Remote Desktop Web Access for ISVs in 2025

Remote desktop web access allows users to connect to a remote Windows environment directly through a browser—no local installation or VPN required. For Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), this capability has become essential in 2025, especially when transitioning legacy applications to the cloud.

But traditional remote desktop solutions like Microsoft RDS and Citrix often require complex infrastructure and full desktop environments that don’t align with ISVs’ application-first needs.

In this article, we’ll explain how remote desktop web access works, the common challenges ISVs face, and why GO-Global is a purpose-built solution that eliminates the overhead.

What Is Remote Desktop Web Access?

Remote desktop web access lets users access a virtual desktop or application hosted on a remote server through any modern web browser. Instead of requiring an RDP client, the experience is fully browser-based.

This approach is valuable for:

• Remote end users who need access to legacy Windows apps
  
  
• ISVs delivering desktop applications to customers in different locations
  
  
• Organizations that want to reduce endpoint dependencies

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The Problem with Traditional RDS-Based Web Access

While Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) technically allows browser-based sessions, it has limitations:

• Requires full RDS stack – Including licensing for CALs, RD Gateway, and Session Hosts
  
  
• Desktop-first model – Users access a full desktop environment, even if they only need one application
  
  
• Windows-only focus – Performance varies on non-Windows clients
  
  
• Complex setup and maintenance – Especially when deployed at scale
  

These challenges can make RDS-based access costly and cumbersome—particularly for ISVs trying to deliver just one or two core applications.

A Simpler Solution: GO-Global for Web-Based Access

GO-Global offers a streamlined alternative that gives ISVs the power to publish their Windows applications directly to any browser—without using Microsoft RDS or deploying full virtual desktops.

Why GO-Global Is Ideal for Remote Desktop Web Access:

• Application-first delivery – Launch apps in the browser, not the full desktop
  
  
• No RDS or Citrix required – Eliminates expensive and complex licensing
  
  
• Cross-platform support – Works on macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, and mobile
  
  
• Minimal infrastructure – Simple to deploy and manage
  
  
• Fast performance – Optimized for low-latency access, even over modest internet connections
  
  

Whether you’re delivering accounting software, engineering tools, or vertical-market applications, GO-Global gives your users seamless access—while you retain full control over your infrastructure and licensing.

Key Use Cases for ISVs

• Cloud-enable a legacy Windows app without rewriting it
  
  
• Provide browser access to on-premise customers without VPN
  
  
• Offer trials or demos through an online portal
  
  
• Support hybrid deployments where some users are on-prem, others remote
  
  

In each of these cases, GO-Global simplifies delivery while keeping your stack lean and your app’s user experience intact.

Final Thoughts

Remote desktop web access is no longer just a convenience—it’s a requirement for ISVs looking to modernize their delivery model and support users on any device. But relying on full RDS setups or heavy VDI platforms introduces unnecessary complexity.

GO-Global is built for what ISVs actually need in 2025: fast, secure, and scalable access to their Windows applications—directly through the browser, without rebuilding or replatforming.

Are you an ISV exploring cloud-based application delivery? Contact us to learn how GO-Global can help you streamline software access for your end users. Or download a free trial to test it yourself.