What is VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)?
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a range of infrastructure and tools to centrally create and manage virtual desktops. Virtual desktops are virtualized instantiations of desktop computers, delivered over a network to end users. VDI technology creates a virtual desktop on a central server, and remote users can access this desktop from a physical machine over the internet. VDI can quickly and efficiently set up many virtual desktops to provide secure remote access to internal business applications and services. Thus, using VDI, you can cost-effectively and flexibly scale up any enterprise desktop infrastructure.
What are the benefits of VDI?
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) brings many benefits to desktop management. Virtual desktops are more convenient to manage and scale than physical desktops. For example, here are some of the benefits of virtual desktop configurations:
Manage virtual desktops centrally
VDI brings centralized management to your virtual desktop environment. Administrators can patch, update, and change multiple virtual desktops at the same time. Admins can also save and back up virtual desktop data for disaster recovery.
Scale virtual desktops as needed
Since the server-based virtual desktop technology sits on a central system, it can easily scale up or down. This virtual desktop solution becomes even more flexible when hosted in the cloud. Organizations can use a cloud service provider's platform to deploy and manage thousands of virtual desktops. Using a cloud-based virtual desktop service means there are no underlying hardware costs.
Increase accessibility
You can access virtual desktop environments from anywhere and on any device. Virtual desktops improve user experience with the ability for employees to BYOD (bring your own device) to the workplace or gain seamless remote access from any location. VDI creates a highly personalized digital workspace, making it more convenient to work from home or remotely.
Maintain internal security standards
The VDI environment is highly secure because the entire infrastructure is under enterprise control. Sensitive data from multiple virtual desktops sits on a single physical server. You can secure this centrally managed server or host server to meet internal standards. Remote workers can access the data from any device by following suitable authentication processes. The remote machines do not pose a security risk, even if they are lost or stolen.
Lower costs
Virtual desktop technology brings down IT expenditure because it reduces the hardware costs of purchasing new traditional desktops. Virtual desktops offer a reduction in ongoing management costs because you can maintain them using software processes.
What is virtual desktop infrastructure used for?
VDI has several use cases across different industries that employ remote workers, contractors, field technicians, and kiosk workers. We give some example use cases below.
Call centers
Call center employees use VDI solutions to access specific information and tools to complete remote assistance tasks. Using VDI helps them streamline efficiency and reduce costs.
Remote work
Geographically dispersed employees use virtual environments to access the company network, applications, and resources without compromising security.
Regulatory compliance
Heavily regulated industries use VDI to secure confidential information. Remote data centers store sensitive information, and employees use virtual desktops to access it. Using VDI eliminates the problem of incorrect data access.
Third-party access
Contractors, business associates, and partner services sometimes require access to internal company systems. However, supplying company-owned hardware can be expensive, especially for shorter projects. A VDI environment is an ideal solution that minimizes security risk and gives efficient access to third parties.
Cloud service integration
When using VDI in a cloud environment, you can configure these virtual desktops to take advantage of other cloud services. For example, if you provide cloud-based remote desktops to software developers, you can integrate cloud-based software development tools, environments, and infrastructure.
How does desktop virtualization work?
VDI has a software layer that abstracts desktop functions, including the operating system functions. Virtualization technology decouples the operating system from the physical desktop. A software application acts as your desktop, on which you can install any operating system and applications. A VDI is a type of remote desktop virtualization because the virtual desktop is hosted remotely for the end user.
For example, typically, Microsoft Windows desktops are physical machines with the Microsoft Windows operating system installed on them. However, virtualized desktops could have a Linux desktop sitting on a Windows server machine. You could access this Linux desktop operating system from your Mac computer without installing Linux on your machine.
A VDI environment consists of two main components: a virtual machine and a connection broker.
Virtual machine
Virtual machines are the foundation of any desktop virtualization solution. A virtual machine runs on an underlying physical machine, also known as the host server. The hypervisor is the software that makes this possible. The hypervisor allocates resources from the host server to multiple virtual machines, each with its own operating system. These virtual machines use the hypervisor to access the memory, CPU, and other resources of the host server. This configuration allows you to run multiple operating systems on one physical hardware server or cloud instance.
Connection broker
The connection broker is the software that facilitates the remote connection between end users and specific virtual machines. When a user connects to the remote desktop services, this software layer creates a new session for their virtual desktop environment. The connection broker also facilitates interactions between the remote user and the virtual desktop. For example, the connection broker provides screen updates and sends mouse clicks and keystrokes to the virtual desktop.
What are the types of VDI?
There are two types of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployment methods: persistent VDI and non-persistent VDI.
