The way organizations deliver applications has undergone a significant shift over the past few years. Pre-pandemic, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) was often seen as a niche solution for specific use cases. Post-pandemic, it has become a cornerstone of modern IT strategies, driven by the rise of remote work and the need for secure, scalable access to business-critical applications.

Today, the conversation is no longer about whether to adopt VDI; it is about how to make it work in a hybrid world. Hybrid work models demand hybrid infrastructure, spanning on-premises, cloud, and edge environments. Employees expect seamless access across diverse devices, while IT teams strive to balance performance, cost, and security. This complexity underscores a critical truth: flexibility and simplicity are no longer optional; they are essential.

The ecosystem itself is also evolving rapidly. Organizations are rethinking their entire virtualization stack, from application delivery platforms to hypervisors, driven by licensing changes, cost pressures, and the need for more agile, future-ready solutions. This shift is not just about replacing one vendor; it reflects a broader trend toward open choice and adaptability across the IT landscape.

Adding to this transformation is the rise of AI-powered applications, which demand more computing resources and tighter integration with data. Delivering these apps efficiently and securely is a growing challenge. VDI and remote application delivery help address this by centralizing workloads, ensuring consistent performance, and enabling secure access from any device without exposing sensitive data at the edge.

Security remains the non-negotiable foundation of this evolution. As applications and data move across hybrid environments, the attack surface expands. CIOs are prioritizing solutions that embed security into every layer without compromising user experience or operational efficiency.

The future of application delivery will be defined by choice, adaptability, and trust. At Parallels, we enable this vision through solutions that simplify and secure access to applications and desktops, optimize hybrid work, and empower IT teams with flexibility across devices and infrastructures. From virtualization to cross-platform access, our focus is on helping organizations stay agile and resilient in a rapidly changing world.