Remote work and secure application delivery continue to evolve—and so does Kasm Workspaces. We are excited to announce Kasm Workspaces v1.18, a feature-rich release that makes it easier to deploy at scale, enhances the end-user experience, and introduces new enterprise features like Smartcard Passthrough.
Kasm Workspaces v1.18 builds on our mission to deliver high-performance digital workspaces that are simple to administer and great to use—whether you’re supporting a handful of users or thousands across multiple regions.
“Kasm 1.18 delivers on our commitment to improve the quality of life for users and administrators of the Kasm platform.” — Justin Travis, CEO and Co-Founder, Kasm Technologies
“The 1.18 release marks a significant step forward in helping our customers adopt next-generation technology, regardless of their business needs." — Daniel Ben-Chitrit, Chief Product Officer, Kasm Technologies
For a quick walkthrough, check out the release video (YouTube): https://youtu.be/ld80EFi2lfk
To see Kasm streaming in action right in your browser, try the on-demand demo: https://app.kasmweb.com/#/cast/kasmos
What’s New in v1.18
Kasm Workspaces v1.18 focuses on three big themes:
- 1.Enterprise-grade Secure Access
- 2.Enhanced Streaming Performance
- 3.Simplified Scaling and Infrastructure Management
Smartcard Pass-through + New Desktop Service
Many organizations require smartcards for secure authentication. With version 1.18, Kasm introduces Smartcard Pass-through, supported by a new Desktop Service client installer for Windows and macOS. This feature lets users authenticate into streamed environments using their smartcards without losing the familiar Kasm browser-based workflow.
Why it matters: You can now incorporate smartcard-based security policies directly into Kasm Workspaces, making it easier to support regulated environments and zero-trust access models.
KasmVNC v1.4: DPI Scaling and GPU Acceleration
Streaming clarity and responsiveness are essential to the Kasm experience, and v1.18 introduces KasmVNC v1.4 with two significant improvements.
- DPI scaling for sharper, more readable sessions across high-resolution displays
- Chrome GPU acceleration for higher FPS and smoother interaction in supported environments
Why it matters: End users experience a significantly improved performance—especially on modern laptops, large monitors, and when using graphics-intensive web apps. Learn more about KasmVNC.
Kubernetes Helm Chart Updates for Modern Deployments
Kasm Workspaces continues to enhance its Kubernetes readiness. v1.18 introduces important Helm chart improvements, including:
- Multi-zone deployment support
- Simplified upgrades
- Standalone database options
Why it matters: Teams running Kasm in Kubernetes environments gain more flexibility, smoother scaling options, and easier operational control across regions.
Scaling and Admin Features That Save Time
Enterprise deployments require consistent, low-effort scaling. v1.18 introduces several enhancements focused on increasing admin efficiency.
- Workspace Labels — apply controls across agents, pools, and zones
- Bulk Import — quickly add users and servers as your environment grows
- Agent Draining — gracefully offload workloads during maintenance windows
- Enhanced Server Enrollment — streamlined bulk deployment of Windows Servers
- User Assignment — map users to dedicated server resources
- Container Logging Console Access — view workspace logs directly in the logging UI
Why it matters: These features lower manual effort and simplify managing large deployments without downtime.
RDP Gateway and Infrastructure Enhancements
v1.18 modernizes RDP connectivity and improves platform infrastructure:
- RDP Gateway update to Apache Guacamole v1.5.5
- New workspace images including Debian Trixie, Fedora 41, Obsidian, and Cyberbro
- Vulkan GPU acceleration for Chromium-based browsers
- Redis chat depreciation (chat removed from session sharing)
- Security tightening, including removal, of file browsing from browser images
- Documentation migration to a new ecosystem at https://docs.kasm.com
Why it matters: You gain a more secure platform, more modern image options, and increased performance headroom for future workloads.
Built for Secure, Scalable Workspaces—Anywhere
Kasm Workspaces is a sophisticated container streaming platform that allows users to securely access desktops, applications, and web services from any device using a browser. By isolating workloads in Docker containers, Kasm helps prevent data leaks and supports strong security measures without compromising usability.
Whether your organization needs secure browsing, app streaming, remote work environments, collaboration tool access, or education labs, Kasm Workspaces offers a flexible solution built for enterprise scale.
Get the Full Release Details
Want a deep dive into every feature, improvement, and fix in v1.18? Read the full release notes here: https://docs.kasm.com/docs/release_notes/1.18.0
Ready to Try v1.18?
If you’re already running Kasm Workspaces, upgrade to v1.18 to take advantage of smarter access, smoother streaming, and admin features designed for real-world scaling. Install v1.18 here.
If you’re new to Kasm, now’s a great time to see what secure, browser-based workspaces can do for your team. Start with the demo or contact us to talk through your use case.
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