Desktop & Server Virtualization: VMware

CEO: Pat Gelsinger

VMware swapped top spots again with 2014 winner Microsoft, taking home the crown in the Desktop & Server Virtualization category this time around. Palo Alto, Calif.-based VMware notched a score of 83.5, well above Microsoft's 77.6 and Citrix's 68.3.

VMware improved its overall score by 9.3 points this year, delivering massive rating increases in ease of doing business, managing channel conflict, quality of field management and pre-sales support. VMware snagged victories in all three sub-categories - product innovation, support and partnership - as well as 17 of the 18 criteria, with Microsoft edging them out only in managing channel conflict.