A cloud virtual desktop is a desktop virtualization environment that lets you use virtual desktops via endpoint devices. Remote users can access virtual desktops from various devices such as laptops, desktop PCs, and tablets.
It is a form of desktop virtualization since desktop images run within virtual machines (VMs) and are delivered to end-users over a network.
End users get to use the virtual desktops like they would use a physical PC. The only difference is that they’re hosted virtually. The virtual desktops are accessed using a remote terminal which can be customized to suit the users' needs.
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) hosting means the storage of desktop environments on a central server. In a VDI environment, the provider makes sure the server runs different operating systems on virtual computers.
VDI hosting makes it easy for IT staff to set up desktop environments since they only need to configure a single desktop. Every virtual desktop connected is then adapted to the configured desktop.
According to Market research future, the VDI market is expected to reach over 25 billion dollars by 2025, representing an annual growth of over 16%.
Users don't have to take any action to let you install, troubleshoot or upgrade the systems. Creating virtual desktops can also be easily done without affecting the end-users productivity.
Using VDI, you experience direct control over your network stability and connectivity. VDI uses backup and recovery policies that ensure your network is under your control.
Since VDI uses basic Input-Output (IO) data, you can use devices like mobiles and tablets from anywhere in the world. Users can also use software that is not available for them normally, e.g., Using Windows-based software packages on a Macintosh PC.
Users can use any device they want since the end device’s operating system is of no issue. Virtual desktops are hosted on a server at a remote location and can be used by any IO device. Thus VDI makes the Bring Your Own Device capability available to its users.
Also, VDI improves users’ experience since staff can use any device of their choice.
You can work on any problem that comes up in the infrastructure remotely and from a central station. This makes your work easier as you don't have to move back and forth to the physical hardware.
VDI saves resources by reducing time, labor, and energy. Its hardware has a longer lifespan and costs less. Centralization also cuts down the cost of individual software licenses.
Since the virtual desktop solution hosts all the information on the users' computer, it uses less bandwidth because all the hosted data is available to all network users. This saves time, and most importantly, bandwidth.
Due to the centralization of end-user management, system administrators are free to focus on other critical tasks. End users, on the other hand, are not affected at all by system failures and upgrades. VDI, therefore, increases productivity.
Security on VDI is centralized, which means that data is located in a central point and is secure and protected. Thus viruses and unauthorized access are eliminated.
VDI keeps your data safe by ensuring that data security and instant backup are available. Data backups are meant to cushion you in case of loss or a system crash.
Due to centralized management and virtualization, you don't need IT staff to access user sites to troubleshoot and fix faults physically. You get increased efficiency while IT personnel save time and energy.
When you use VDI, you get to save power and reduce your carbon footprint. VDI accomplishes this due to the use of thin clients, e.g., mobile devices, which consume less energy than desktop computers. The use of VDI is an excellent way to supports green initiatives.
Tasks that require good graphics are easily done because VDI has improved image quality due to VDI features, e.g., graphics acceleration.
Users who experience problems on one device can switch to another device to access the network. The device with the issues can then be remotely accessed and fixed by IT personnel.
VDI makes it possible to eliminate having many PCs in the office. The same experience you get on a high-end desktop is the same experience on a mobile device without the added cost of expensive upgrades.
The data centers where VDI is hosted have invested plenty of resources in their data centers. The data centers are secure and ensure that your data is safe, updated, and accessible. Thus, VDI guarantees data ownership, and your company can rightfully claim data ownership as you don’t need any third-party services to claim ownership.
Now that you've seen the clear advantages that VDI offers, you need to learn how to select a VDI provider. The following checklist will make it easier to decide;
Server uptime is a critical factor when choosing a VDI provider. Providers with a 99.99% uptime are best since they ensure that you don’t waste billable hours waiting for the system to come online. A VDI provider who cannot guarantee good uptime will negatively affect your teams’ productivity.
Ensure that you’ve taken a look at their uptime details in their service level agreement (SLA).
Every business owner wants a good system performance. Therefore, ensure that your VDI provider has what it takes to provide a virtual desktop performance that is consistent and higher than standard physical desktops.
You should make sure that technical aspects, e.g., RAM are to your satisfaction. This is especially true for users such as developers or graphic designers who require high-performance computers.
Make sure that your VDI Provider is offering both on-site and remote services. While most issues that occur can be fixed remotely, having a cloud engineer available around the clock to solve your on-premise problems makes working much easier for all parties involved.
Losing customer data can cost your company its reputation as well as lots of money. Therefore with that in mind, make sure that you choose a VDI provider who goes above and beyond to help you protect your data via backups and added security measures for various types of data, e.g., customer and financial data.
Make sure you choose a VDI provider that's experienced in deploying Virtual Desktop Infrastructures. They should make it easy to integrate office equipment, e.g., PCs with routers and printers. The VDI team should have experienced network engineers who can make sure your system is running securely at all times.
AOP ensures that your employee productivity and satisfaction are kept at high levels through its high-speed VDI solution. Your employees can use any hardware no matter its ability, and their devices will still run their programs and services with the speed of your network instead of their home network.
Other cloud-hosted VDI companies might have a throttled network and charge you more than triple what AOP will. Instead of going through that costly experience, AOP offers an affordable VDI that is fast and secure.
You can be confident that AOP won't throttle your network speeds no matter how much data you use.
You can rest assured that your data is safe due to automatic VDI snapshots, which are enabled by default to happen every 24 hours. This ensures that whatever happens to your data, AOP can restore it by launching the backed-up snapshot in under a minute.
AOP's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) ensures that your data is kept safe by keeping all the data in your network. Your employees might be located anywhere, but their data will be kept secure in your network.
With AOP, customer support is a priority. We have resources that ensure you have the information you need. For example, AOP’s knowledge center has many well-researched and well-documented articles that ensure you can quickly fix common problems. The knowledge base combined with our support team makes it easy for you to solve any issue you might have.