Businesses across the world require technological solutions to meet operational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges are glitches in seamless desktop access, data security, collaboration, etc., as most people are working remotely.
Statistics show that 4 out of 10 businesses already use VDI solutions, such as DaaS, for work-from-home efficiency. In fact, 67% of organizations are currently planning, implementing, or already using VDI solutions for smooth processes.
As the landscape becomes more competitive, we need to think about innovative solutions. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is one such solution helping companies thrive, manage access, ensure security, and optimize resource utilization.
This post will explore the benefits of VDI solutions to help you understand their features and work.
Understanding VDI
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure means creating and managing virtual desktop environments that host business applications and data. The original operating system, used by employees, runs on a hosted data center or virtual machines on a server.
A virtual image of these virtual desktops travels via a network to end-users, inside or outside an office.
When this server is a cloud server from a cloud provider, users can access virtual desktops over the Internet. This type of VDI is known as cloud VDI or Desktop as a Service.
VDI solutions offer dedicated resources to every user. This includes CPUs, drivers, RAM, storage, and other things, which are operated through a hypervisor to organize resource allocation.
Persistent and Non-Persistent VDI
Persistent VDI solutions offer a personalized desktop unit. The end-user can customize this desktop, save changes, and modify its look and feel.
Non-persistent VDI solutions can’t be personalized. It is a generic instance that you can use once, and no changes are saved. These types of VDI units are feasible for employees completing recurring tasks or repetitive activities.
Benefits of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Understand the key benefits of using VDI solutions in your organization.
1. Enabling Security
VDI solutions use the right security controls to manage user access, user authentication, intrusion detection, data encryption, etc.
For example, cloud-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or DaaS helps access desktops virtually through thin clients. The data is isolated and not present on the endpoint. If the endpoint’s security is compromised, your desktop image or virtual desktop will not be compromised.
DaaS providers offer premium security features such as:
- Firewalls for two-factor authentication
- User access control
- TLS 1.3 and 256-bit encryption
- Audit and patching
- Monitoring via intrusion detection and prevention
2. Cost Optimization
An on-premise setup incurs more capital expenses. This is because you need to purchase hardware and software licensing, manage the infrastructure, and upgrade it from time to time. Your endpoints are continuously changed, refurbished, and upgraded.
With a VDI solution on the cloud, you can only shed the physical infrastructure and manage the endpoints. The cloud VDI Services provider hosts all the required resources on the cloud. Also, all the repairs and maintenance of the servers are managed by the provider without any extra charges.
Also, the scalability of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure on the cloud means informing the CSP (Cloud Service Provider); that’s all. With in-house infrastructure, this means buying more hardware, which is why the subscription-based model of cloud desktops is cost-effective.
3. Fewer Outages
Cloud VDI solutions are deployed using different cloud data centers at different locations. These geographically isolated datacenters help with better uptime because when one server fails to respond to your user request, another does. It improves overall uptime and availability.
The right CSP can offer up to 95% or more uptime for virtual desktop service.
4. Simplified IT
VDI solutions on the cloud are maintained, managed, and deployed by the CSP. This means you only need endpoints to start using these desktops. You don’t need a complex IT structure requiring consistent upgrade and maintenance. You only need to set up your workstations, which can be employees’ personal devices as well.
4. Better Flexibility
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is flexible. Your end-users, this means your employees, can use any device to access cloud VDI without hampering the security net of the business. When on the go, they can simply use their smartphones, and when in the office, they can use their laptops to access apps and data.
5. Disaster Recovery
VDI solution providers usually offer automated backup of the business-critical desktops or applications. These backup images are on the cloud and redundantly stored. This means that you can recover your data in case of a disaster.
For example, if a flood ruins your office desktops, you can still use another hardware device to access your cloud computer.
6. Resource Optimization
When you scale your resources on-premise, you need to maintain them, whether or not you are using them.
For example, you need to increase storage during the peak season to allow seamless access to employees. But, after the peak season, this demand goes down, and you are stuck with the resources that will degrade or become obsolete over time.
On the cloud, VDI solutions can scale and also de-scale quickly. After the peak season, you can contact your VDI provider, reduce your resources, optimize your budget, and manage everything smoothly.
7. User Experience
From using different devices for access to rarely experiencing downtime, VDI solutions on the cloud are made to deliver the optimum user experience. You can increase employee collaboration and productivity easily, keeping your employees happy.
Conclusion
Whether you need to optimize your remote work cost or simplify your IT infrastructure, VDI solutions like DaaS can assist you. Not only can you improve internal processing but also enhance user experience and the feasibility of working. This improves the productivity of your employees, which ensures high operational efficiency. As a result, your business is able to optimize costs, streamline workflows, and thrive!