A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a cloud-based desktop and app virtualization service that provides a multi-user Windows, Apple, and Linux experience. Simply put, it’s an infrastructure system that allows users to create Virtual Desktops.
These virtual desktops can be either persistent or non-persistent. In a persistent virtual desktop, a user is assigned a VDI device, and they can only connect to that virtual desktop. This gives permanent users the ability to personalize and almost treat it like their own device. A non-persistent virtual desktop is great for public or high-turnover positions because no changes or documents are saved, and each connection to a non-persistent VDI will be a fresh start.
5 Benefits of Using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure offers a multitude of benefits, including:
- Cost-effective: From a hardware and usage perspective, VDI is a cost-effective option in the long run since all an end user needs is a thin client, laptop, or even tablet to access the VDI.
- Ease of Use: If a user's device needs replacing, they will just need to redownload the link to their VDI to reconnect.
- Flexibility: VDI allows companies to facilitate a company-owned device and manage that device without sending any hardware to the user.
- Scalability: Since all the data and hardware requirements are placed on the server, this system's scalability is excellent. All hardware is shared in a pool instead of assigned to specific devices, so as the system grows or shrinks, it can dynamically add resources to help maintain a smooth experience.
- Security: All the data created or manipulated lives on the server itself, which should be housed in a company-controlled facility. That way, if the user’s device is stolen or misplaced, the data is not on the device.
Disadvantages of Using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
While VDI has many benefits, no system is perfect. Here are a few disadvantages of using VDI:
- Initial Cost to Implement: The upfront bill for creating a VDI space from the ground up can be very expensive. The company will need to factor in hardware cost, server rack space, server cooling, power consumption, and labor to start up a VDI space.
- Steep Learning Curve: Unfortunately, setting up a VDI space is also mildly complex and needs to be taken on by an experienced person or someone willing to take their time to configure and integrate it correctly.
- Resource Restriction: The resources are shared between VDIs, so if there are many users logged in at one time and not enough resources to go around, all users will have a degraded experience until resources can become available or until those hardware resources are increased.
In the long run, this is a more cost-effective and secure way to manage both remote and critical work. Even though the upfront cost is expensive, not having to supply expensive hardware every year will save more money over time. As stated before, having all the data stored locally on the server allows for greater security and data control.
Explore how our managed service offerings can help streamline your virtual desktop journey. Our team of experts can assist with setup, configuration, and ongoing support to ensure an easy and seamless transition. Learn more about how our managed services can maximize your company's security.