Azure Virtual Desktop (earlier Windows Virtual Desktop) helps companies with a secure, scalable, and cost-effective solution. It allows them to leverage the virtual desktop to boost the efficiency of remote workers. WVD is a no-charge platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that benefits organizations in setting up virtual infrastructure. Many companies rely on remote desktop solutions to cut costs for technological changes. In AZURE, the customers only pay for the virtual machines that host user sessions. The use of Azure makes it a direct competitor of other virtual desktop services provided by third parties. This blog will uncover Remote Desktop Options in Azure and third-party services in Azure.
What is a Virtual Desktop?
A virtual desktop provides a visualization service like a physical desktop. You can get a full desktop service that runs on a remote server. An Azure Virtual desktop runs on the cloud and offers the same tools as a physical desktop. The platform is more secure, flexible, and scalable with fantastic storage capabilities.
Remote Desktop Services 2022 is the top choice to set remote desktop infrastructure. It is because enterprises continue to move their mission-critical workloads to the cloud. As of now, it is becoming popular the way work is going digital.
Remote Desktop Services
One prominent server-based remote desktop solution is Remote Desktop Services (RDS). Its components include session host, session host server, connection broker, RDWeb service, and RDGateway. RDS session hosts help users to interact with Session Hosts. These Session Hosts can host many user sessions on one or more servers. The Session Host server provides users with the remote desktop or application service.
The Connection Broker manages incoming requests and session states like functions. The RDWeb service provides users to access applications and full desktops. RDGateway assists desktop clients in connecting RDS from external networks. It works as a reverse proxy service. So the desktop client can connect to RDS from external networks. All these components create an RDS environment that gets deployed in Azure.
Virtual Desktop Services
Virtual Desktop Services became famous because of limitations in RDS. For example, to deploy Remote Desktop Services Windows Server 2022, the OS must adhere to many Group Policies. VDI creates a pool of OS instances using Citrix, Hyper-V, and VMware software. VDI enables 1 virtual desktop per user instead of the many users that the RDS session host supports.
To host a VDI environment on-premises, server hardware with RAM and CPU to handle the peak user load. Users must have enough data storage to handle users logging in. Some overhead expenses related to systems support VDI and licensing costs.
Windows 10 Enterprise Multi-Session
Windows 10 multi-session is a version of Windows 10 that allows several users to simultaneously access the same instance of the OS. The Windows 10 enterprise multi-session is not limited to the Windows Virtual Desktop. Users can deploy Infrastructure-as-a-Service(IaaS) and direct users to log in. It provides excellent compatibility with applications without the need for separate group policies. Before Windows 10 multi-session, there were only two choices for Remote Desktop Services. It includes a client OS and a multi-session Server OS. It works only on Azure and is not available outside of Azure.
Microsoft believes that some businesses invest in other products too. So, the brand has partnered with Citrix and VMWare to extend support into Azure. It opens the Azure cloud for pay-as-you-grow scalability while keeping a familiar management model.
Citrix
Citrix is a known company for server, desktop, and application delivery. It is an alternative to the Microsoft RDP protocol known as Independent Computing Architecture (ICA). It gives a remote desktop and remote application experience for remote employees. The platform provides various services like hybrid cloud solutions and remote desktop solutions. The WVD and Citrix seem like competitors in the market. But over the years, the companies have complemented each other rather than competing. Citrix allows a hybrid cloud solution to support Windows 10 multi-session in Azure.
VMware Horizon
VMware Horizon is a reliable, scalable, and secure virtual desktop service. It readily integrates hybrid cloud models with Azure for scalable solutions. This hybrid approach works best for disaster recovery. The cloning technology of Horizon helps to deploy virtualized desktops and applications. The service is suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Which option works best?
There is no doubt that AZURE is the best choice for meeting the changing needs of the time. But for every organization, the condition differs. Some look for a virtual desktop or remote app solution or set up Azure Virtual Desktop. Your needs may vary, or sometimes you are not sure of the capabilities of Azure. In that case, contact DirectDeals experts for a discussion. We are one of our certified consultants and will be happy to help you.
