Virtualized Computing: Understanding the Differences Between VDI and DaaS

When it comes to implementing virtualization technology for your business, you’ve got multiple options to choose from, with two, in particular, standing out; virtualization desktop infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Going with the right technology is paramount to the success of your business. Here are some tips on how to choose between the two.

To begin, let’s establish what the goal of virtualization is: doing more for less. With business technology, you’re going to want a solution that’s easy for the end user to understand, and simple to setup and maintain. Let’s dig into VDI and DaaS and discover how each of these solutions achieve these goals.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
The best way to picture VDI is to think about all of your organization’s virtualized desktops deployed from a centralized location within your in-house IT infrastructure. Virtualizing your network this way comes with advantages, like being able to apply software patches and updates to every connected desktop in one fell swoop. This is a huge timesaver compared to having to go from machine to machine in order to do menial tasks like updating a mission-critical app. Additionally, virtualizing your desktops in this manner saves on operating expenses by cutting back the number of machines you’ll have to operate.

The most appealing aspect of VDI is that it offers companies a level of control over their information that only comes from hosting one’s data in-house. This data can be overseen and managed by your own IT department, or by Horne & Benik’s remote technicians if you’d prefer. As with any in-house IT infrastructure, the responsibility will fall upon you to make sure that the technology is properly managed. If you overlook this major aspect of managing and maintaining your in-house infrastructure, then the many benefits of virtualization would be lost to costly downtime.

Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
The advantage of DaaS comes from the fact that it’s an outsourced virtualized infrastructure. This frees up internal resources to not have to maintain additional in-house IT equipment. When this maintenance responsibility is outsourced to an outside IT provider like Horne & Benik, more of your company’s resources are freed up to be allocated as you see fit. One additional benefit to DaaS is that the outsourced provider does the “computing heavy lifting” for you, meaning that you’re not stuck owning equipment that depreciates.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business
When choosing between these two models of desktop virtualization, it’s not necessarily a question of which one is better, but rather, which one is better for your business. To get to the bottom of this question, it’s a matter of looking at one’s budget. With VDI, you’re operating an in-house IT infrastructure and looking at significant up-front expenses, but if the system is maintained properly, then it’s a solid investment. With DaaS, you’re getting the benefits of desktop virtualization in the form of an operating expense, which helps free up capital.

Of course, every business is different and comes with its own set of unique computing needs. To that end, Horne & Benik is here to walk you through the potentially perplexing problem of implementing enterprise-level technology. Call us today at (603) 499-4400 and be confident that your technology fits your virtualization needs.