Desktop Virtualization: What It Is and Why You Should Implement It

Accops
March 30, 2021
8:01 am

Employees of today’s digital workspace don’t have the luxury of being offline through the workday; they require access to their data at all hours and from wherever they are. Organizations can ensure this improved accessibility by installing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), giving workers the same computing experience no matter where they are in the world.

A VDI’s core structure is a desktop interface that is created and managed centrally before being distributed over a network to each of its users. This decreases the computational burden on local clients while still enhancing security and performance.

However, before we delve into the benefits of desktop virtualization, let’s first understand what it is.

What Is Desktop Virtualization?

Desktop virtualization is a technology that enables multiple user desktop instances to be generated and maintained on a single host, whether in a data center or the cloud. That is accomplished by the use of a hypervisor, which sits on top of the host system hardware and manages and allows virtual desktops to access the underlying server hardware’s processing resources.

The hypervisor creates virtual machines (VMs) that replicate the user’s desktop environments and can store a variety of operating systems, programs, custom settings, and user data. These desktops can be accessed and used from any endpoint device.

Types of Desktop Virtualization

Desktop virtualization has two major deployment models: Hosted Desktop and Client Virtualization.

Hosted Desktop Virtualization

The virtual machines are hosted by a server in a data center in this model. Common protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or connection brokers may be used to bind to the server. Hosted Desktop Virtualization has three main variations:

1. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

In VDI, the operating system operates virtual machines (VMs) on a server in the datacenter that host the desktop image. VDI technology uses a hypervisor to divide a server into several desktop images that users can access remotely from their end-devices. Inside the virtualized world, VDI assigns each user a dedicated VM with its own operating system.

2. Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

RDS, also known as RemoteVirtual Desktop Session Host (RDSH) and formerly Terminal Services, allows users to access shared desktops and Windows programs operating on Microsoft Windows Server OS from a remote site. RDS allows users to link to remote desktops by sharing hardware, operating systems (in this case, Windows Server), applications, and host services.

3. Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)

DaaS works similarly to VDI as users can access their desktops and applications from any system or platform. While VDI requires you to buy, deploy, and handle all of the hardware components yourself, DaaS allows you outsource workspace virtualization to a third-party to assist you in developing and operating virtual desktops.

Client Virtualization

Client virtualization involves running a hypervisor on a client computer in order to run various operating systems. Users no longer require their own dedicated hardware and applications due to client virtualization. There are two types of client virtualization deployment:

1. Presentation virtualization

Users can connect with published desktops and applications via a web-based portal enabled by presentation virtualization. This technique can be used to deliver applications or desktops from a shared server.

2. Application virtualization

App virtualization enables applications to run on all devices. You can, for example, run Windows applications on Linux. Through building portable applications, you can use Application virtualization to make OS migration simpler as applications can be moved from machines without needing to be mounted.

What Are The Benefits Of Desktop Virtualization?

Virtualizing desktops can offer a range of advantages, depending on the implementation model you select. The below are some of the potential advantages:

Simplicity for the IT Department

When it comes to upgrading security, protocols, applications, and operating systems, IT departments can handle VDI from a centralized server, which allows faster rollouts, better servicing, and lower service costs. Furthermore, since all dynamic processing is performed locally, outdated and redundant applications can be reconfigured as VDI clients.

Improved Productivity

There’s no doubt that businesses want to boost workforce morale at work, and VDI can help. Employees have safe remote access to their corporate VDI desktops and results. Since it offers safe access to an employee’s workspace space, VDI may be an essential part of a telework or even BYOD program.

Continuity of Operations for the Business

Large companies can benefit from VDI to boost their Continuity of Operations (COOP). When faced with travel disruptions due to pandemic or bad weather, having a VDI in place enables workers to resume work at home or in another corporate office with complete access to their VDI desktop and data.

Why Desktop Virtualization Is A Revolution In The IT Sector?

With the support of desktop virtualization, each user gets a VM with a dedicated instance of Windows Operating System (OS) and related programs clustered in the form of a desktop environment. Due to their high availability and remote control, virtual desktops improve enterprise usability and availability.

Owing to the unified aspect of client-server hosting, virtual desktop management is also simplified. Virtual desktops are more cost-effective than standalone workstations since you simply pay for the server’s computing power. In terms of user data, software, and operating system, each workspace running as a virtual machine is separated from the others, ensuring privacy and protection.

Conclusion

Most organizations around the country are adopting at least one of the desktop virtualization techniques. This is an increasingly rising development. Desktop virtualization is a more effective way to cope with the burden of technology on a daily basis. Companies should, however, be mindful of the advantages and disadvantages of all solutions and work with IT experts, like Accops, to ensure that the virtualized approach they choose can help them achieve their operational objectives.