DaaS, or Desktop as a Service, is a managed service by an external cloud service provider that delivers cloud-based virtual desktops to clients on an on-demand basis. DaaS is also called Cloud VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) or Hosted VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). DaaS is a service that provides virtual desktops as a solution. It is therefore characterized as a service rather than a product. What sets Desktop as a Service apart is end-to-end managed services that take care of everything from deployment and maintenance to support and upgradation.
As a new workspace gradually evolved in the wake of the pandemic, the adoption of DaaS Solutions multiplied. In recent years, small businesses, in particular, have reaped the utmost benefits of DaaS. These benefits come from greater security, cost savings, business agility, and flexible working conditions. Desktop as a Service may have begun as an experiment some years ago. But since then, its adoption has steadily risen to become a top trend among businesses worldwide. As more time passes, companies continue to realize the true potential of DaaS solutions.
So, what is meant by DaaS solutions?
Desktop as a Service delivers high-performance virtual desktops to businesses over a secure cloud network. These desktops are hosted on the cloud and developed using the latest VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). Users can easily access these desktops from any device connected to the internet: a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The desktops come pre-installed with all necessary and ready-to-use applications per business specifications. It ensures that employees can get to work in no time and that there is no work interruption.
Benefits of DaaS
The benefits of DaaS are quite clear in a modern and evolving digitized workspace. Thanks to DaaS-empowered virtual desktops, businesses can leverage a cost-effective solution that multiplies business potential at every level. Businesses can become more agile, and employees can benefit from workplace flexibility when firm-wide DaaS is implemented. The business world might not have survived the effects of the pandemic had it not been for DaaS solutions to pick up the pace.
Today, Desktop as a Service has become a necessary business tool. It helps businesses eliminate an in-house IT infrastructure and personnel. With virtual desktops, a third-party DaaS provider takes care of all IT-related hassles for no additional cost. Businesses no longer need to hire elaborate IT teams to set up shop. Instead, businesses can enjoy world-class IT services that are also budget-friendly.
How DaaS Solutions Can Help Your Business Grow
Desktop as a Service has been designed to infuse current business structures with access, flexibility, and agility. The ability to work uninterruptedly has also become the key to business productivity. A mixed workforce consisting of in-office and remote employees needs DaaS-enabled virtual desktops to ensure that business goes on as usual.
The distribution of the workforce often implies a similar distribution in workload. Managed desktop services help streamline operations across multiple devices at different locations. DaaS provides the crew with a dedicated workspace that encourages workforce collaboration and can be accessed easily from any site. The adoption of DaaS makes virtual desktops available over n number of end-user devices as long as these are connected to the internet. Employees only log into their virtual desktops using their unique credentials to get to work. Once logged in, files and applications become available instantaneously.
Features of DaaS Solutions
DaaS offers several lucrative features for businesses irrespective of size and sector. These features help companies to reach productivity goals efficiently and expensively. Following is four of the most coveted parts of Desktop as a Service:
Minimal CapEx: CapEx or capital expenditure can make or break a startup. Businesses tend to think there is no way to reduce CapEx after a point, and a lower CapEx may translate to a lower business success rate. Not so. While some capital expenditure is inevitable in setting up a business, there is no reason for expenses to go beyond a sizeable budget. DaaS-enabled virtual desktops ensure that the CapEx is at its minimum by outsourcing all IT-related tasks to the DaaS provider. Virtual desktops also require no on-premises infrastructure, further driving down set-up expenditure.
No-hardware Infrastructure: With virtual desktops, a no-hardware scenario is possible. Employees can use their devices to access virtual desktops. With the software being managed by the provider, businesses can benefit from high-end IT services at pay-as-you-go pricing plans. As opposed to a physical infrastructure that takes up space and cannot be reused, recycled, or renewed, virtual desktops can be easily scaled on demand.
Platform-independence: DaaS solutions are entirely platform-independent. It means DaaS-enabled virtual desktops can be accessed from any device, irrespective of its operating system. The inherent capabilities of a local device do not count, as these are used only to access virtual desktops. Every user can avail of a dedicated virtual machine to run an operating system as per their preference. When working on virtual desktops on a local device, the native OS cannot give rise to compatibility issues.
Guaranteed Peace of Mind: Businesses tend to exercise as much control over data as possible. DaaS deploys the most advanced, industry-grade security solutions to ensure safe data storage. Businesses seek complete data protection from their hosting partner with state-of-the-art safeguards to prevent unauthorized access and data breach. Small companies would easily exceed their budget if such protocols were deployed in in-house infrastructure. DaaS is a cost-effective solution to all security concerns and hosts virtual desktops over a multi-layered infrastructure with end-to-end encryption, antivirus software, firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPs), and access controls. A secure infrastructure protects data in storage and transit and provides security to end-user devices and the entire network.
Conclusion
The pandemic has changed many things. The way people work is one of them. Because the ways of working have changed, the capacity to work hasn’t decreased. DaaS solutions have ensured that employee productivity remains optimal no matter the employee’s location. It, in turn, has helped businesses move ahead with more extraordinary skills and higher goals in sight. DaaS has enabled remote working and overall business agility to allow enterprises to stay on track with greater focus and efficiency. The result is an innovative workspace and an empowered workforce.
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