


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.
Everything we've gained from it makes my job easier day after day, and I see value in it as an engineer.
Microsoft Intune not only saves costs by reducing the number of personnel needed but also offers a comprehensive solution for managing laptops, applications, security, individual access, and enrollment.
With Microsoft Intune, tasks such as device provisioning, policy deployment, application delivery, and compliance enforcement require less manual effort than in more traditional management models.
By unlocking a locked situation, I mean we couldn't connect to a server in any other way, so we had to use RDP.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped us to be efficient; we are a team of five serving the entire region of Africa and the Middle East, and it has truly improved our overall efficiency as a team.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has saved us considerable time because we don't have to be on-site for support and have more accessibility to the machines.
When a support ticket is submitted, it directly reaches someone with Intune support expertise.
When I contacted Microsoft, they had the same expertise, if not more, which is phenomenal because I felt heard and my problem was solved.
Sometimes, the support provided is excellent, and the representative is knowledgeable, while other times, the service needs improvement.
If support comes from Ireland, it can be good, rated at nine or ten.
The first level often wastes time because I usually have to escalate to an engineer for proper support.
Citrix support is better than Microsoft support.
I would rate the customer support of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a 10.
Interacting with Amazon's customer support seems to route the request to the correct team almost immediately, resulting in quicker responses.
If I have any issues related to the installation or initial setup, they have been great and a helping hand.
The scalability of Microsoft Intune is ten out of ten.
Ideally, we want to automatically segregate devices based on user properties like primary use, but currently, dynamic groups seem limited to device properties.
It supports organizations with 200 endpoints and those with more than 15,000 endpoints.
It supports over 100 apps and 20,000 users in our organization, demonstrating impressive scalability.
The platform can scale to very large numbers.
Citrix DaaS offers vast scalability options as workloads can be deployed across multiple data centers like Azure, Google, or AWS.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services scales very well; I could scale it to however many users I would want.
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is high, as it is already providing me with the flexibility to access my system from anywhere.
My impression is that most of the solutions, especially today, make sense for large corporations with 2000 seats or more.
We have not experienced downtime, bugs, or glitches.
It appears Microsoft Intune undergoes changes without informing customers.
In my experience, Microsoft Intune is a stable platform as it is a cloud-based service, and updates are regularly delivered by Microsoft.
I evaluate Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) as a very stable solution and very sturdy in how it operates.
Citrix DaaS allows for satisfactory stability by facilitating workload deployment in various data centers including Azure, Google, or AWS.
I have never faced any issues related to its working or its availability.
Features like unlocking devices sometimes fail, and the support offered for other operating systems is insufficient.
There are communication issues, so you might start working with a feature without knowing if it will be deprecated six months from now.
Many third-party companies offer single-pane-of-glass reporting that shows you what your update environment looks like, how your patch is doing, application status, etc., but Intune's reporting is not intuitive.
Citrix should have different pricing based on company size.
Creating App-V applications is not an easy task and could take from hours to weeks without success.
This makes it challenging to remain with them, and it becomes necessary to explore alternatives to achieve the same performance with less expense.
I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365.
On macOS, we sometimes experience keyboard connectivity issues.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can be improved by better integrating it within Teams or providing a Teams integration to connect to customer support teams or other systems' accesses using Remote Desktop internally, rather than as a separate individual tool.
Introductory professional services, like a fast-track service, were included with our E5 membership, and there have been no additional costs.
The Intune suite and add-ons, such as batch management and remote help, are costly.
It costs approximately forty euros per user per month.
Citrix DaaS is considered expensive, especially for companies that do not require multi-cloud.
These licenses are not cheap, as they add up in cost.
I understand it can get quite expensive and also complex to manage these different licenses.
I don't think there was any cost, as this was built into our experience with Windows and Azure.
Intune excels in configuration and compliance management for Windows 10, ensuring devices receive timely updates and adhere to organizational standards.
Dynamic groups allow us to set conditions for automatic membership, eliminating the need for user intervention or manual review and ensuring a seamless workflow.
