Azure Virtual Desktop vs Horizon 8

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Our analysts compared Azure Virtual Desktop vs Horizon 8 based on data from our 400+ point analysis of DaaS Providers, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Azure Virtual Desktop Software Tool
Horizon 8 Software Tool

Product Basics

Azure Virtual Desktop is a comprehensive cloud-based service that facilitates the deployment and management of virtual desktops and applications. It is particularly advantageous for businesses requiring scalable and secure remote work solutions, such as those in finance, healthcare, and education. The platform offers seamless integration with other cloud services, ensuring a robust and flexible virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) experience.

Key benefits include enhanced security features, simplified IT management, and cost efficiency through a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Users appreciate its ability to deliver a consistent and high-performance desktop experience across various devices. Compared to similar products, Azure Virtual Desktop stands out for its deep integration with cloud services and its ability to support a wide range of workloads.

For precise pricing details, it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote based on specific requirements.

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Horizon 8 is a sophisticated software solution designed to manage Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and application virtualization. It enables organizations to deliver, protect, and manage desktops and applications across various devices and locations. This software is particularly well-suited for industries such as healthcare, finance, education, and government, where secure and efficient remote access to applications and data is critical.

One of the standout benefits of Horizon 8 is its ability to streamline IT management by centralizing desktop and application delivery. This results in reduced operational costs and enhanced security. Key features include advanced monitoring and analytics, robust security protocols, and seamless integration with cloud services. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the flexibility it offers in scaling resources according to demand.

Compared to similar products, Horizon 8 is often praised for its reliability and comprehensive feature set. Pricing details can vary based on deployment size and specific requirements, so it's advisable to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote.

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$5.79/User, Monthly
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Product Insights

