Best Desktop as a Service (DAAS) in 2024

What is Desktop as a Service?

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a cloud computing solution that provides users with virtual desktops over the internet, typically through a subscription model based on the number of users. This service is especially advantageous for small businesses seeking to avoid the complexities and expenses associated with constructing their own virtual desktop infrastructure.

With DaaS, the service provider takes care of the backend operations, which include maintenance, data storage, updates, and backups. Additionally, cloud providers may also handle security measures and application management, or users can choose to manage these aspects independently.

DaaS stands out as a high-performing, secure, and cost-effective form of desktop virtualization. It allows businesses to liberate themselves from the limitations of binding their operating systems and productivity software to physical hardware. Instead, DaaS enables users to access virtual desktops from a cloud provider via the Internet.

These cloud providers offer Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS in cloud computing) and operate and manage virtual desktops from their own data centers. This solution proves invaluable for securely provisioning SaaS and legacy applications, as well as delivering windows virtual desktops to your workforce. The pay-as-you-go subscription model ensures scalability on demand, simplifying management and streamlining various IT administrative tasks associated with desktop solutions.

Why Choose DaaS?

Choosing DaaS (Desktop as a Service) offers several compelling advantages. Firstly, it offers a cost-effective solution for businesses, especially small ones, by eliminating the need for significant investment in constructing and managing their own virtual desktop infrastructure. This cost savings can be allocated toward other vital areas of the enterprise. Additionally, DaaS simplifies IT management tasks, including updates, maintenance, and data backups, enabling companies to concentrate on their core operations.

Moreover, DaaS enhances flexibility by allowing individuals to connect to their virtual desktops from any location with an internet connection. This promotes remote work and increases productivity. It also provides strong security measures, which is a crucial consideration in today's digital landscape. Data is stored in secure data centers, minimizing the possibility of data breaches. DaaS is a valuable tool for businesses seeking to streamline their operations and allocate resources effectively.

What are the Types of DaaS?

There are two varieties of desktops accessible in DaaS;

1. Persistent desktop: Users can personalize and save their desktop configurations, ensuring a consistent experience with each login. These desktops demand more storage space compared to non-persistent ones, potentially increasing costs.
2. Non-persistent desktop: Desktops are reset after each user logs out. They are primarily used for accessing shared cloud services. Some cloud providers may offer both options, enabling employees with specific requirements to use persistent desktops and granting temporary or occasional workers access to non-persistent desktops.

How does DaaS work?

DaaS in cloud computing operates by providing cloud technology to users with virtual desktops. In this setup, the cloud service provider oversees the cloud infrastructure, network resources, and cloud-based storage. Users access their virtual desktops through web browsers or specialized software installed on their devices. These virtual desktop services provide access to data and applications hosted in the cloud.

Organizations can acquire virtual desktop services according to their needs through a subscription model, which allows for scalability. While traditional DaaS had limitations with graphics-intensive applications, recent advancements have addressed this issue. Now, even demanding applications like computer-aided design (CAD) that require significant computing power can run smoothly on DaaS.

The technology allows for the seamless migration of virtual machines between physical servers when server workloads become too high, ensuring uninterrupted performance for graphics-accelerated or GPU-intensive applications. This GPU-accelerated Desktop as a Service (GPU-DaaS) has wide-ranging implications, benefiting industries such as engineering, design, broadcasting, architecture, and video production, where 3D modeling, high-quality graphics, simulations, or video editing are essential.

Advantages of DaaS

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) presents several advantages that make it a compelling choice for businesses;

• Activating and Deactivating End Users: DaaS offers the advantage of quickly activating and deactivating active users. Since the desktops are pre-configured, they can be effortlessly linked to new devices. This flexibility is particularly valuable for seasonal businesses that experience fluctuating demand, as it helps save both time and money.
• Reduced Downtime for IT Support: DaaS also minimizes downtime by enabling remote IT support, ensuring that technical issues are resolved quickly and efficiently.
• Increased Device Flexibility: DaaS works across different OS and devices, aligning with the trend of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and reducing the device support workload as it's managed by the cloud provider.
• Enhanced Security: In DaaS, security is paramount. Data is stored in secure data centers, minimizing risks from device loss or theft. Security updates are conveniently managed and applied remotely to all desktops simultaneously.

