Desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) consists of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that is hosted in the cloud and sold to customers on a subscription basis.
Contents
Understanding desktop-as-a-service
Desktop-as-a-service is a product that delivers virtual desktops and apps from a public or private cloud service.
Employees can access the service via an app downloaded to a laptop, desktop, smartphone, tablet, or thin client. DaaS can also be accessed in a simple HTML-based web browser with an internet connection.
Desktop-as-a-service access is charged on a subscription basis and is multitenant.
This means that the software and its infrastructure are shared by multiple customers whose data remains isolated and invisible to other tenants.
The virtual desktop infrastructure and machines that run desktop operating systems are hosted by a third-party provider who streams the desktops to the aforementioned devices.
In addition to providing the operating system, these providers also handle VDI deployment, maintenance, data backups, storage, security, and upgrades.
This makes DaaS ideal for companies that want a hands-off on-premise VDI solution.
Why is desktop-as-a-service valuable?
The shift toward remote work now means that employees must be able to access their work irrespective of their location or device.
As we touched on above, many companies also want a passive, simple, and low-cost solution that enables employees to complete their work securely.
Traditional IT environments also come with myriad problems ranging from the simple task of employee password resets to the far more complex data security patches and updates.
When handled internally, these tasks reduce productivity and impact the user experience.
Desktop-as-a-service also simplifies virtualization initiatives which can often be resource-intensive and require specialized IT skills.
DaaS can function within an operational expense structure and is attractive to clients who prefer the centralization and security of a VDI with another company taking care of basic desktop management.
Desktop-as-a-service providers
Letโs conclude by looking at a few DaaS providers:
- Amazon WorkSpaces โ Amazon launched its DaaS solution in 2013 with customers charged either monthly or hourly on a per-use basis. Customers can opt for either Windows or Linux desktops with a diverse variety of storage configurations and virtual hardware available.
- Citrix Managed Desktops (CMD) โ CMD was released in 2019 as a simplified version of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) which required customers to deal with multiple vendors. Citrix offers a virtual Windows desktop which is hosted on Microsoft Azure. Customers can use their own application licenses or have them included in the subscription fee.
- VMware Horizon Cloud โ a DaaS solution that is also hosted by Microsoft Azure. Horizon Cloud promotes itself as the lowest-cost solution for deploying Windows 10 with enterprise-class capabilities. Horizon Cloud can also be deployed on VM Horizon 8 which can be delivered on-premise or via Dell/EMC Cloud, Google Cloud VMware Engine, Azure VMware Solution, or VMC on AWS.
Key takeaways:
- Desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) consists of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that is hosted in the cloud and sold to customers on a subscription basis.
- Desktop-as-a-service also simplifies virtualization initiatives which can often be resource-intensive and required specialized IT skills. The popularity of the service has also been helped by the remote work trend.
- Companies that offer desktop-as-a-service include Amazon, Citrix, and VMware.
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