As the workforce becomes increasingly distributed and the demand for remote and flexible work arrangements continues to grow, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) has emerged as a transformative technology that can empower organizations to meet these evolving needs. VDI allows users to access their desktops, applications, and data from any device, anywhere, while ensuring robust security and centralized management.
Whether you're an enterprise looking to streamline IT operations, a government agency aiming to enhance data protection, or a service provider seeking to offer flexible and scalable desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) solutions, VDI can be a game-changing investment. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top 10 VDI solutions that can help you unlock the full potential of a modern, cloud-enabled digital workspace.
What is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Software?
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) software is a technology that allows you to access your computer, or "desktop," from anywhere, using any device. Imagine your desktop computer at home, but instead of being physically in your home, it's stored in a secure data center, and you can access it from your laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone.
The VDI solution creates a virtual version of your desktop computer, complete with all your programs, files, and settings, and stores it on a central server. When you want to use your desktop, you log in to the VDI software using your device, and you're instantly connected to your virtual desktop.
Who are VDI solutions for?
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) software is designed to benefit a wide range of people, from medium to large organizations.
VDI Solutions for Small and Medium Businesses
Small and medium businesses often have limited IT resources, but they still need to provide their employees with secure and reliable access to their computers, they still need servers to run their business Apps. Adopting a software-defined data center (SDDC) solution and merging all desktops & servers in a single virtualized platform can be more cost-effective and simple than maintaining a separate server and PC.
VDI Solutions for Large Organizations
Large organizations, such as corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions, can also benefit significantly from VDI. With VDI, these organizations can provide their employees with secure and consistent access to their desktops, regardless of their location or the device they're using. This can improve productivity, reduce IT costs, and enhance security by centralizing data and applications.
Why should I consider VDI Solutions?
One of the main benefits of VDI software is that it allows you to access your desktop from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. This is great for people who need to work remotely, have partner access, or travel a lot.
Another advantage of VDI is that it makes it easier for IT departments to manage and secure all the data in an organization since everything is stored centrally.
The network team has the entire control of the software license. The end users are not required to install any applications at their end. Hence, there are no chances of software license disputes. Everything is centralized so you are sure there is no pirated software used, and there aren’t any vulnerabilities, trojans, viruses, malware etc. installed at the end user’s computer system.
Top 10 Best Recommended VDI Solutions
1. Sangfor
Sangfor's aDesk Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is designed to provide a seamless and secure digital workspace for businesses. It allows users to access their desktop, applications, and data from any device, anywhere, while keeping everything centralized and managed by the IT team. Here are some of the reasons why Sangfor aDesk may be your best choice if you are looking for VDI solutions:
- Simple & Efficient: Sangfor provides a one-stop hardware and software solution, the compatibility and service are guaranteed. The architecture of Sangfor aDesk is extremely simple, with only 2 components mandatory in the solution, it simplifies the workload of operation and management dramatically.
- All-Round Security: Sangfor integrated their strong security capability into aDesk providing end-to-end data protection to customers. It is worth mentioning that Sangfor is one of the few vendors to offer secure VDI and zero-trust VDI on its own.
- Ultimate User Experience: Sangfor has formed a large team of PhDs to develop its transmission protocols, making the VDI user experience industry-leading.
- Compatibility with existing Sangfor Products: Whether you’re already using other Sangfor products or are looking to improve your existing IT infrastructure, choosing aDesk over other VDI solutions will ensure that you minimise downtime as your company adapts to this change and future-proof your company if you choose to expand your business.
2. Microsoft Azure VDI
Chosen primarily for its computability with Windows, Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop is a comprehensive VDI solution that offers organizations a flexible, scalable, and secure virtual desktop experience. Its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, robust security features, simplified management, and optimized user experience make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking to empower their remote and mobile workforce. With the ability to deploy Windows desktops and applications in the cloud, on-premises, or a hybrid environment, Azure Virtual Desktop provides a cost-effective and highly customizable VDI platform that meets diverse IT infrastructure requirements.
3. CITRIX Platform
While not a dedicated VDI solution, the CITRIX platform is an all-in-one solution that allows you to deploy multiple virtual desktop infrastructure apps on your physical machine. This comprehensive platform provides flexible deployment options, seamless user experience via HDX technology, and robust Zero Trust security with an integrated web browser, making it a top choice for businesses looking to empower their hybrid workforce while maintaining robust control and visibility. CTRIX VDI consolidates virtualization, networking, security, and observability into a single offering, simplifying management and maximizing value.
4. H3C Workspace
H3C Workspace is a robust VDI solution that provides an excellent user experience, outstanding security, easy management, and intelligent operations. It offers flexible architectures to cater to diverse industry needs, such as healthcare, government, enterprises, and service providers. With the ability to support massive concurrent services, H3C Workspace demonstrates scalability and reliability, making it a compelling choice for organizations looking to modernize their digital workspace and enable secure, efficient, and flexible work practices.