Persistent virtual desktop deployment
Persistent virtual desktop deployments are remote desktops saved for individual end users. Users can have persistent desktops that they can customize and reuse repeatedly. Persistent virtual desktops offer the ability to save data on the machine for future use. These types of virtual desktop solutions require persistent storage, even when the virtual machine is not in use.
Nonpersistent VDI deployment
Nonpersistent VDI deployments are single-use desktop instances. The centralized server creates a new generic desktop virtualization for every user and then destroys the desktop after use. Nonpersistent desktops are cost-effective when organizations have a large workforce using business applications for repetitive administrative tasks.
For example, call center employees require a standard set of applications for their work. Any data they create is stored remotely in the business application. You can set up a new nonpersistent VDI for them in every session, and it will not cause them to lose any work.
What are desktop images?
A desktop image is a desktop template file that defines the operating system, configuration, and applications on the remote desktop. A desktop image is like a blueprint for a full desktop environment. Golden images are standardized desktop images that administrators use to quickly deploy the same desktop for multiple users.
Administrators use virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) management software to manage the images in a central repository, assigning them to users, maintaining different versions of desktop images, and configuring system updates for images.
What are cloud-native virtualized desktops?
With cloud-native virtual desktops, you host the remote virtual desktop on a cloud instance. A cloud-hosted VDI solution has all the advantages of cloud infrastructure, such as:
- Pay-per-use service
- Ability to scale up or down as required
- Lower hardware investment
- Faster integration with other cloud services
Cloud-native virtual desktops offer significant benefits compared to self-managed infrastructure.
Two types of VDI services use cloud infrastructure: fully managed and desktop as a service.
Fully managed VDI service
Fully managed VDI service is a virtual desktop management software that is available as a cloud-based service for your administrators. The service supports administrators by providing features like existing desktop image templates, built-in security and data encryption, and management of operating system licenses. Your administrators perform the deployment, monitoring, application life cycle management, and other tasks to implement the VDI.
For example, Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed virtual desktop solution. Amazon WorkSpaces offers both persistent virtual desktops (Amazon WorkSpaces Personal) and non-persistent desktops (Amazon WorkSpaces Pools).
Desktop as a service (DaaS)
Desktop as a service is a third-party solution that supports the implementation of managed VDI services. DaaS providers offer a turn-key solution, deploying the fully managed service for your organization and also taking over administration responsibilities, reducing the need for in-house IT resourcing. Instead of your administrators looking after the VDI infrastructure, the solution provider takes care of the administration for you.
For example, Virtusa’s Desktop-as-a-Service is a third-party solution that enables organizations to begin operating virtual desktops across the entire business in just a few days. Virtusa uses Amazon WorkSpaces Family as its managed cloud infrastructure. This AWS partner service offers administrative tasks for the remote work architecture, such as application lifecycle management, endpoint delivery, and ongoing virtual desktop monitoring.
How can AWS support your VDI?
Amazon WorkSpaces Family is the range of AWS remote desktop services for secure, flexible, cost-effective VDI for every use case.
Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) service that helps organizations provide end users access to applications and data while optimizing costs and maximizing productivity. WorkSpaces gives organizations the flexibility to choose between highly configurable virtual desktops for workers that need access to a consistent, personalized environment each time they log in or pools of virtual desktops shared across multiple users to help reduce costs.
With Amazon WorkSpaces:
- Your users get a better experience and more functionality than with a traditional PC, and you get a simpler way to provision desktops for users.
- You can get started by selecting one of the Amazon WorkSpaces bundles, which offer different hardware and software options, and then launch the number of WorkSpaces you require.
- You can maintain full data security and compliance. WorkSpaces provides a familiar desktop experience to the user while the data remains on AWS or in your on-premises environment.
- You can provide each user with access to varying amounts of persistent storage (SSD volumes) on AWS. The system automatically and regularly backs up data that you store on the user volume in WorkSpaces to Amazon S3.
Amazon WorkSpaces Core offers cost-effective, simple, flexible cloud desktop infrastructure and APIs for VDI software from Citrix virtual apps, Omnissa, Workspot, and Leostream. Amazon WorkSpaces Core provides a new way to work with your existing VDI infrastructure in the cloud.
Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser provides a protected environment for users to access private websites, software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, and the public internet. WorkSpaces Secure Browser works with the browser running locally on the end-user’s device. Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser is a lightweight alternative to full VDI that provides value in browser-driven workplaces.
Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client reduces end-user computing costs and simplifies device logistics by shipping directly from Amazon fulfillment centers to end users or company locations. End users can set up a device in minutes, with no IT assistance. Thin clients are end-user terminals designed specifically for VDI.
Get started with virtual desktops on AWS by creating a free account today.