How to Choose the Right Cloud-Hosted Desktop
Desktop as a service (DaaS) is one of the best ways businesses can virtualize their IT department and remove the geographical barrier that comes with on-premises Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Leveraging on desktop cloud computing, you can cut costs and divert your IT talent to other projects while outsourcing IT services to the right Desktop-as-a-Service provider.
What is DaaS (Desktop as a Service) and Why Do You Need It?
To grasp the concept of DaaS, you need to know what VDI (Virtual desktop infrastructure) means. VDI is a technology in which desktop service and environments are hosted by a central server and access given to end-users (or clients) to use it.
Normally, this is done on-premises. But like everything else in technology, there’s been a significant upgrade: How about letting a third party handle your VDI while you concentrate fully on running your business? That is Desktop-as-a-service.
Outsourcing your VDI to DaaS service providers can spell a lot of benefits for the day-to-day running of your business. From supporting your BYOD policies, seamless application deployment, efficient and smooth team collaboration to easier management of data security, DaaS providers (when you find the right one) can easily take some weight off your shoulders.
How to Find the Right Desktop as a Service Provider
These days, you can get burdened with a myriad of options to pick from when selecting DaaS providers. The first step in finding the right one is to look inwards.
Think About Yourself and Your Business: What do you need?
Asking questions like, “What level of computing do we do here?”, “Do we have graphics-intense projects we work on?”, “How much security do we need for our data?” can take you one step closer to having your staff working from DaaS windows.
When you’ve clearly determined what you want, you can then begin to make a shortlist of the DaaS service providers who can handle your desktop cloud computing.
Research Your Options
It is not enough to visit the websites of the service providers you are interested in (although you can gather important info from there), you should also talk to others who are already using the service. Ask for recommendations and find out the actual perks of their virtual desktop service.
When talking to the DaaS providers themselves, ask about lag time. Some are so fast you get near-native performance, but this may be balanced by some cons, so ask more questions. Ask about how much uptime is guaranteed. You can’t afford to lose productivity.
Also, look deeply into their privacy agreements and how much security they can provide you and your data. Hackers aren’t sleeping, your DaaS provider shouldn’t.
Also, are there any additional costs?
Another thing worth considering is additional costs. Several factors might be involved in the unique service you are being provided since it is not the same for everyone. For instance, a service that needs to stay updated. Initially, that may add to the cost of capital, but in the long run, the reduced operating costs will make up for it.
Where should you start looking?
Business.com put together a beautifully researched article, and their top 4 picks should be where you start looking. That is
- VMware Horizon Cloud — best for uptime and scalability
- Amazon WorkSpaces — best for small businesses
- Microsoft Azure — best for backup and failover
- Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops — best for mobile workforce
Remember: Ask your DaaS provider what options they have if things go wrong.
With this information, you can start asking the right questions that will best position you for success in your DaaS pursuits. A wrong choice can translate to a loss. You would either spend more on what you don’t need or lose productivity working on something that’s not tailored to your business or scale of work. However, I trust the right decision will come easily to you now.