Windows Autopatch is the most valuable because it removes the burden of patch management.
With Citrix, all connections are outgoing, minimizing firewall vulnerability.
The scalability of Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) is impressive, supporting over 100 apps and a user base of 20,000 within our organization.
Users can use Teams solutions and open a bridge where video and audio are encapsulated within the ICA protocol, which is protected by SSL and certificates for security.
The main benefits that Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provide to me include streamlining my working process, ensuring security, and offering flexibility to connect to virtual desktops and apps from multiple devices.
Using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped my team save time and improve productivity because we had Microsoft servers that were impossible to connect from our MacBook Pro laptops, and once we started using RDP, we could connect and move forward to deliver the project.
The best features Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers include providing me administrator access, certain inbuilt client tools, and the ability to remotely access enterprise applications, as well as helping me validate whether certificates exist or are missing, or near to expiry.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Intune | 8.0% |
| Microsoft Remote Desktop Services | 7.3% |
| Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service) | 4.7% |
| Other | 80.0% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 129 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 55 |
| Large Enterprise | 170 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 45 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 69 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 43 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 16 |
| Large Enterprise | 35 |
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service designed for device management, security, and compliance. It supports automation and facilitates endpoint management for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, ensuring data protection and efficient policy enforcement.
Microsoft Intune offers seamless integration with tools like Windows Autopilot to automate device setup and deployment. Integrated with Azure Active Directory, it enhances policy management while providing robust reporting and analytics tools for compliance tracking. Despite its intuitive interface aimed at simplifying navigation and device security management, there are challenges such as compatibility issues with Linux and Mac, limited policy support for Android, and demands for better third-party integration. It's widely used for both corporate-owned devices and BYOD scenarios in dynamic IT environments.
What are the key features of Microsoft Intune?In industries such as finance and healthcare, Microsoft Intune is implemented to ensure data protection and compliance with regulatory standards. Manufacturing sectors utilize Intune for managing a distributed workforce across global locations, while educational institutions employ it to secure and manage devices in learning environments supporting both students and faculty.
Citrix DaaS provides centralized administration, high security, and app and desktop flexibility, offering excellent user experience and robust remote access. It is known for low bandwidth seamless performance and ease of use, ensuring consistent experience on diverse devices.
Citrix DaaS is a comprehensive service for virtual application delivery and remote access, ideal for distributed teams and mobile workers. Its support for application virtualization, data regulation compliance, and business continuity makes it valuable in remote work environments. Organizations use it for centralized management and secure remote workflows, benefiting from low-bandwidth delivery in multi-city deployments. However, enhancements in speed, performance, and scalability are necessary, along with better monitoring and pricing improvements. Users face cloud compatibility challenges, and improvements in virtual desktop functionality and multimedia experience are desired.
What are the key features of Citrix DaaS?In healthcare, Citrix DaaS supports secure access to patient records and applications essential for telemedicine. Financial services benefit from compliance with data regulation and secure workflows. In education, virtual desktops offer accessible learning resources, aiding remote teaching initiatives. Retail uses it for streamlining operations across dispersed locations, ensuring quick access to inventory systems and data management.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provides secure, seamless access to remote applications with cross-platform compatibility and centralized management, enhancing productivity and resource sharing in Windows environments.
The robust security features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services enable efficient data handling and user support across devices. With a focus on remote application access, scalability, and ease of use, this solution integrates effortlessly with Windows environments. It offers centralized management, facilitating smooth IT operations. However, there is potential for improving interface intuitiveness and setup simplicity. Addressing keyboard compatibility with macOS, network connectivity challenges, and security vulnerabilities could enhance the user experience. Optimization for performance on slower networks and clearer license management would further benefit users.
What are the key features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?In numerous industries, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services supports remote server management, virtual desktops, and application virtualization. Organizations use it for collaboration, secure data handling, and accessing critical resources across different locations. It aids in troubleshooting, ensuring secure connections to client applications and facilitating testing and support for multiple users in diverse environments.
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