Last updated on January 15, 2021
Remote Application and Its Benefits | Parallels Insights
Remote Application: Definition and Challenges
Remote application and remote working are now more common than ever, and the pressure on organizations is high to allow employees to flexibly work on their own devices. According to the Future Workforce Report, 73% of all teams will have remote workers by 2028. Remote work is here to stay, and a challenge lies in the fact that all employees in an organization do not use the same devices or operating systems. This is where the remote applications come into play.
Remote applications (also known as server-client apps or virtual apps) are applications placed in a central server in the cloud, which remote clients can access from their own devices. Since remote applications are integrated with the client desktop, the application appears like a local application to the user.
Advantages of Remote Application
Reduced cost
When using remote applications, organizations do not need to buy homogeneous devices for all users. The performance of a remote application generally depends on the performance of the central server that’s hosting it. Hence, this eliminates the need to invest in high-end devices for every user. Users can use the application from their current personal device with ease.
Security
The remote application data is stored on the data center server, which could be local or in the cloud. Therefore, data security depends on a single-point centralized configuration, rather than the security of each end device accessing the application.
Flexibility and scalability
Remote applications allow users to use an application at any time from anywhere. Organizations can push as many applications as they want to end devices, improving system scalability and reducing configuration time.
Challenges of Remote Applications
Compatibility
Applications need to be compatible with all kinds of devices and operating systems. Legacy applications won’t be compatible with the newer OSes, and there are no resources or budget to rewrite them.
User experience
Another challenge is that the user experience (UX) with remote applications is diminished in comparison to the UX with native applications. Running an application remotely could be affected by the remote client or remote device used, and the UX might not be consistent across all devices.
Complexity
Remote application delivery and usage can be a complex affair, at times requiring the expertise of personnel well-versed with these ideas.
Security
While security is also one of the benefits of remote applications, it can also be one of its major disadvantages. In the absence of a secure centralized server, application data can be compromised at any time.
How can Parallels RAS help?
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is a cost-effective and secure way to deliver applications and desktops to end devices. Not only does it deliver apps and desktops to any device, but it also improves data security by centralizing, monitoring and restricting access to corporate assets. It supports all major operating systems, and it improves the user experience by making remote applications look and feel like native apps. Additionally, it is effortless to deploy and maintain, making it an excellent choice for organizations that need to set up remote applications on employee devices.
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