  • Cost Efficiency: Reduce expenses by eliminating the need for physical hardware and minimizing maintenance costs.
  • Scalability: Easily scale up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal resource utilization without over-provisioning.
  • Enhanced Security: Benefit from built-in security features like multi-factor authentication and conditional access to protect sensitive data.
  • Remote Accessibility: Enable employees to access their desktops and applications from anywhere, fostering remote work and flexibility.
  • Centralized Management: Simplify IT operations with centralized management of virtual desktops, reducing administrative overhead.
  • Business Continuity: Ensure uninterrupted operations with disaster recovery solutions and high availability configurations.
  • Improved Collaboration: Facilitate seamless collaboration by providing consistent desktop environments across different locations.
  • Compliance Support: Meet industry-specific compliance requirements with Azure's comprehensive compliance certifications and standards.
  • Performance Optimization: Leverage Azure's global infrastructure to deliver high-performance virtual desktops with low latency.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365: Enhance productivity by integrating seamlessly with Microsoft 365 applications and services.
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  • Enhanced Security: Horizon 8 offers robust security features, including multi-factor authentication and encryption, ensuring sensitive data remains protected.
  • Improved User Experience: With high-definition video and audio capabilities, users experience seamless interactions, even in remote environments.
  • Scalability: Easily scale your virtual desktop infrastructure to meet growing business demands without significant hardware investments.
  • Cost Efficiency: Reduce operational costs by centralizing desktop management and minimizing the need for physical hardware.
  • Centralized Management: Simplify IT operations with a single platform to manage and deploy virtual desktops and applications.
  • Business Continuity: Ensure uninterrupted access to critical applications and data during unexpected disruptions, supporting remote work and disaster recovery plans.
  • Flexibility: Support a diverse range of devices and operating systems, allowing employees to work from anywhere using their preferred tools.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate better teamwork with integrated communication tools and shared virtual environments.
  • Compliance: Maintain regulatory compliance with built-in auditing and reporting features that track user activity and data access.
  • Performance Optimization: Utilize advanced resource allocation and load balancing to ensure optimal performance for all users.
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  • Scalability: Easily scale up or down based on your organization's needs, accommodating fluctuating workloads without hassle.
  • Multi-Session Windows 10: Run multiple concurrent user sessions on a single Windows 10 instance, optimizing resource usage and reducing costs.
  • Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365: Provides a smooth experience with Microsoft 365 apps, ensuring productivity tools are readily accessible.
  • Enhanced Security: Leverage Azure's built-in security features, including multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies, to protect sensitive data.
  • Cost Management: Utilize Azure's cost management tools to monitor and optimize spending, ensuring you only pay for what you use.
  • Remote App Streaming: Stream individual applications to users, providing access to specific tools without the need for a full desktop environment.
  • Flexible Deployment Options: Choose from a variety of deployment models, including hybrid and cloud-only, to best suit your infrastructure needs.
  • Centralized Management: Manage all virtual desktops and applications from a single, unified interface, simplifying administrative tasks.
  • High Availability: Ensure continuous availability with built-in redundancy and failover capabilities, minimizing downtime.
  • Customizable User Experience: Tailor the desktop environment to meet specific user requirements, enhancing productivity and satisfaction.
  • Support for Various Devices: Access virtual desktops from a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, ensuring flexibility for users.
  • Integration with Azure Active Directory: Simplify user management and authentication by integrating with Azure AD, leveraging existing identities and policies.
  • Optimized for Teams: Experience improved performance and reliability when using Microsoft Teams within the virtual desktop environment.
  • Persistent and Non-Persistent Desktops: Choose between persistent desktops for a consistent user experience or non-persistent desktops for stateless, temporary sessions.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring and Diagnostics: Utilize Azure Monitor and other diagnostic tools to track performance, identify issues, and ensure optimal operation.
  • Application Compatibility: Run legacy and modern applications seamlessly, ensuring compatibility across different software versions.
  • Global Reach: Deploy virtual desktops in data centers around the world, providing low-latency access to users regardless of their location.
  • Automated Updates: Keep your virtual desktops up-to-date with automated patching and updates, reducing administrative overhead.
  • Disaster Recovery: Implement robust disaster recovery plans with Azure Site Recovery, ensuring business continuity in case of unexpected events.
  • API and PowerShell Support: Automate and customize your virtual desktop environment using APIs and PowerShell scripts, enhancing operational efficiency.
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  • Blast Extreme Protocol: Delivers high-performance remote desktop and application experiences, optimized for multimedia and 3D graphics.
  • Instant Clones: Rapidly deploys virtual desktops by cloning a running virtual machine, significantly reducing provisioning time.
  • Unified Workspace: Provides a single portal for accessing virtual desktops, applications, and online services, enhancing user convenience.
  • Smart Policies: Dynamically adjusts user policies based on conditions such as location, device, and network status, ensuring security and compliance.
  • App Volumes: Delivers applications in real-time to virtual desktops, reducing storage costs and simplifying application management.
  • Dynamic Environment Manager: Personalizes user settings and enforces IT policies across virtual, physical, and cloud environments.
  • Cloud Pod Architecture: Enables global entitlements and management across multiple Horizon instances, supporting large-scale deployments.
  • vSphere Integration: Leverages VMware vSphere for robust virtualization, providing high availability and resource optimization.
  • Hybrid Cloud Support: Seamlessly extends virtual desktops and applications to public clouds, offering flexibility and scalability.
  • Monitoring and Analytics: Utilizes VMware vRealize Operations for Horizon to provide deep insights into performance and usage metrics.
  • Zero Trust Security: Implements multi-layered security measures, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and micro-segmentation.
  • Remote Experience: Enhances user experience with features like USB redirection, printer redirection, and support for multiple monitors.
  • Automated Patching: Simplifies maintenance by automating the patching process for virtual desktops and applications.
  • RESTful APIs: Offers extensive APIs for integration with third-party tools and custom automation workflows.
  • Support for Multiple OS: Provides compatibility with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.
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Product Ranking

