
- Local file access in the web client: End users can now access files on their local device directly from the HTML5 browser client.
- Trusted Launch for Azure: Enhanced security for Azure-hosted virtual machines with Secure Boot and vTPM support.
- Expanded authentication options: Additional MFA methods and identity provider integrations to meet diverse organizational security requirements.
- Enhanced macOS clipboard redirection: Improved clipboard behavior for macOS users, enabling smoother copy-paste workflows between local and remote environments.
Modernize Your Application Delivery Strategy
Parallels RAS offers Indian IT teams and infrastructure decision-makers a proven, enterprise-grade platform to modernize how applications and desktops are delivered — without the complexity and cost typically associated with large-scale VDI projects.
Whether you are looking to support a hybrid workforce, consolidate your application delivery infrastructure, or extend your cloud investments, Parallels RAS provides the flexibility, security, and manageability to get there.
XenTegra is a trusted partner for organizations across India looking to deploy and optimize Parallels RAS. Our team brings deep expertise in virtual application and desktop delivery, helping you design, implement, and manage a solution that fits your environment and your business goals. Reach out to XenTegra to start the conversation.