Cloud-hosted Virtual Desktops, popularly known as Desktop-as-a-Service or DaaS, bring along some unique benefits and value additions when compared with on-premise deployments. The DaaS or cloud services provider hosts and manages the entire infrastructure, network resources, and storage in the cloud and streams virtual desktops to customers’ endpoints, providing access to applications and desktops from anywhere, at whatever time. DaaS solutions use a multi-tenancy structure and are subscription-based, just like most other cloud products.
In this blog, we’ll go over all the components of DaaS and why you should invest in this technology.
What Is Desktop as a Service (DaaS)?
Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a cloud computing platform where a service provider offers end-users virtual desktops through the Internet, which are registered on a per-user basis.
Small enterprises who find building their own virtual desktop infrastructures too costly or resource-intensive might outsource backend administration to the provider. Servicing, backup, upgrades, and data storage are generally included in this administration.
Cloud service providers might even handle desktop security and apps, or users may control these parts of the service separately. In DaaS, there are two types of desktops: persistent and non-persistent.
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Persistent desktop:
Users may personalize and store their desktops so that they will seem the same every time they log in. Persistent desktops need more space than non-persistent desktops, which might increase their cost.
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Non-persistent desktop:
When a user logs out, their desktops are erased, and they are only used to access shared cloud storage.
Customers may be able to select between the two, enabling workers with specialized needs to use a permanent desktop and offering access to temporary or intermittent workers through a non-persistent desktop.
Why Choose Desktop as a Service?
When compared to conventional methods, the benefits of Desktop as a Service (DaaS) incorporate streamlined management, more flexibility, and a cheaper cost of ownership. Companies that want to offer remote work alternatives and personal device mobility may utilize DaaS to establish a digital workspace fast and simply.
Users are able to access their virtual desktop from almost anywhere, using a variety of devices, and their desktop will seem precisely the same as it did the previous time they visited from a different place. They only require an internet connection.
As the data is stored in a centralized, distant location, it can be continually backed up – without the need for users to maintain backups within their own or be concerned about data being present on a computer at the workplace but not at home.
What Are the Advantages of DaaS?
DaaS has made considerable progress in becoming a viable alternative to VDI in recent years. The following are four reasons why DaaS is growing more popular:
1. It removes the need for specialized knowledge.
Many businesses that use on-premises VDI face a number of problems, involving performance, maintenance, and scalability limitations. This is due to a scarcity of qualified IT workers with VDI experience. Many businesses’ IT expenditures are already strained thin.
Even when the budget permits it, finding experienced administrators is challenging due to the scarcity of competent IT employees on the market. These difficulties are exacerbated by VDI.
Companies may use DaaS to elastically supplement their cloud-based VDI installations and offload administration responsibilities to a cloud vendor. The organization’s few IT administrators may therefore focus on providing services to meet digital transformation targets.
2. It bypasses geographical constraints.
Implementing a dispersed labour strategy is good for businesses because it increases visibility and accessibility to consumers. It also allows the firm to expand into other markets and access a larger pool of talent. DaaS is a great option for meeting the demands of a distributed workforce in several places.
Employees may practically work from wherever and at any time as long as they have a reliable internet connection. Even though this personnel are located in various locations, they may easily cooperate with DaaS.
3. It has a more predictable budget.
Replacing or updating the software after its end of life (EOL), such as moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, is indeed the single most difficult problem businesses face today. This is due to the fact that the most recent versions of this program nearly usually necessitate significant changes to the client hardware. A company can possibly save a lot of money by using DaaS.
The pay-as-you-go payment model of DaaS also assures that the company only spends for the IT services used. As a result, companies may add office spaces for new users on an as-needed basis without straining their IT expenditures.
4. It reduces scalability issues.
Organizational success is defined by flexibility and agility. They influence trends such as the employment of consultants for specific projects as well as mergers & acquisitions. DaaS enables businesses to meet customers’ demands for desktops and apps, as well as their access permissions, in a matter of a few minutes. You can also reduce resources when these employees no longer use desktop computers.
What Are A Few Use Cases for DaaS?
Organizations may utilize DaaS to solve a variety of use cases and situations, including:
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Users who have numerous endpoints:
Some jobs, such as software development, may necessitate the usage of more than one device. Instead of moving between various devices or operating systems on a single PC, DaaS allows a user to access numerous unique virtual desktops.
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Seasonal or contract employees:
In minutes, DaaS can let you provide a virtual desktop for a seasonal or contractual employee. When an employee quits the company, you may easily dismantle such a desktop.
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Workers who are mobile or distant:
DaaS enables safe access to business resources from any location, at any time, and on any device. These characteristics may be used by mobile as well as remote workers to boost organizational efficiency.
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Acquisitions and mergers:
DaaS makes it easier to supply and implement new desktops for new workers, allowing IT managers to swiftly integrate a whole organization’s network following mergers and acquisitions.
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Educational establishments:
IT professionals can set up a separate virtual desktop for each instructor or student, complete with the required credentials. When certain users depart the company, their computers are decommissioned with a few mouse clicks.
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Healthcare providers:
In several healthcare facilities, privacy is a key concern. IT admins can simply adjust desktop rights and policies depending on the person with DaaS. This enables personalized access to every other healthcare professional’s own virtual desktop, enabling only pertinent patient information to be accessed.
How Do You Pick a DaaS Provider?
There are various kinds of DaaS providers to choose from, incorporating large vendors such as Azure as well as managed service providers (MSPs). Choosing the best supplier might be difficult due to the abundance of alternatives available. Here are a few pointers to help you choose the correct vendor:
Performance
A suitable DaaS platform is one that fulfils all of the organization’s user needs, such as GPU-intensive programs.
Scalability
If you’re using a DaaS service for a corporation with over hundreds or even thousands of users, make sure it’s scalable. A scalable DaaS solution enables you to quickly and rapidly onboard as well as offboard additional users.
Elasticity
A competent DaaS supplier will enable you to provide resources depending on current workload demands. You wouldn’t want to pay extra if your workload varies based on each day or time of day.
Location
Choosing a DaaS supplier with data centres near the employee leads to optimal network infrastructure with minimal latency. Poor placement, on the other hand, might lead to unreliable connections and efficiency issues.
Compliance and Security
If you work in a sector that must carefully adhere to current rules and regulations, make sure to choose a DaaS provider that fulfils all compliance and security standards.
Simplicity
Employees may complete their tasks with the help of a simple and easy-to-use DaaS service. Also, it saves you from numerous IT administration duties relating to operating systems and application administration.
Cost
DaaS, like other cloud-based services, transfers the capital expenditure (CapEx) consuming strategy to the operating expenditure (OpEx) consuming strategy. Nevertheless, when it comes to pricing vs service, not all DaaS providers are created equal. To receive the finest service, you need to properly evaluate the cost to the value of various DaaS suppliers.
Conclusion
The corporate computing environment is rapidly evolving in response to mobility pressures such as bring your own device (BYOD), high prices, safety issues, and platform upgrades. Desktop virtualization solutions are becoming the new buzzword for businesses looking to meet their digital demands.
So, if you’re looking for advanced DaaS solutions, consider booking an appointment with our experts at AccOps. We offer an unmatched experience with a secure work-from-anywhere solution that is quick to rollout and simple to manage.