What is VMware Horizon? A comparison with TSplus Remote Access

Overview of VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access

VMware Horizon is a comprehensive platform designed to manage virtual desktops and applications. Developed by VMware, a leader in virtualization technology, Horizon enables businesses to deliver a consistent and secure user experience across various devices and locations.

TSplus Remote Access , on the other hand, is a powerful and cost-effective alternative for businesses looking to implement remote desktop access without the complexities and higher costs associated with traditional VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) solutions. TSplus focuses on simplicity, ease of use and affordability, making it an attractive choice for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Key Features: a Comparison

Virtual Desktops and Applications

VMware Horizon allows organizations to create and manage virtual desktops and applications, providing users with a seamless desktop experience regardless of their physical location. Similarly, TSplus Remote Access offers the ability to publish applications and desktops, making them accessible to remote users via a web browser or a client application. While both platforms provide robust virtual desktop capabilities, TSplus shines in its simplicity and ease of deployment, particularly for SMBs.

Centralized Management

VMware Horizon offers a comprehensive management console that simplifies the administration of virtual desktops and applications. TSplus Remote Access also provides centralized management but is designed with a focus on simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible even to organizations with limited IT resources. The intuitive management interface of TSplus allows non-technical users to manage remote access effectively.

User Experience

Both VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access prioritise delivering an excellent user experience. VMware Horizon supports high-definition graphics and various display protocols like PCoIP and Blast Extreme. TSplus Remote Access, while not offering the same level of graphical optimisation, ensures a quality, fast and responsive experience with minimal configuration. The user-friendly TSplus interface is particularly beneficial for organisations that need to deploy remote access quickly and efficiently.

Security

Security is a critical concern for any remote desktop solution. VMware Horizon incorporates advanced security features, including multi-factor authentication, data encryption and integration with VMware NSX for network security. TSplus Remote Access also prioritises security, offering encryption, secure access controls, 2FA and regular updates to ensure a safe remote working environment. To add to this, TSplus Advanced Security is an additional protection designed especially to defend and guard remote environments facing the Internet. The main difference lies in the complexity of implementation—TSplus offers robust security without requiring extensive configuration.

Scalability

VMware Horizon is known for its scalability, supporting deployments from small businesses to large enterprises. TSplus Remote Access is equally scalable yet designed to be accessible even to SMBs, offering a solution that can grow with your business without the need for significant infrastructure investments.

Integration with Ecosystems

VMware Horizon integrates seamlessly with VMware’s broader ecosystem, including vSphere for virtualisation, vSAN for storage and NSX for networking. It also supports hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, making it a versatile option for complex IT environments.

TSplus Remote Access, depending on configuration, can be either Windows specific or free from any specific ecosystem ties thanks to HTML5 This makes it highly compatible with existing infrastructures. While it works well with various Windows-based environments, it can just as well be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, offering flexibility for businesses of all sizes. This agnostic approach allows TSplus to fit into a wide range of IT environments without requiring extensive reconfiguration.

Benefits: VMware Horizon vs. TSplus Remote Access

Remote Work Support

Both VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access are designed to support remote work. VMware Horizon provides a robust platform for large-scale remote access, but TSplus, in the shape of Remote Support, offers an easier setup and deployment process; it is hence ideal for organisations that need to get remote work solutions up and running quickly.

Cost Efficiency

VMware Horizon is a feature-rich platform, but it comes with a much higher cost, making it more suitable for organisations with larger IT budgets. In contrast, TSplus Remote Access is designed to be cost-effective, with lower licensing fees and reduced hardware requirements. This affordability makes TSplus an excellent choice for SMBs looking to implement remote access. without breaking the bank .

Flexibility and Accessibility

VMware Horizon allows access from various devices and locations, providing a flexible solution for businesses with diverse needs. TSplus Remote Access matches this flexibility, offering access through web browsers, mobile devices, and dedicated client applications. The ease of use and broad device compatibility make TSplus a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes.

Use Cases

Enterprise Deployments

VMware Horizon is well-suited for large-scale enterprise deployments, offering the robustness and feature set required for complex environments. TSplus Remote Access, while also capable of supporting large deployments, is particularly advantageous for organizations that prefer a simpler, more streamlined solution without sacrificing functionality.

SMBs (Small and Medium-sized Businesses)

VMware Horizon offers tailored solutions for smaller organisations, but its complexity and cost can be a barrier. TSplus Remote Access, with its lower cost and ease of use, is an ideal solution for SMBs. It provides the essential features needed for remote access without the overhead of a full VDI solution.

Education Sector

In the education sector, VMware Horizon provides virtual labs and remote learning environments. TSplus Remote Access offers similar capabilities but with a focus on ease of deployment and management, making it a great option for educational institutions with limited IT resources.

Healthcare

Healthcare organisations require secure, reliable access to patient records and applications. VMware Horizon offers a comprehensive solution for this need, but TSplus Remote Access provides a simpler, more cost-effective alternative that efficiently meets the stringent security requirements of the healthcare industry.

Getting Started

Initial Setup

Setting up VMware Horizon requires significant planning and resources, especially for large deployments. TSplus Remote Access, by contrast, is known for its simplicity, allowing organizations to get started quickly with minimal technical expertise. This ease of setup is one of the key advantages of TSplus.

Deployment Options

Both VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access offer flexible deployment options, including on-premises and cloud-based solutions. However, TSplus’s simpler deployment process makes it an attractive option for organisations that need to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, such as the sudden shift to remote work.

Licensing and Pricing

VMware Horizon offers a range of licensing options to suit different needs, but these can be costly and complex. TSplus Remote Access provides transparent, straightforward pricing with no hidden costs, making it easier for businesses to budget and plan.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Implementation Challenges

Implementing VMware Horizon can be challenging due to its complexity and the need for specialised IT expertise. TSplus Remote Access, with its streamlined approach, reduces the likelihood of implementation challenges, making it a more accessible solution for businesses without large IT teams.

Performance Optimization

Both platforms offer performance optimisation tools, but the simplicity of TSplus Remote Access design often results in fewer performance issues and less complications, particularly in SMB environments. TSplus focus on minimising configuration requirements means businesses can achieve optimal performance with less effort.

Security Best Practices

Both VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access offer strong security features. Nonetheless, TSplus offers an ease of implementation means that businesses can more readily apply best practices without needing deep technical knowledge. This user-friendly approach to security is a significant advantage for smaller organizations.

Future Trends and Roadmaps

Trends in Virtualization

Virtualization continues to evolve, with trends like hybrid cloud and zero-trust security becoming increasingly important. VMware Horizon is at the forefront of these developments, but TSplus Remote Access is also adapting, focusing on simplifying these trends for its users.

The VMware Roadmap vs. the TSplus Roadmap

Both VMware and TSplus are continuously innovating to meet the changing needs of businesses. VMware’s roadmap includes advanced features and deeper integration with cloud services, while TSplus focuses on enhancing user experience, security and ease of use.

Concluding on “What is VMware Horizon”

In summary, both VMware Horizon and TSplus Remote Access offer powerful solutions for remote desktop access, but they cater to different needs. VMware Horizon is ideal for large enterprises with complex requirements and the resources to manage them. TSplus Remote Access, with its simplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of use, is a strong contender for SMBs and organisations looking for a straightforward, reliable remote access solution.

For businesses looking to implement a remote access solution, it is essential to consider your specific needs, budget and IT resources. If you're looking for a solution that offers robust features with simplicity and affordability, TSplus could well be the right choice for you.