5. HUAWEI
The FusionCloud Desktop Solution is Huawei's end-to-end VDI offering that centrally manages computing and storage resources, enabling flexible user access, efficient operations, and robust security. Key features of HUAWEI VDI include centralized architecture, remote accessibility, streamlined IT management, multi-layered data protection, and tailored solutions for various industry scenarios. FusionCloud offers scalable deployment options, from compact setups for small enterprises to large-scale commercial deployments, providing organizations with a future-ready VDI platform to enhance workforce productivity, improve data security, and optimize IT operations and costs.
6. Omnissa Horizon 8 (Formerly known as VMWare EUC)
Formerly VMware End-User Computing (EUC), Omnissa’s Horizon 8 is a robust VDI solution that offers customizable virtual desktops and apps, enterprise-scale management capabilities, seamless integrations, and advanced security features. Its flexibility in delivering VDI, DaaS, and published apps, streamlined updates, and comprehensive application lifecycle management make it an attractive choice for businesses seeking to simplify desktop and application delivery while enhancing user experience and security. The solution's ability to integrate with other VMware and third-party products further simplifies deployment and management, making it a comprehensive VDI platform that addresses the evolving needs of modern organizations.
7. Kasm Workspaces
If you’re looking to stream containerized apps and desktops, consider Kasm’s VDI solution, Kasm Workspaces. This versatile VDI solution provides web-based access to customized work environments, enabling remote and hybrid employees to work securely from any device. Its Containerized Desktop Infrastructure (CDI) technology offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to traditional VDI, with robust security features like data loss prevention, enterprise-class SSO, and compliance support. Kasm Workspaces simplifies remote work by offering persistent user profiles, custom desktops, and web filtering, all while maintaining ease of setup and management. As a modern, web-native VDI platform, Kasm Workspaces empowers organizations to embrace the future of work and empower their distributed workforce effectively.
8. Red Hat Virtualization
Built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and KVM, Red Hat Virtualization is an enterprise-class VDI solution that offers centralized management, high availability, and disaster recovery capabilities. Its unique selling points include enterprise-grade support, scalability, flexibility to run on-premises or in the cloud, tight integration with other Red Hat products, and a cost-effective licensing model. With its stable foundation, robust features, and enterprise-level support, Red Hat Virtualization provides a reliable and scalable VDI solution for organizations of all sizes looking to virtualize their desktop infrastructure.
9. V2 Cloud
If your business is not overly technical, V2 Cloud is an excellent VDI with key selling points including simplicity, cloud-based infrastructure, scalability, accessibility, and strong security features. The centralized management dashboard makes it easy to provision and maintain virtual desktops, while the cloud-based nature allows for quick scaling to accommodate changing workforce needs. V2 Cloud enables remote and on-the-go access to virtual desktops from any device, enhancing productivity and flexibility. Overall, V2 Cloud stands out as a compelling VDI choice for businesses that value simplicity and ease of use without extensive IT expertise or infrastructure investments.
10. VENN
Venn Software offers a unique alternative to traditional VDI, using a "Secure Enclave" software installed directly on the user's device to isolate and protect work applications and data. Unlike centralized VDI, Venn' requires zero backend infrastructure, making it a cost-effective solution for securing remote work on any PC or Mac. Key benefits include optimal performance, simplified administration, robust security and compliance, and a flexible "bring your own device" work model. By avoiding the cost and complexity of VDI, Venn enables secure remote work without compromising user experience or productivity. Its streamlined approach makes it an attractive choice for organizations supporting a distributed, hybrid workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Implementing traditional Virtual Desktop Infrastructures can be quite costly for companies, both in terms of upfront investments and ongoing operational expenses. Here's a closer look at the typical costs associated with VDI:
Initial Setup Costs:
- Hardware: Companies need to purchase servers, storage, and networking infrastructure to host the virtual desktops.
- Software Licenses: VDI solutions often require licenses for the virtualization platform, operating system, and any specialized software.
- Professional Services: Deploying a VDI environment typically requires significant consulting and IT support to design, configure, and integrate the system.
Ongoing Operational Costs:
- Maintenance and Upgrades: The VDI infrastructure needs to be maintained, patched, and upgraded regularly, which can incur substantial IT labor costs.
- User Licenses: Enterprises must pay per-user licenses for the virtual desktop software and any applications hosted on the VDI.
- Help Desk Support: End-users often require more IT support for issues related to the virtual desktop experience.
- Power and Cooling: The data center resources powering the VDI environment consume significant amounts of electricity and cooling.
Depending on the size and complexity of the organization, the scope of the project, and the availability of IT resources. A typical timeline will consist of the following phases.
- Planning and Design Phase (1-3 months)
- Procurement and Setup Phase (2-4 months)
- Pilot and Testing Phase (1-2 months)
- Deployment and Rollout Phase (2-4 months)
The amount of time can be stretched depending on the complexity of the task. Business owners should also consider how large they want to scale their operations in the future, as this should be factored in during the planning and design stage.
Implementing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can be a significant challenge for companies due to several key issues:
- Performance and Scalability: Ensuring consistent and reliable performance for end-users, especially for resource-intensive applications, and scaling the VDI environment to accommodate growing user demands can be difficult.
- User Experience and Adoption: End-users may experience performance degradation compared to physical devices, and overcoming user resistance to the change can be a significant challenge.
