Hey folks! I'm trying to get some insights on choosing the right remote access and app publishing solution for about 250 concurrent users. I'm considering options like Citrix (Virtual Apps or DaaS), Thinfinity Remote Desktop, Parallels RAS, and GO-Global. My main goals include:
- Strong HTML5 access for thin clients.
- A mix of app publishing and full desktop access.
- Support for multi-factor authentication and printer redirection.
- Simplicity in management, as I'm aware Citrix can be pretty complex.
- Transparency in licensing and predictable costs, since that's crucial for us.
- Ideally, I'd love a solution that doesn't require extensive VPN setups or major alterations to our on-premises network.
We're primarily a Windows environment right now and might consider a hybrid cloud setup in the future. I'd really appreciate any experiences you have, particularly regarding user experience over WAN, admin overhead, licensing challenges, VPN-free publishing, and overall vendor support. Success stories or even horror tales are welcome! Thanks a lot!
5 Answers
After struggling with Citrix for two years, we switched back to straight RDS with published apps. The performance is way better—fewer bugs, and it runs smoother overall. We get into it from the cloud without issues, and network security has improved significantly. RD web just proved to be a superior option for us, especially with our user base of around 800.
We went with plain Microsoft RDS behind Azure App Proxy. It covers all our needs with MFA and works in the web browser (HTML5), plus the only additional costs are RDS CALs and the Windows Server, which we need anyway. For us, it’s a straightforward, cost-effective solution that works without unnecessary complexity.
Have you considered Azure Virtual Desktop instead? No CALs required for Windows 11 session hosts.
We switched from Citrix to Parallels and it’s been a game changer! The licensing is much simpler—you’ll need RDS CALs, like with most solutions, but that’s expected. The support has been amazing, and updates are usually just a one-click deal. Plus, no Netscalers to deal with, and the HTML5 client performs great! The printing redirection works seamlessly. Just a heads up, though: webcam support isn’t the best, so we handle video calls separately. In my opinion, moving away from Citrix was a fantastic decision after 15 years!
We’ve been using Citrix for around 300 users and it’s alright, although we only publish a few apps. The licensing renewal process is a pain—they pretty much forced us to keep a higher license count than we actually need. Looking for alternatives next year for sure as this has become an issue for us.
That’s one reason I’m looking into other options too. Clearly, they’re not catering to smaller businesses anymore!
We utilize Citrix for our medical applications across 3-4k computers, and most of our users can access it without major issues. It does tend to slow down during peak login hours, but at least it doesn't crash. We also have reliable support from Cerner, who helps with the backend. It allows both desktop and web access with VPN and MFA options, plus printer redirection is solid. It seems that app publishing isn't a huge problem for us, though I can't speak for all departments.
Thanks for sharing! Is Cerner managing your Citrix setup?
Thanks for the insight! I’ll definitely check this out.