Key differences between Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

VDI and DaaS are desktop virtualization technologies. In both cases, virtualized and software-defined instances of desktop PCs are created over powerful servers. The difference between VDI and DaaS arises from how these virtual desktops are provisioned.

In the case of VDI, virtual desktops are created over on-premise servers or data centers. In the case of VDI, all the underlying hardware resources are also provisioned in the house. VDI allows nearly full control to deploy entities as all the resources are under the entity’s control.

Desktop as a Service or DaaS is quite the opposite of VDI. In case of DaaS, virtualized instances of desktop PCs are created over data centers of a third-party Cloud Service Provider (CSP) like dinCloud.

The good thing about DaaS is that the deploying entity does not need to procure or maintain the underlying hardware resources. Instead, the DaaS provider like dinCloud will charge a usage fee that depends on the computing resources you actually use.

When we compare VDI and DaaS, both have their pros and cons. VDI offers more control but is costly to set up and maintain. DaaS on the other hand is a much better and cost-effective alternative to VDI.

Lastly, when selecting a DaaS provider for your organization, cybersecurity should be your top priority. The costing model of your Desktop as a Service (DaaS) provider is equally important as this is a decision with mid to long-term impact.