Authored by: Kannadasan Palani, Senior Test Manager, MSys Technologies
By setting up Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), firms can significantly enhance their operational efficiency while continuing to thrive in the increasingly mainstreaming of the digital landscape.
With remote working and hybrid workspaces becoming a mainstay of operating cultures around the world, the significance and importance of setting up Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has reached a new high. VDI comes equipped with a host of advantages and by offering flexibility and spatial independence to teams spread, it is creating a conducive environment for both employers and employees. So, if you too are keen to tap the benefits of VDI then choosing from one of the following will help you to set up a reliable and efficient infrastructure for your remorse work requirements:
- a) On-Premises VDI: This method involves hosting the VDI solution on servers of the company and offers better administrative control over the configuration, applications, and other protocols associated with the workspace requirements of the enterprise. On-premises VDI is aligned with the specific needs of the organization and mandates all components of the infrastructure to be hosted in-house within the complete control of the IT cell of the organization. Along with offering centralized control, this kind also equips the organization with enhanced customisation, maintenance, and fine-tuning of the infrastructure. On the flip side though, firms opting for on-premises VDI need to invest a huge amount of upfront capital besides bearing the burden of the variable costs associated with running and maintaining operations of systems.
2) Cloud-based VDI: Equipped with distinctive capabilities such as flipped computing, low upfront cost, and hassle-free operations, the Cloud-based model is increasingly becoming the default choice of companies opting for setting up VDI. Thanks to the dynamically configured data centers, this method allows users to access virtual desktops from any location, thereby offering true borderless virtual workstation capabilities to employees. Cloud-based VDI also alleviates the pressure on internal IT resources by outsourcing both hosting and maintenance tasks to cloud service providers. Another significant characteristic of cloud-based VDI is the absolute ease with which they support the scaling demands of firms and that too without mandating clients to share the cost involved in the expansion. These systems can be easily scaled without any major overhaul in systems configurations, thereby making them specifically relevant for SMEs which often encounter the need to expand their headcounts, operational capacities, target regions, and IT support among others.
3) Managed VDI Services: Built to leverage the as-a-service model, Managed VDI is carefully crafted to achieve optimum gains on both enhancing business freedom and IT support. The managed VDI services are hosted on the cloud and maintained by various third parties with each specializing in their specific domains of expertise. What makes this model different is the access to expert knowledge an organization can have on different infrastructure components, enabling them to deliver superior experiences to their target markets. Here service providers are collectively responsible for the management and maintenance of the infrastructure as well as offering safety against cybersecurity threats. In sum, managed VDI services offer a mobile, scalable, secure, and cost-effective VDI model that allows organizations to take full advantage of the expertise of service providers.
- Desktop as a Service (DaaS): Combining the competencies of virtual desktops and cloud technology, DaaS solutions are hosted on the cloud and offered by third parties as a service. Under the service model, organizations lease their virtual desktop capabilities to cloud providers who, in turn, sell these virtual workspaces via a subscription model. DaaS helps lessen the burden on internal IT resources as service providers are solely responsible for offering, maintaining, and upkeeping infrastructures besides keeping transactions safe using security protocols such as cryptographic protections and multiple layers of authentication among others.
5) Open Source VDI: Building on foundational principles of flexibility and openness, Open Source VDI allows firms to coordinate, collaborate, and customize VDI aligned with their specific needs and requirements. Open source also results in decentralized access to information and decision-making while facilitating the spirit of enterprise and innovation within the participating stakeholders of the ecosystem. The philosophy is also becoming instrumental in driving significant architectural improvements in the industry besides encouraging firms to renew their efforts to get rid of snags, bugs, or other technical glitches in their systems. Although the approach requires the support of the skilled workforce to fully realize the open-source capabilities, the high degree of transparency, openness, and access to community-supported ecosystems outweighs the former concerns by a huge margin.
Owing to its multiple benefits such as enhanced security, remote workspaces, and centralized management, VDI is capable of taking the growth story of organizations to a different level altogether. However, it is important to carefully consider the specific requirements of your firm before making a final choice on the type of VDI model that you want to set up. In sum, establishing VDI can help your organization to fully leverage the remote workspace opportunities and help it to emerge victor by significantly enhancing its operational efficiency in today’s digital landscape.
