Last updated on May 13, 2024
DaaS: Desktop as a Service | Parallels Explains
Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a cloud-based desktop-delivery model where a cloud provider hosts and delivers virtual desktops to users. With the rising cost and complexity of deploying virtual desktops on on-premises servers, organizations are moving their desktop solutions to the cloud.
Definition of DaaS
DaaS is an alternative—and more straightforward—solution to full-fledged virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Its pricing is a pay-as-you-go subscription model and is an efficient model in which the service provider manages all the back-end responsibilities of application software, which eliminates the hassle of IT operation cost for organizations. Some well-known providers are Amazon Workspace and Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop.
How Does DaaS Work?
DaaS is leveraged via private or public cloud services. DaaS infrastructure is multi-tenant, allowing multiple users to access virtual desktops in the cloud environment.
A third-party cloud provider generally hosts the back-end infrastructure of a VDI. The provider creates the virtual desktops and sends them over a cloud network. Providers are also responsible to host the storage, network resources, and the entire DaaS infrastructure. The maintenance, security, backup and restore, storage, and maintenance of DaaS are also carried out by them.
Organizations can purchase virtual desktops through a subscription model. The pricing depends on the number of users. They can access the services and the files via a secure endpoint application or an HTML-based web browser through an internet connection. Organizations also have the responsibility to manage the desktop images but are spared from upfront operational costs.
Comparing DaaS with VDI
DaaS is essentially VDI which is managed by a third party. DaaS offers all the advantages of VDI, with the reduced need for management. The differences between the two are illustrated below:
| DaaS | VDI | |
| Cost | Lower upfront cost requirements since everything is managed by a third party. Costs depend on the subscription model. | Cheaper in the long run once the infrastructure is set up by paying up the required upfront costs. |
| Management Needs | Organizations do not have to worry about management since third parties do so. | The organization is responsible for managing the storage, compute, and network infrastructure. |
| Capabilities | DaaS lacks some additional capabilities that are offered by VDI. | VDI offers better capabilities like USB redirection, multiple monitors, and other advanced desktop management capabilities. |
| Regulatory Requirements | Different regulatory requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, etc. do not recommend the use of DaaS infrastructure. | VDI is more secure, thus meeting the regulatory needs put forward by HIPAA and GDPR. |
| Control | Offers lesser control over performance parameters since the management is done by third-party solutions. | Greater control over virtualized desktops, underlying virtualization infrastructure, and performance. |
| Usability | Suitable for use by smaller organizations with lower performance needs and lower cost | Suitable for use by larger organizations with higher security needs and performance needs |
The Two Kinds of Desktops in DaaS
There are two kinds of desktops present in DaaS, which are:
Persistent Desktops
Users may design and store a desktop so that it looks the same every time they log in. Persistent desktops need more storage than non-persistent computers, which might increase their cost.
Non-Persistent Desktops
When a person logs out, their desktops are erased, and they are only used to access shared cloud services.
Customers may be able to select between the two, with workers with particular needs having access to a permanent desktop and temporary or infrequent workers having access to a non-persistent desktop.
The Differences Between DaaS and VDI
End users may access virtual desktops using both VDI and DaaS, which relieves administrators of the burden of installing and managing software packages on each device inside the organization. These two forms of virtualization, however, have significant distinctions.
Virtual desktops are deployed from an organization’s own on-premises datacenters using VDI. The virtual desktops, as well as the purchase, administering, and updating of infrastructure, are all handled by in-house IT teams.
DaaS is effectively the same thing as VDI, but it uses cloud infrastructure which is cloud-based. Subscribers to a DaaS service don’t have to worry about managing their own hardware. Instead, they employ a pay-per-user subscription approach that allows them to scale up and down as needed. This enables businesses to quickly deploy cloud desktops for seasonal workers, additional users resulting from acquisitions and mergers, or to handle a growing hybrid workforce.
Challenges with DaaS
DaaS comes with its own set of challenges, including the following:
Network Connectivity Issues
Network latency remains a problem since an Internet connection is needed for accessing your desktops. When your employees can’t connect to the Internet, their productivity is affected or, worse, their work stops altogether. The latter may be particularly true when your staff uses bandwidth-heavy applications such as graphics editing and media streaming in their work.
Varying Desktop Requirements
Workplaces have unique desktop requirements. For example, different desktop setups may be required for employees involved in processing-intensive graphic design work and those who require access to business software only. Instead of making desktop management easier, such variety can translate to more work for your IT personnel.
Advantages of DaaS
DaaS also has its advantages, including the following:
Increased Productivity
Your staff can practically work from anywhere just by accessing their desktops from wherever they may be at the moment, so long as they have a suitable device and an Internet connection.
Lower Costs
With DaaS providers offering per-desktop pricing, organizations are freed from allocating a budget for future hardware expansion. It allows you to implement Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in earnest, giving your staff the chance to use their own preferred devices and at the same time helping you save on hardware costs. Without the need for server space, your organization also gets to save on rent and utilities.
Enhanced Cybersecurity and Business Continuity
Providers take care of securing your environment from hacking attempts. Moreover, DaaS removes the threat posed by your staff connecting to your networks using compromised equipment. Redundancy is built into the services offered by most DaaS providers, allowing your organization to take advantage of these capabilities without the need for more spending and putting your organization in a better position to meet regulatory requirements.
Experience Enhanced DaaS Capabilities with Parallels RAS
Parallels® RAS (Remote Application Server) delivers secure virtual applications and desktops in cloud-computing platforms, such as Microsoft Azure or AWS. Moreover, Parallels RAS supports hybrid deployment that allows organizations to leverage both on-premises and DaaS offerings, without integration complexity.
Parallels RAS supports Azure’s DaaS offering by integrating and enriching Azure Virtual Desktop capabilities. It provides organizations with unified workload and resource management. Parallels RAS maintains and configures Azures Virtual Desktop workloads and other resources alike, supporting private, hybrid, or multi-cloud deployments for greater flexibility and end-user productivity.
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