| Requirement | Recommended Software Approach | | :--- | :--- | | | Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise running in Kiosk Mode (Assigned Access) booting directly into the RDP Client. | | Hardware Agnostic | Stratodesk NoTouch installed on legacy Windows PCs to unify management across different hardware brands. | | High Performance | Citrix Workspace App or VMware Horizon Client installed on a standard Windows PC to leverage local GPU and specialized protocols. | | Zero Maintenance | Browser-Based Access (Edge/Chrome) . No software to maintain on the endpoint; the browser is the client. |

The core of a software thin client is the "agent" or "client" software that renders the remote desktop. This software is installed on a local OS (Windows, Linux, or macOS) and manages the connection to the data center.

A Windows-based thin client runs a with three essential layers:

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The concept of the "thin client"—a lightweight computer that relies on a server to perform its computational heavy lifting—has evolved significantly. While hardware thin clients exist, the modern enterprise landscape is increasingly shifting toward .

Microsoft has optimized Windows 10 and 11 multi-session environments specifically for thin client connections. The Windows OS running on the client side is stripped of background telemetry and unnecessary services to reduce the resource footprint, ensuring the CPU is dedicated solely to decoding the remote display protocol.

When evaluating Windows thin client software, the decision rests on the balance between and flexibility .

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