Christ, here we go again. Apple drops a new OS, everyone updates on day one because of course they do, and then virtualization software breaks for months. I've been stuck running old macOS versions because VMware Fusion couldn't get their shit together for Apple Silicon - we're going on three years now of "coming soon."
But Parallels actually shipped Desktop 26 with same-day support for the new macOS. Not "beta support coming eventually" or "we're working on it" - actual working Windows VMs on the beta that Apple literally just released. The official Parallels website confirms full compatibility with the latest macOS features, including Apple's new security enhancements.
Why Enterprise IT Teams Will Actually Care
Look, creative agencies and dev shops that run Macs are fucked when VMs break. I watched a whole video production team get stuck on macOS Big Sur for eight months because their Adobe/Windows workflows couldn't survive a VM compatibility break. Nobody talks about this because Apple doesn't want to admit how much professional work still needs Windows software.
The enterprise security certification sounds boring but means IT can actually roll this out without manually configuring every machine. Plus you can finally access Mac files from inside Windows without navigating permission hell that makes no fucking sense.
The changes that don't suck:
- File sharing between Mac and Windows that actually works
- Updates can be pushed remotely instead of manual installation
- Settings don't reset themselves randomly (only took them 20 years)
- Enterprise deployment isn't completely broken anymore
Meanwhile VMware is Still Playing Catch-Up
Parallels is the only VM software Microsoft actually certified for Apple Silicon. VMware's official roadmap promised Apple Silicon support in 2022 and we're still waiting for something that doesn't crash twice a day. VirtualBox on M-chips runs slower than Windows ME, while UTM remains limited to basic virtualization tasks.
New macOS launches in three weeks and everyone's going to upgrade immediately. If you need Windows for work and don't want to be stuck for six months getting "VM configuration failed: Invalid kernel" errors, comparing virtualization options shows Parallels is your only option that won't leave you completely fucked. The Apple Developer documentation confirms why most VM software struggles with Apple's hardware transitions.