Horizon 8 Reviews

Name: Horizon 8
Brand: Omnissa
Rating: 4.1 (113 reviews)

Vendor: Omnissa

4.1 out of 5

113 reviews
88% willing to recommend

2,220 followers

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What is Horizon 8?

VMware Horizon is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution designed to allow users to create secure and scalable virtual desktops and applications that work on any device, from any location. These virtualization capabilities help simplify and speed up application delivery and greatly reduce enterprise costs.

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Horizon 8 is the #1 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions and top User Virtualization solutions. PeerSpot users give Horizon 8 an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 113 most recent Horizon 8 reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.1. Horizon 8 is most commonly compared to VMware Workstation: Horizon 8 vs VMware Workstation. Horizon 8 is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 63% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 12% of all views.

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Featured reviews

RashidAnwar

Senior Project Lead at Tetra Pak

The product supports remote work scenarios in our company, considering that we have different factory infrastructure devices, such as the remote operators in different areas of the plant, where it is used to access centralized applications from multiple types of devices, such as tablets, remote PCs, etc. The product facilitates virtual desktop management and deployment, which allows for centralized management. The tool allows our company to deploy multiple instances from one central repository simply. Security patches are much easier to deploy. The scalability part is also one of the advantages offered by the solution. The patch management is much easier, and access control of different devices is good in VMware Horizon View. The scalability or flexibility feature of VMware Horizon View enhances our company's IT operations by allowing us to use all the different security areas in the plant to be deployed and used in a few simple clicks. For production areas and warehousing zones, my company has created separate rules, after which we simply deploy from the central management and create clones of similar applications that are already designed during the first instance. I rate the user experience in terms of speed and reliability an eight out of ten. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. I rate the tool an eight out of ten.

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Tim Abboud

Key Account Manager at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees

It can be challenging to assess the stability of Horizon because it relies heavily on the underlying infrastructure, including vCenter, network, and storage performance. It is important to pay attention to these factors when evaluating the stability of the system. We rely on vCenter, network, and storage performance, and any weakness in these areas will affect the performance of Horizon. When discussing this with customers, I always emphasize the importance of these factors. If the foundation is solid, Horizon should not experience any performance issues. If the fundamentals are weak, we will encounter issues with Horizon on a regular basis. However, the product itself, VMware Horizon, is highly stable. While the Horizon product itself is very stable, it is important to be well-informed about any potential side effects from using other related products.

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Joel White

Manager, Department Information Systems at a government with 10,001+ employees

I would highlight the challenges related to integrating with Microsoft Azure services. Specifically, there are issues with MDM-managed devices and the necessity for MDM-managed compliant devices. In the non-persistent horizon model, there's a delay before each new desktop becomes compliant. Users can access these desktops before fully onboard into the MDM solution.

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Horizon 8 mindshare

Product category:

As of December 2024, the mindshare of Horizon 8 in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category stands at 9.4%, down from 14.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)	Dec 25, 2024	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Dec 25, 2024	Download
Comparison	Horizon 8 vs VMware Workstation	Dec 25, 2024	Download
Comparison	Horizon 8 vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service)	Dec 25, 2024	Download
Comparison	Horizon 8 vs VMware Fusion Pro	Dec 25, 2024	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Workstation	4.4	17.2%	93%	55 interviews Add to research
Workspace ONE UEM	4.1	N/A	83%	100 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Horizon 8 offers centralized management, cost reduction, and seamless remote access. Users appreciate its desktop virtualization, quick provisioning, and secure remote access without VPN. Instant clone, VDI interface, and AppStacks enhance scalability and performance. The unified endpoint management and graphics capabilities boost user experience. The easy deployment and integration with existing environments make it user-friendly and reliable. Its lightweight bandwidth usage and security features are considered highly valuable.

"The solution has data leak prevention features that ensure data is not copied from the base machine to VDI, and API copyright capabilities."
"The solution has data leak prevention features that ensure data is not copied from the base machine to VDI, and API copyright capabilities."
"I find the security of Horizon to be most valuable."

Room for Improvement

Horizon 8 faces challenges with cost, Linux integration, and complex management. Users require better technical support, simplified deployment, and improved security features, especially for off-network devices. Integration with other platforms like Azure and Zoom is crucial. There's a need for enhanced licensing models and detailed documentation. The solution is perceived as expensive, and licensing uncertainties after a corporate acquisition have caused confusion. Users desire more robust performance, easier configuration, and efficient remote connection capabilities.

"We have limited capabilities since we are not using a multi-instance solution, just single instances. The solution underutilizes its capabilities."
"We have limited capabilities since we are not using a multi-instance solution, just single instances."
"It would be beneficial to see improvements in client-side functionalities, especially for some Linux clients."

ROI

Organizations experienced ROI from Horizon 8 mainly through manpower cost control, hardware savings, and reduced administrative time. ROI is typically seen within two to three years. VMware's network centralization eased remote work challenges, and virtualization lowered the need for dedicated workstations. Users noted Horizon 8's impact on data protection and its overall cost-effectiveness. However, the ROI projection is generally higher than actual results, and some organizations are working on improving ROI further.

