Virtualization of Desktops and Applications can be considered as one of the hallmarks of Cloud Computing. Once you combine both in a seamless technology stack, the results in terms of productivity and organizational agility can be astonishingly good.
Two Virtualization Models
When we talk of virtualization technologies, we have two main alternatives to choose from. These two contemporary technologies come in the form of Desktop as a Service (DaaS) or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
DaaS and VDI have one thing in common, both these technologies deliver virtualized desktops, applications or both. The key difference lies in the manner in which both these virtualization models are deployed.
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Whenever prospecting for a virtualization solution, organizations have to contend with this tricky either or choice. However, there is no clear answer to this question as that will depend on the unique deployment needs of each entity.
In this post, we will outline some of the defining criteria around which your final decision in favor of either DaaS or VDI should be based.
Organizational Capacity
The VDI model of virtualization revolves around setting up a data center in house, along with all the supporting hardware. Then, the deploying entity has to setup, integrate, configure and secure the VDI infrastructure all by itself. That’s a lot of stuff to do.
DaaS, on the other hand, is a subscription based virtualization model in which you entrust all the above responsibilities to a third party Cloud Service Provider (CSP) like dinCloud and sit back n relax. Do you have the in house resources and capacity to do all this?
If the answer to the above question is in the negative, which would especially be the case with small to medium businesses (SMB), then DaaS is your go to model. In exchange for availing DaaS, you pay your Cloud Provider a usage fee.
Infrastructural Changes
Due to high upfront costs, entities that deploy VDI find themselves severely handicapped when it comes to upgrading or updating the infrastructure. Any such upgrades become more of an annual or bi-annual exercise, hampering organizational agility.
CSPs on the other hand keep upgrading and updating their DaaS solutions on a regular basis, maybe as quickly as a few weeks or months. This enables you to keep enjoying regular, incremental improvements to your cloud services.
Also Read:
- 10 Compelling Reasons to Deploy Desktop as a Service – DaaS
- DaaS by dinCloud – A Life Changing Technology for Your Business
Outlay of Costs
This will be a key area of consideration. In VDI, you have to endure a high upfront cost but you will end up owning the infrastructure. If you have forecast your needs wisely, you can enjoy virtual desktops and apps with nearly fixed costs.
DaaS on the other hand is based on a “pay as you use” model. As your virtualization needs grow in volume and complexity, so will your cloud bill. If your infrastructural needs are fairly stable, go for VDI and if they are seasonal, DaaS would be a much better choice.
Geographical Footprint
VDI has its limitations as your entity’s geographical footprint expands beyond a certain limit. The more dispersed your VDI solution and end users, the more deteriorated will be the end user experience due to latency issues.
By choosing the right DaaS provider like dinCloud that has a global datacenter footprint, your boundaries for organizational and employee productivity fade away. You can onboard employees thousands of miles away over DaaS in a matter of hours or days.
Organizational Agility
In case of VDI, your capacity for deploying virtualized desktops and applications is contingent upon the capability of the underlying hardware. To enhance capacity, you need a lot of time and resources, thus curtailing your agility as an organization.
DaaS on the other hand is independent of hardware limitations. DaaS providers like dinCloud maintain ample surplus capacity within their infrastructure for catering to demand spikes on ongoing basis. So, a DaaS solution enhances your agility.
Scalability
To increase the capacity of your VDI Solution, you will need to procure, setup, configure, integrate and test your infrastructure almost from scratch. The situation around idle VDI capacity is also bad as you can’t do much about underutilized hardware that’s yours.
A DaaS solution on the other hand gives you the freedom of scaling the deployment up or down almost instantaneously. This has zero impact on your hardware profile as all the hardware is the domain of your CSP. If you scale often, then DaaS is a clear winner.
Conclusion
The Desktop as a Service offered by dinCloud is comprised of a highly reliable, secure and robust Cloud Hosted Desktop solution we call dinHVD. dinCloud Hosted Desktops are fully capable of handling graphics and processing intensive workloads as well.
In this post, we have tried to make life easier for you when you are undecided between DaaS and VDI. However, in most decision criteria, DaaS comes out with a clear advantage over its VDI counterpart. Contact Us for dinCloud’s industry leading DaaS solutions.
