Parallels (Parallels RAS)
About
Parallels is a global software company specializing in cross-platform virtualization and digital workspace solutions. Their products enable businesses and individuals to run Windows and other operating systems on Mac hardware, and deliver virtual applications and desktops to any device from cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments. The company serves over 7 million Mac users worldwide and offers solutions ranging from individual desktop virtualization to enterprise-scale virtual desktop infras...
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Details
VenSearch Intelligence
Ideal Customer
- Parallels serves customers ranging from SMBs to large enterprises, with Gartner noting its clients span from SMBs to large enterprises and that it is particularly well-positioned for organizations seeking simplified licensing and streamlined administration.
- Parallels RAS is especially attractive to organizations replacing or avoiding Citrix — particularly mid-market IT departments managing hybrid or multi-cloud environments — and Parallels Desktop targets Mac-centric companies from small teams to large enterprises needing Windows app access.
Key Differentiators
- Parallels' primary differentiator is its all-inclusive, concurrent-user licensing model for Parallels RAS, which bundles all enterprise features (MFA, load balancing, multi-cloud, FIPS 140-2, 24/7 support) into a single license with no add-on costs — positioning itself as a simpler, lower-TCO alternative to Citrix.
- In August 2026, Parallels was named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service for the first time, evaluated on both Parallels DaaS and Parallels RAS, and was also named a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for Virtual Client Computing.
Industries Served
- Parallels serves a broad range of industries including healthcare (hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, hospice care), government (municipalities and regional agencies in the US, Spain, Belgium, France), education, manufacturing, retail, financial services (PCI DSS use cases), and professional services.
- The company has published dedicated compliance white papers and solution pages for healthcare (HIPAA) and financial services (PCI DSS), and its customer case studies prominently feature healthcare organizations such as Cancer Council NSW, Aspire Indiana, KernBHRS, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, and Villa Berica Nursing Home.
Service Coverage
- Parallels operates as a global company headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, with sales entities and offices spanning North America, Europe (Belgium, UK, Italy, Spain, France), Australia, Asia (including a dedicated India country manager and R&D presence), and Mauritius.
- The company serves customers in dozens of countries across all major regions, with its virtualization and workspace solutions available on the AWS Marketplace and Microsoft Azure Marketplace worldwide.
Partnerships
- Parallels has a long-standing 15+ year technology alliance with Microsoft, with Parallels RAS deeply integrated with Microsoft Azure, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft RDS/RDP, and listed as a transactable offering in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.
- Parallels RAS also integrates with Amazon Web Services (EC2, AWS Marketplace), Google Cloud, VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nutanix (AHV), Scale Computing HC3, IGEL, and Login VSI.
Company Size
- Parallels was founded in 1999 by Serg Bell (Serguei Beloussov) and co-founders, and was acquired by Corel Corporation in December 2018 before Corel itself was acquired by KKR in 2019.
- As of mid-2026, Parallels has approximately 292–400+ employees across 5 continents, with Wikipedia citing 400+ employees and revenue of US$100+ million, while other estimates range from $96M to over $1B (the higher figure likely reflects the broader Corel/Alludo umbrella).
Ownership
- Parallels is a private company, currently owned by funds managed by KKR, a global private equity firm.
- KKR acquired Corel Corporation (Parallels' parent) from Vector Capital in 2019 for a reported value exceeding $1 billion.
Compliance & Certifications
- Parallels Desktop for Mac Business and Enterprise editions are SOC 2 audited, with SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports available to business and enterprise customers through their account manager.
- Parallels RAS supports customer compliance with PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR through its SSL/TLS 1.3 and FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption, built-in MFA, granular access controls, and session auditing capabilities.
Compiled from public sources by VenSearch · Last researched October 14, 2026
Offerings
9 offeringsParallels Browser Isolation
A Zero Trust security solution that provides secure access to web applications, SaaS, and cloud applications by running browsing sessions in isolated, sandboxed remote browser containers, creating an air gap between user activity and the corporate network. It is available in two deployment models: a fully cloud-hosted model managed by Parallels, and a Private Access self-hosted model where sandboxed containers are installed on-premises. The solution requires no agents on user devices and includes granular policy controls for data exchange, URL filtering, and compliance.
Parallels DaaS
A cloud-native Desktop-as-a-Service solution that delivers virtual applications and desktop streaming from the cloud to any user on any device, built on top of Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop. It simplifies the deployment, management, and cost-optimization of AVD with features including virtual machine scheduling, multi-session hosts, built-in user profile management, and a web-based administration portal. Parallels DaaS was recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service.
Parallels Desktop for Mac
A virtualization application that allows Mac users to run Windows 11 and other operating systems side by side with macOS on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. It is the only solution authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 on Apple Silicon and supports thousands of Windows applications and games. Subscriptions include access to Parallels Toolbox and 24/7 live support.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition
A virtualization solution tailored for teams and small businesses that enables Mac users to run Windows applications without additional infrastructure, with centralized administration and volume licensing. IT teams can manage and deploy licenses across employees, contractors, and departments, and automate deployment using Jamf, Microsoft Intune, and other MDM tools. Each virtual machine supports up to 128 GB vRAM and 32 vCPUs for demanding workloads.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition
An enterprise-grade virtualization solution that combines on-device virtualization with centralized deployment, security, and lifecycle management for IT departments at large organizations. Features include golden image creation and deployment via Azure Storage, mass deployment with MDM tools such as Jamf and Microsoft Intune, SSO/SAML with SCIM provisioning, encrypted VMs, and a centralized management portal for policy enforcement. The solution is SOC 2 and SOC 3 certified and Microsoft-authorized.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition
An advanced virtualization solution designed for developers, power users, and creators that supports up to 128 GB of virtual RAM and 32 vCPUs per VM on supported Mac hardware. It includes command-line interface tools, built-in developer tools, integrations with Vagrant, Jenkins, and Kubernetes via Minikube, and support for running graphically intensive applications like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and DaVinci Resolve. It also supports nested virtualization on Intel Macs and allows running multiple VMs simultaneously.
Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server)
A flexible virtual application and desktop delivery solution that enables organizations of all sizes to publish and stream Windows applications and desktops to any device from hybrid, on-premises, private cloud, or public cloud environments including Azure Virtual Desktop and AWS. It features a single management console, built-in multi-factor authentication, SSL/TLS 1.3 with FIPS-140-2 support, high availability load balancing, and a concurrent-user licensing model with all features included. Parallels RAS was recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service.
Parallels Secure Workspace
A Zero Trust secure remote access solution that enables users to securely access server-based Windows and Linux applications, desktops, SaaS applications, web applications, and file servers from any browser on any device without requiring software installation on the endpoint. It replaces VPN with a browser-based workspace that includes built-in MFA, session recording, deep usage auditing, granular access controls, and integration with external identity providers such as Azure AD, Okta, and Google Identity. The solution is deployable as a virtual appliance on-premises or in public cloud environments and supports multi-tenancy for MSPs.
Parallels Toolbox
An all-in-one suite of more than 50 one-click productivity, maintenance, and file-management utilities available for both Mac and Windows. Tools cover categories including screen capture and recording, video and audio downloading and conversion, system maintenance, privacy and security, and desktop productivity. It is included at no additional cost with eligible Parallels Desktop subscriptions and is also available as a standalone purchase.
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