Pricing

Horizon 8's pricing is considered high by many users, consistent with VMware's general cost reputation. While initial setup costs are significant, users find the long-term investment justifiable for large-scale implementations. Some users note that bundled licensing can offer better value. Monthly and annual licensing models are available but can add up. Despite potentially higher upfront costs, savings on hardware and maintenance are possible. The solution often requires careful financial planning and assessment for cost-effectiveness.

"We have a three-year contract, for which we pay about ten euros per user per month."
"The product is extremely expensive."
"The license cost has increased significantly, so we’re helping some customers with Azure VMware desktop solutions to save on licensing."

Popular Use Cases

Horizon 8 is primarily utilized for virtual desktop infrastructure, remote access for remote work, centralized data management, and security enhancement in various industries. Organizations deploy Horizon 8 to support remote education, healthcare, finance, and cybersecurity. Users manage end-user workstations and applications, maintain secure data access, and consolidate data centers. Many leverage Horizon 8 for personalized desktop experiences, reducing hardware costs while increasing productivity. The platform supports Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and secures remote access.

Service and Support

Customers find Horizon 8's customer service and support to be generally effective but with mixed experiences. Many appreciate the promptness and problem-solving capabilities, especially with more knowledgeable representatives. Some experience delays or inadequate responses, often needing to escalate issues for resolution. While the support team is often commended for their expertise, response times and communication gaps occasionally hinder the experience. Overall, satisfaction varies, highlighting the necessity for consistency and better communication across different regions.

Deployment

Many find Horizon 8's initial setup complex, especially without prior experience or professional assistance. Challenges often arise in configuring Active Directory, server roles, and networking components. Some appreciate that thorough research and planning ease the process. Experienced users note straightforward transitions with well-prepared plan execution. The setup time varies widely, from hours to weeks, depending on organizational needs and complexities. Mastering the setup often requires technical knowledge and familiarity with VMware environments.

Scalability

Horizon 8 is known for its scalability, with many organizations citing its flexible nature and ease of scaling. Most report minimal issues, though some face challenges with costs or technical needs. Users can efficiently expand to accommodate hundreds and sometimes thousands of users. However, scalability can depend on existing infrastructure and knowledge. For small to medium-sized deployments, Horizon 8 performs optimally, though larger enterprises might encounter complexity.

Stability

Horizon 8 is mostly regarded as stable, with many praising its reliability. However, some highlight that stability can be influenced by underlying infrastructure, such as storage, network performance, and other external factors like vCenter. While some experience minimal issues or challenges with desktop environment transitions, many rate its stability highly, noting improvements over time with proper configuration. A few have encountered connection problems, but these seem infrequent and manageable with support.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Horizon 8 Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

University

Educational Organization

Retailer

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Media Company

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Performing Arts

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Outsourcing Company

Logistics Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Horizon 8 with alternative products

Learn more about Horizon 8

VMware Horizon’s centralized management console provides IT admins with comprehensive control over all of their virtual desktops and applications, making them simple to manage and secure. The solution enables using features such as identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, to ensure ultimate data protection.

VMware Horizon benefits:

Some of key the benefits of using VMware Horizon include:

Increased security: VMware Horizon includes multiple security features such as identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, to ensure a high level of security and data privacy.

Compliance: Meet regulatory and compliance requirements by providing users with secure and controlled access to data and applications.

Reduced costs: By using VMware Horizon, organizations can reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining physical desktops and applications, as well as reduce the costs associated with providing secure remote access to these resources.

Easy management: VMware Horizon provides IT administrators with a user-friendly centralized management system, making it easier and faster to manage and secure their virtual desktops and applications.

Enhanced user experience: Users are able to access their virtual desktops and applications from any device, and from any location. Work from any location, without being tied to a specific device or area.

VMware Horizon features:

Some of the top features of VMware Horizon include:

Virtual desktops: Create secure and scalable virtual desktops, with a choice of operating systems and settings.

Virtual applications: Create virtual applications that can be run from any device or operating system.

Central management: Control and manage virtual desktops and applications from a single pane of glass.
Quick duplications: Clone virtual machines and applications instantly.

Scalability: VMware Horizon can scale on demand to meet the needs of any business large or small.

Reporting and analytics: Gain insight into user activity and behavior with detailed analytics and reporting.

Security features and ID management: Ensure the security and privacy of data with a wide variety of security features, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, single sign-on (SSO), and network security.

Seamless integration: VMware Horizon integrates easily with other VMware solutions, including VMware vSphere, VMware NSX, and VMware Workspace ONE.

Reviews from Real Users

VMware Horizon stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Several major ones are its high performance, flexibility, and powerful virtualization capabilities.

Natnael A., a consultant at IWM Network Solutions, writes, “The app virtualizing is a great feature. The system developers use it to deliver apps to targeted staff. It basically reduces the server infrastructure resource. The solution provides good functionality.”

Rob M., a systems administrator at Saint Tammany Parish Hospital, says, “The solution has provided flexibility by allowing an end user to remote in, log in, and get their VM. VDI session and have all the icons and applications they need to use and retain the same booking view regardless of location.”

Horizon 8 was previously known as VMware Horizon, VMware Horizon View, Mware Dynamic Environment Manager.