Support BYOD More Securely with a VMware Horizon Alternative

If you’re considering a VMware Horizon alternative, chances are your current VDI setup is too costly, too complex, or too slow to support today’s hybrid workforce. Licensing fees, infrastructure overhead, and sluggish desktop performance are common pain points.

These challenges are pushing IT and security teams to rethink legacy VDI. In its place, a new generation of secure remote work platforms is emerging, replacing cumbersome virtual desktops with nimble, isolated environments that install directly on local machines.

This approach allows employees and contractors to work on familiar apps while isolating corporate data and preserving the privacy of the individual user. IT teams can eliminate VDI costs and exit the device management business entirely.

In this post, we take a look at the common reasons why companies are searching for a VMware Horizon alternative and how Venn could be a possible solution for your team.

Why Are Companies Replacing VMware Horizon?

VDI has been the go-to for quite some time. Now, companies are starting to look at isolated remote work tools with a BYOD (bring your own device) policy. This requires new types of systems that prioritize efficiency and streamlined remote security.

Here are a few reasons companies are looking for their VMware Horizon alternative:

• High costs with infrastructure overhead: Licensing, infrastructure, and maintenance costs can balloon quickly, especially when scaling across a growing remote workforce.
  
• Deployment can be complex and lacks a streamlined system: Current systems require significant backend setup and ongoing upkeep, including servers, connection brokers, and load balancers.
  
• User frustration: Performance lags to local apps create friction that impacts productivity.
  
• Scalability hits bottlenecks: Rapid onboarding for contractors, freelancers, or part-time staff becomes difficult and time-consuming.

VDI was once the standard for securing unmanaged laptops. Now, companies are looking for more. Laggy connections and poor support for local workflows slow down the entire process. When your team is remote, global, and using their own devices, they require a system that supports their work.

Introducing Venn: A VMware Horizon Alternative

Venn is built for secure remote work without the baggage of legacy virtual desktops. Instead of remotely hosting applications, Venn installs a company-managed Secure Enclave directly on the user’s own PC or Mac. As such, Venn’s Blue Border allows employees to work on personal devices without risking company data or compromising their own privacy.

Inside the Secure Enclave, company apps and data are fully isolated, encrypted, and governed by IT. Outside the enclave, the user’s personal data and applications remain private. A distinctive Blue Border™ wraps each work application window, so users know exactly when they’re in work mode.

There’s no need to rely on a virtual desktop or to take over the entire device. Venn prioritizes experience, privacy, and security.

Why Is Venn Better Than VDI for Remote Teams?

1. No Virtual Desktop Needed

Venn eliminates the need for remote desktop streaming. Users work natively on their own machines with the local apps they’re already familiar with. Venn lets the entire team operate within a secure, company-controlled environment, on the device of their choosing.

Here are a few of the benefits:

• Run applications like Outlook, Word, Slack, or Zoom locally & securely
• Everything runs seamlessly; not bottle-necked by bandwidth or servers
• No duplicate environments or change management issues

2. Lower Cost of Ownership

VDI requires infrastructure. Venn doesn’t. That’s a massive advantage for organizations looking to reduce capital and free up IT resources. This is one of the leading reasons there’s a search for a VMware Horizon alternative.

These are some of the reasons why:

• Eliminate VDI licensing, backend servers, and third-party add-ons
• Cut shipping and provisioning costs by letting workers use their own machines
• Onboard and offboard users in minutes instead of days for faster time-to-productivity

3. Enhanced Security and Compliance

Venn’s Secure Enclave aligns with Zero Trust principles and supports compliance with stringent regulations like HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2, FINRA, and SEC. 

IT teams retain complete control over what activities are allowed inside the enclave:

• Encrypted files and communications
• Cut/copy/paste restrictions
• Remote wipe and access revocation
• Auditing and policy enforcement

4. User Privacy and Device Freedom

Typical VDI takes over the endpoint. Venn respects personal boundaries with the Blue Border™. Everything outside Blue Border™ remains untouched and invisible to the organization to keep personal data separate from company data.

This is why Venn is a powerful tool to have:

• Employees feel safe using their own devices
• Personal apps and files are never scanned or accessed
• IT can enable BYOD policies with minimal friction or pushback

5. Faster, Simpler IT Operations

Remote work should empower IT. Venn streamlines operations by eliminating the need for provisioning, supporting, or locking down physical machines.

• No more imaging laptops or shipping hardware
• No VDI required
• Just install the Secure Enclave and start securing remote work

Is VDI Still the Best Choice for BYOD?

Legacy VDI platforms were never designed for a BYOD world. They assume IT owns the hardware and controls the network. A VMware Horizon alternative like Venn flips that model.

With Venn, your employees and contractors work locally on the devices they already have. Your IT team stays in control of company data. Your organization saves time, money, and frustration.

Venn is the VMware Horizon alternative built for how work is happening today. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces, especially those in regulated industries, gain this type of immediate value when they make the switch:

• Stay compliant with FINRA and SEC while letting contractors and employees work on personal laptops
• Support compliance requirements without locking down and shipping laptops
• Secure client data across a distributed workforce
• Reduce helpdesk load while improving security posture

A VMware Horizon alternative like Venn gives your team a secure, compliant way to keep growing productivity – securely.

Establish a Secure and Remote VMware Horizon Alternative with Venn

Remote work demands flexibility, and legacy virtual desktops aren’t keeping up. Teams are requiring a faster and more secure way to work from any device.

Venn offers a VMware Horizon alternative. The company-controlled Secure Enclave secures sensitive company data, respects user privacy, and eliminates the headaches of provisioning, shipping, and locking down corporate laptops.

Ready to ditch complex VDI? Request a demo and see how easy secure BYOD can be.

FAQ

What is the best VMware Horizon alternative?

For organizations seeking a lightweight, secure solution for remote work and BYOD, Venn is a top VMware Horizon alternative. It replaces complex virtual desktops with a local, company-managed Secure Enclave on the user’s device.

How does Venn differ from VDI?

Unlike VDI, Venn doesn’t stream a remote desktop. Instead, it creates a secure work environment directly on the personal computer. This enables fast, local performance without backend infrastructure.

Is Venn secure enough for compliance?

Yes. Venn supports compliance with industry regulations, including HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2, FINRA, and SEC. All data within the Secure Enclave is encrypted, monitored, and governed by policy.

Can users access local apps in Venn?

Absolutely. One of Venn’s key benefits is letting users run local apps (like Microsoft Office, Chrome, Zoom) inside the Secure Enclave. This provides a seamless experience with no disruption of workflows.

Who should use Venn?

Venn is ideal for organizations with remote or hybrid teams using personal or unmanaged devices. It’s especially valuable for IT, security, and compliance teams in regulated sectors looking to simplify operations while improving data protection.