“Parallels RAS gave us all the functionality we needed, and the licensing model and costs were very favorable for the environments we support.”
The challenge
Deliver on-premises and cloud-based IT operations within budget while meeting customer expectations
Aspector Thincom AS is an IT services company based in Norway that specializes in consulting and IT services for on-premises and cloud-based server operations. Serving small and midsize businesses across the public and private sectors, Aspector operates out of its own data center using Citrix to deliver IT services to customers.
Because Aspector handles sensitive IT information for its customers, there is no room for error. The company faces strict requirements for the stability, security, and efficiency of the services it provides. From a business perspective, it must also deliver these services in a profitable, cost-effective way.
To support this, Aspector relies on in-house technical expertise to manage its virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform.
“For a small company, our technical level is surprisingly high,” said Steve Marthinsen, Sales and Business Development at Aspector.
However, following strategic changes at Citrix that affected pricing, licensing, and availability, it became increasingly difficult to provide customers with the simple-to-manage solutions they expected—while staying within budget.
Aspector needed an alternative VDI solution that could match Citrix in functionality without significantly increasing costs.
The test
Could Parallels RAS empower Aspector to deliver high-quality services at a sustainable cost?
Aspector evaluated several solutions to determine the best fit for its future needs. The team tested each option for functionality, ease of administration, and stability.
After testing, it became clear that Parallels RAS was the right fit. It met all technical requirements, aligned with manageability goals, and fit within budget, while also offering features suited for modern IT operations.
The solution
Parallels RAS helped Aspector set up, migrate, and deliver customer IT operations quickly and effectively
Aspector migrated from Citrix to Parallels RAS gradually throughout 2025. According to the team, the transition was smooth for both internal staff and customers.
“We set up a proof of concept using a test license. When we decided to switch from Citrix, we simply changed the license, and everything was ready without reinstalling”
Staff training was completed quickly, and end users transitioned with minimal disruption. By early 2026, Aspector had fully phased out Citrix and now relies exclusively on Parallels RAS.
“The migration went very well. Infrastructure and terminal servers could be reused, so employees and customers barely noticed the change.”
The result
Aspector modernizes IT operations while reducing costs and maintaining service quality
Since implementing Parallels RAS in 2025, Aspector has seen measurable improvements. Along with maintaining full functionality, the team benefits from faster testing, streamlined deployments, and improved performance across IT environments.
“We haven’t lost any functionality by switching to Parallels RAS. It’s also incredibly easy to get started. Setting up a test environment only takes a couple of hours.”
The team at Aspector has seen three key advantages throughout their migration to and use of Parallels RAS:
- Familiar infrastructure: Parallels RAS is built on industry-standard frameworks, making adoption quick and intuitive, especially for teams experienced with Citrix.
- Full functionality: The team retains access to the features they relied on in their Citrix environment and uses them daily in Parallels RAS.
- Transparent licensing: A straightforward licensing model makes costs predictable and easier to manage.
Additionally, Aspector has a piece of advice for fellow businesses considering Parallels RAS over Citrix: Test the solution in practice.
“If you have a VM ready, setting up a test environment only takes a few hours. It’s low-risk and almost free to see how Parallels RAS works, and we haven’t lost any Citrix functionality.”
With Parallels RAS, and support from ALSO as a partner, Aspector now has a platform that meets both its technical and business goals. The result is improved workflows, satisfied customers, and a foundation for future growth.
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