A virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) allows organizations to remotely host desktop operating systems on endpoint devices from a centralized server. All of the data lives in the data center server—the endpoint is merely a way for users to access that data over the Internet. VDI requires a costly investment in network, storage, and compute infrastructure in the data center, in addition to an IT Team that is skilled in setting up and managing virtual infrastructures. With the Desktop as a Service model, cloud service providers bear the infrastructure set-up cost and the management cost, which can make DaaS much more affordable than setting up a new virtual desktop infrastructure in house, depending on the number of end users served and the price of a subscription. A company with a large number of users can save money with either VDI or DaaS because the endpoint devices don’t need much computing power (most of the processing is happening in the data center). However, serving a large number of users requires a large IT staff that can handle any issues that come up. DaaS lets a company function with a leaner IT staff because the DaaS vendor will deal with deployment, connectivity problems, and other issues that come up for end users. However, VDI gives a company’s IT staff more control over the desktop offering and more control over security than DaaS. A business with specific or stringent security or application requirements may not be able to find a DaaS provider that meets all of its needs in a cost-effective way. See also: cloud hosted desktop | cloud desktop service
