FAQ, Popular

What is Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

What is Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

With-in the new era of cloud computing emerges an abundance of services that use the cloud in multiple ways so that you, the customer can have a wide choice of what to use the cloud for.

We know in most cases one size does not fit all and that’s why there is an abundance of services to choose from.

The service we would like to talk about today is Desktop as a Service or commonly abbreviated to: DaaS.

 What is Desktop as a Service

Simply put: it is cloud based system that allows a full Windows operating system with a file system and applications to be accessed via the Internet.

The desktop is not a physical computer that you are connecting to in a remote location but is a virtual computer that is utilising hardware from a stack of servers.

This allows for complete flexibility of where you can work. No longer will you be tied to the office as all you need is the minimum of a 3G connection to access your desktop which includes a shared file system that all desktop users can see and access (according to permissions) and all of your applications.

And as the desktop is running in the cloud, if you lost your internet connection your desktop will remain exactly where you left it even if you don’t log back on for days.

DaaS allows companies to create a virtual work place where they can all work on the same files and collaborate just as if they were all in the same office.

This type of cloud based solution is also known as hosted desktop’s or hosted virtual desktop’s, which we have covered in previous articles.

Who is Desktop as a Service for?

Below are a few cases in which DaaS would be the appropriate solution to use.

DaaS is really for anyone that wants or needs to create a virtual workplace environment that is not constricted to four walls.

Those who need complete flexibility of where they can work from just like mobile workers who are on the move. A lot will need access to their office and DaaS allows you to have your office with you at anytime, where ever you are on any device.

The ability to collaborate from anywhere is a huge advantage to this solution especially in terms of efficiently providing a platform for global collaboration within your network.

Those who do don’t want to bear the hassle of owning an in house server will benefit greatly as this solution eliminates the need to own, maintain and support a noisy in house server.

Productivity is a major advantage to DaaS as it allows employees to hardly experience any down time. Many companies have been through the process of a server failure and have lost hours of work as a result. With DaaS the uptime is 99% so you can be assured that you rarely lose working hours because of the unforeseen.

Those who need security from the unforeseen will be very suited to DaaS as this solution has disaster recovery built in. Meaning that no matter what happens to your physical work environment, your IT will be untouched and completely functional.

So in the unfortunate event of your office becoming an unworkable environment and all your employees having to work from home, not a problem with DaaS as all they need is an internet connection to be able to access their desktop just as they would at the office.

So you will not lose out on any productivity.

These are just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to the benefits of DaaS.

Already you can see the potential this solution can have for your business continuity, flexibility, efficiency and productivity.

These are all tangible benefits for sure and each provides gains in ways other solutions may not be able to too but what about the losses?

There are in fact many losses involved for those who shy away from this solution with or without consideration.

I’m sure you would have picked up a few by now but let’s provide an overview on what you stand to lose without this solution in place.

• Peace of mind: without the disaster recovery benefit that is built in to DaaS you can’t rest assured that no matter what happens; your data and work environment is un-touched and un-affected.
• Unparalleled data security: without your data inside highly guarded data centres you can never be totally sure that your data will not become compromised at any given time.
• 99% uptime: without this you could lose out on many work hours if something happens to your in house IT which of course directly effects productivity. Can you afford to lose out on company productivity?

With-out considering DaaS you could stand to lose out on a lot of great benefits, all of which are in favour of your business continuity.