Mobility, security and compliance, automation, and the demand for “the workspace of the future” are just some of the challenges that businesses face today.

The cloud is best positioned to support these challenges, but it can be hard to pick the right kind of cloud and find the right balance between cost and benefits.

Parallels Introduction
Parallels is a global leader in cross-platform technologies and is renowned for its award-winning software solutions that cut complexity and lower costs for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, banking and finance, manufacturing, the public sector, and many others.

Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) provides easy-to-use, comprehensive application and desktop delivery that enables business and public-sector organizations to seamlessly integrate virtual Windows applications and desktops on nearly any device or operating system.

ThinPrint Introduction
ThinPrint is a global leader in solutions that support an organization’s digital transformation, helping ensure users can draw on highly reliable and innovative print solutions that support today’s and tomorrow’s requirements.

Joint Value Statement

Together, Parallels and ThinPrint allow an organization to become a cloud-ready business on its own terms, with unprecedented ease and cost-effectiveness.

We support any endpoint device from a desktop PC to a smartphone or tablet, can deploy on-premise or in the cloud, and follow your business as it completes its digital transformation.

You may decide to start digitally transforming your business by delivering applications or desktops from an existing server in your datacenter and move to Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure later. You can also replace user workstations with newer, more mobile devices, or expand from an initial pilot group to new use cases for the entire company.

Whatever your plans are, Parallels and ThinPrint will help you implement them with easy, cost-effective solutions and the ability to adapt to future challenges.

Scripting and PowerCLI are words that most people working with VMware products know pretty well and have used once or twice. Everyone knows that scripting and automation are great assests to have in your toolbox. The problem usually is that getting into scripting appears daunting to many people who feel like the learning curve is just too steep, and they usually don't know where to start. The good thing is you don't need to learn everything straight away to start working with PowerShell and PowerCLI. Once you have the basics down and have your curiosity tickled, you’ll learn what you need as you go, a lot faster than you thought you would!

ABOUT POWERCLI

Let's get to know PowerCLI a little better before we start getting our hands dirty in the command prompt. If you are reading this you probably already know what PowerCLI is about or have a vague idea of it, but it’s fine you don’t. After a while working with it, it becomes second nature, and you won't be able to imagine life without it anymore! Thanks to VMware's drive to push automation, the product's integration with all of their components has significantly improved over the years, and it has now become a critical part of their ecosystem.

WHAT IS PowerCLI?

Contrary to what many believe, PowerCLI is not in fact a stand-alone software but rather a command-line and scripting tool built on Windows PowerShell for managing and automating vSphere environments. It used to be distributed as an executable file to install on a workstation. Previously, an icon was generated that would essentially launch PowerShell and load the PowerCLI snap-ins in the session. This behavior changed back in version 6.5.1 when the executable file was removed and replaced by a suite of PowerShell modules to install from within the prompt itself. This new deployment method is preferred because these modules are now part of Microsoft’s Official PowerShell Gallery. 7 These modules provide the means to interact with the components of a VMware environment and offer more than 600 cmdlets! The below command returns a full list of VMware-Associated Cmdlets!

With times changing continuously in the tech world, more and more workloads are moving to the cloud and a VPN solution is becoming outdated - services are no longer just located in your office or data center, but a hybrid combination of on-premises and public cloud services. Leveraging cloud-based solutions means that your company can centrally control access to applications while reinforcing security.

As an affordable all-in-one VDI solution, Parallels RAS allows users to securely access virtual workspaces from anywhere, on any device, anytime. Parallels RAS centralizes management of the IT infrastructure, streamlines multi-cloud deployments, enhances data security, and improves process automation.

DevOps: An unsuspecting target for the world’s most sophisticated cybercriminals

DevOps focuses on automated pipelines that help organizations improve business-impacting KPIs like time-to-market, product development speed, agility and more. In a world where less time means more money, putting code into production the same day it’s written is, well, a game changer. But with new opportunities come new challenges. Automated building of software that’s distributed by vendors straight into corporations worldwide leaves cybercriminals salivating over costly supply chain attacks.

So how does one combat supply chain attacks?

Many can be prevented through the deployment of security to development infrastructure servers, the routine vetting of containers and anti-malware testing of the production artifacts. The problem is that a lack of integration solutions in traditional security products wastes time due to fragmented automation, overcomplicated processes and limited visibility—all taboo in DevOps environments.

Cybercriminals exploit fundamental differences between the operational goals of those who maintain and operate in the development environment. That’s why it’s important to show unity and focus on a single strategic goal—delivering a safe product to partners and customers in time.

The protection-performance balance

A strong security foundation is crucial to stopping threats, but it won’t come from a one bullet. It takes the right multi-layered combination to deliver the right DevOps security-performance balance, bringing you closer to where you want to be.

Protect your automated pipeline using endpoint protection that’s fully effective in pre-filtering incidents before EDR comes into play. After all, the earlier threats can be countered automatically, the less impact on resources. It’s important to focus on protection that’s powerful, accessible through an intuitive and well-documented interface, and easily integrated through scripts.