DaaS vs. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

DaaS (Desktop as a Service) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) are two distinct approaches to managing desktop computing, each with its own set of advantages and considerations;

• Cost: Regarding costs, VDI involves substantial upfront expenses for setting up servers or data centers. However, it may become cost-effective over time with a stable workforce. In contrast, DaaS has a lower upfront cost since the service provider provides the infrastructure. Its pay-per-user subscription model allows scalability, ideal for businesses with changing workforce needs, including seasonal fluctuations or growth through mergers and acquisitions.
• Flexibility and Scalability: VDI deployments, when on-premises, are typically tailored to current organizational needs, which may limit businesses undergoing continuous change or growth. DaaS, in contrast, offers excellent flexibility as service providers provide infrastructure and resources to meet evolving needs. While scaling DaaS can raise subscription costs, its demand-based investment approach proves cost-effective for many organizations.
• Control and Management: VDI grants IT departments full control over onsite servers, including maintenance, security, troubleshooting, and updates. In contrast, DaaS offloads some maintenance responsibilities, providing less internal control but offering advanced security benefits for data protection. DaaS can assist in meeting data privacy compliance requirements like GDPR.
• Access to Resources: VDI operated on a single-tenant model, guaranteeing dedicated resources but susceptible to downtime, posing challenges for 24/7 operations. DaaS, often multi-tenant, shares resources with potential impact during disruptions, although some solutions minimize downtime. DaaS relies on internet connectivity, potentially affecting accessibility.

Why is DAAS Important?

The advantages of Desktop as a Service (DaaS) include streamlined administration, enhanced adaptability, and reduced total ownership expenses in contrast to conventional models. Companies seeking to provide remote work alternatives and individual device versatility can use DaaS for the swift and effortless establishment of a digital workspace.

Users can log in to their virtual desktop server from any location using various devices, and their desktop will appear exactly as it did during their previous visit from a different place. All you need is an internet connection. As the data is stored in a centralized, distant location, it can be consistently duplicated – no requirement for users to handle duplications independently or be concerned about data present on a computer at the workplace but absent at home.

Real-World Use Cases for DaaS

DaaS (Desktop as a Service) has proven to be a versatile solution with real-world use cases across various industries and work scenarios;

• Call-Center, Part-Time, and Shift Work: DaaS is particularly valuable for organizations with call centers or shift work environments where multiple employees use the same workstation throughout the day. With DaaS, each employee has a unique login, ensuring secure and personalized access to their desktops.
• Software Developers: DaaS simplifies the work of software developers by providing easy access to separate virtual desktops. This eliminates the necessity of switching between various computers or handling multiple operating systems on one device. Developers can accelerate testing and improve quality assurance while reducing the number of physical devices required.
• Healthcare Providers: In the healthcare sector, DaaS offers doctors and nurses seamless access to applications, patient files, and notes, regardless of the computer they use. Storing data and applications on a HIPAA-certified cloud enhances data security, ensuring that a stolen laptop does not result in a catastrophic data breach.
• University Labs: Educational institutions can benefit from DaaS in computer labs, enabling students and teachers to access their work from different locations on campus. Expensive, limited-license applications can be made accessible to a larger student population by enabling them to share a single remote desktop.
• Seasonal or Contract Work: DaaS simplifies onboarding and offboarding processes, making it ideal for jobs with high turnover rates. When an employee leaves, their virtual desktop can be retired, and a new one provisioned in minutes, eliminating the need to wipe and reconfigure physical computers.
• Remote and Mobile Workers: DaaS enhances productivity for remote and mobile workers while fortifying data security. Employees are not restricted to a specific physical location; they can securely access their files from any computer or mobile device worldwide.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: When organizations undergo mergers or acquisitions, DaaS allows for seamless integration of new employees into the network without the need for deploying new local computers. Newly acquired staff can continue using their existing equipment while accessing the applications and files of their new employer.