Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) are leading solutions for remote desktop and application virtualization. Citrix DaaS appears to have the upper hand in advanced features and overall user satisfaction despite Microsoft RDS being favored for its lower pricing and more straightforward customer support.
Features: Microsoft RDS is praised for its simplicity and integration with other Microsoft products. However, users highlight Citrix DaaS's superior performance, scalability, and more comprehensive feature set, like enhanced security measures and better load balancing. Citrix DaaS's advanced features make it a more attractive option for complex virtualization needs.
Room for Improvement: Users of Microsoft RDS often call for better management tools and improved stability under heavy user loads. Conversely, Citrix DaaS users suggest enhancements in its complexity, seeking a more intuitive system to match its advanced capabilities. The comparison indicates Microsoft RDS needs improvements in technical robustness, while Citrix DaaS could benefit from user experience simplification.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft RDS deployment is noted for being more straightforward due to its integration with Windows environments, coupled with responsive customer service. Citrix DaaS, although offering a richer feature set, has a steeper learning curve and more variable customer service experiences according to user reviews.
Pricing and ROI: Microsoft RDS offers a lower initial setup cost, attracting smaller enterprises or startups. Conversely, Citrix DaaS, with its higher costs, justifies the investment with better long-term ROI due to its advanced capabilities and scalability. Users find Citrix DaaS worth the higher price for extensive, enterprise-level needs.
In the last couple of years, support has not been very good, even with Premier and Premium support.
You have to use something like Power BI and Graph to get better reporting.
If my organization has sensitive data we don't want to leak, deploying the policies can present technical challenges and potential loopholes.
I know what's included in 365 Premium offering, and it's a good deal.
If Intune is not available, the 365 environment might not be available, causing a major ordeal.
The biggest asset is the range of device management options available with Intune, whether it is a Windows device, a Linux device, a Mac device, or mobile devices.
Autopilot allows bulk enrollment of devices, making it easy for end users, even those without technical expertise, to use their devices immediately.
Microsoft Intune is a comprehensive cloud-based service that allows you to remotely manage mobile devices and mobile applications without worrying about the security of your organization’s data. Device and app management can be used on company-owned devices as well as personal devices.
In an increasingly mobile workforce, Microsoft Intune keeps your sensitive data safe while on the move. Microsoft Intune makes it possible for your team members to work anywhere using their mobile devices. Microsoft Intune provides both the flexibility and the control needed for securing all your data on the cloud, no matter where the device with the data is located.
Microsoft Intune Device Management Key Features
With Microsoft Intune Device Management you can:
Mobile Application Management
Mobile application management in Intune is designed to protect your organization’s data at the application level.
With Microsoft Intune Application Management you can:
As part of Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite, Intune integrates with Microsoft Entra ID for access control and with Azure Information Protection for data protection. It also integrates with Microsoft 365 Applications.
Reviews from Real Users
Microsoft Intune stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its ability to secure all devices under its management and the flexibility that the solution offers its users.
A computing services manager notes, "Its security is most valuable. It gives us a way to secure devices, not only those that are steady. We do have a few tablets and other devices, and it is a way for us to secure these devices and manage them. We know they're out there and what's their status. We can manage their life cycle and verify that they're updated properly."
The head of IT engineering at a financial services company writes, "The one feature we find most useful is the Mobile Application Manager. There are two types: we have the complete MDM and the Mobile Application Manager (MAM). We don't give our users phones, it is their own personal phone, and we need to allow them to have access to the company details on their phone. We need to create a balance between their own personal data and the company data. We deploy the Mobile Application Manager for them so that we won't be able to interfere with their own personal data."
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Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is a highly regarded remote access tool in addition to being a top-ranked Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution in the marketplace today.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a suite of valuable elements of the Windows operating system (OS) that serve specific desired objectives. Microsoft RDS integrates various features that allow approved users to gain access to graphical desktops and Windows applications remotely. Approved users are able to deploy applications or even a complete desktop without having to install anything on their devices. Everything remains in the cloud. This ensures that there are never any compatibility issues and keeps the organization's original network secure at all times. Administrators are also able to ensure that data cannot be stored in any unapproved location, such as the local device, unapproved drives, or any other location.
Microsoft RDS makes it easy for business organizations to access Windows Desktops and other Windows applications remotely to ensure today’s busy enterprise organizations are able to maintain the highest levels of productivity at all times. There are two basic ways organizations can effectively utilize RDS.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Benefits
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has many benefits. Some of its most valuable benefits include:
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services makes it easy for busy enterprise organizations to stay productive and remain competitive in today’s aggressive marketplace. An organization's end-users can be given access to their own specific desktops from any location, anytime, using any approved device. Additionally, users can access Microsoft applications without having an effect on their device's resource capacity or performance.
Reviews from Real Users
“What I found most valuable in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is accessibility because the solution lets you take control of your computer remotely, and that's a good feature.” Pascal B., IT consultant at Secoptrial
“The most valuable features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services are unification, central management, and accessibility.” Jan S. Solution Architect at a tech services company
“The most valuable features are that it is fast and cost-effective. I am not aware of a replacement currently on the market.” Ramon H. Director at Empaco
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