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#10

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Simplified Management: Azure Virtual Desktop streamlines deploying and managing virtual desktops, relieving IT teams of complex infrastructure tasks.
Enhanced Security: Robust security features, including multi-factor authentication and encryption, safeguard sensitive data and applications, a top priority for businesses.
Cost-Effectiveness: The pay-as-you-go model optimizes costs, allowing businesses to scale resources based on demand, similar to adjusting your electricity usage monthly.
Seamless Microsoft 365 Integration: Businesses already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem can leverage existing licenses, maximizing their technology ROI.
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Simple Management: Horizon 8 enables centralized control over virtual desktops and applications, simplifying IT administration.
Strong Security: The platform incorporates robust security features like multi-factor authentication and encryption to protect sensitive data.
Fast Performance: Horizon 8 delivers a responsive user experience akin to using a physical workstation, even for demanding applications.
Effortless Scalability: Businesses can easily adjust their VDI deployments up or down based on their evolving needs, ensuring optimal resource utilization.
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Performance Issues: Users have reported slow execution speeds, particularly during demanding tasks, which can hinder productivity.
Latency Problems: While generally praised for responsiveness, some users experience occasional latency, especially during peak hours or with graphically intensive applications, leading to a less fluid workflow.
Printing Challenges: Integrating local printing with a virtual environment can be complex, and users have reported issues with printer compatibility and performance, creating inconvenience in office settings.
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Copy/Paste Issues: Users have reported occasional difficulties with copy/paste functionality between their local machines and virtual desktops.
Connection Stability: A weak or unreliable internet connection can disrupt the VDI connection, leading to dropped sessions and potential data loss.
Complex Setup: While Horizon 8 is known for its robust features, configuring and deploying the software, particularly on-site, can be challenging and time-consuming, especially for larger organizations with complex network security requirements.
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Is Azure Virtual Desktop a virtual slam dunk for businesses seeking robust VDI solutions? User reviews from the past year suggest a resounding yes, but with a few caveats. Azure Virtual Desktop consistently wows users with its impressive scalability, allowing organizations to effortlessly adjust resources based on their needs, much like a chameleon adapting to its surroundings. This dynamic scalability ensures businesses only pay for what they use, maximizing cost-efficiency. Furthermore, Azure Virtual Desktop shines in its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, a boon for organizations already entrenched in the world of Microsoft 365. This synergy streamlines workflows and simplifies management for IT departments. However, some users have voiced concerns about occasional latency issues, particularly during peak hours, which can momentarily disrupt productivity. Additionally, managing images for non-persistent desktops can present a slight learning curve for some. Despite these minor hiccups, Azure Virtual Desktop's strengths in scalability, security, and integration with Microsoft 365 make it a compelling choice for organizations of all sizes, especially those already leveraging the power of Microsoft's ecosystem. Its ability to deliver a high-performance virtual desktop experience while simplifying IT management makes it a true game-changer in the VDI arena.

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Is the grass always greener on the other side of the Horizon 8 fence? User reviews from the past year suggest that VMware Horizon 8 is a robust solution for organizations seeking to implement Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions. Users praise its performance, security features, and user-friendliness, particularly highlighting its ease of deployment and management. Its ability to provide secure remote access without the need for VPNs is a major plus, as is its cost-effectiveness compared to competitors like Citrix DaaS. However, some users have reported occasional issues with specific features, such as copy/paste functionality and connection drops in areas with poor internet connectivity. One of Horizon 8's differentiating factors is its flexibility, as it can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. This adaptability makes it an attractive option for organizations of all sizes and with varying IT infrastructures. Another key strength is its comprehensive feature set, which includes application virtualization, profile management, and advanced security controls. These features enable organizations to create a centralized and secure digital workspace that can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. While the initial setup might require some technical expertise, users generally find the platform intuitive and easy to use once configured. Overall, VMware Horizon 8 is best suited for organizations looking for a comprehensive, secure, and scalable VDI solution. Its robust features, ease of management, and flexible deployment options make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking to empower their workforce with reliable and efficient access to their digital workspaces, regardless of location.

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