Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)
It seems like there is no shortage of “aaS” related acronyms nowadays in the IT world. What started as a Software as a Service concept turned into a flood of service offerings that are fueled by cloud computing and virtualization trends. With the high availability of cloud resources and the enablement of powerful virtual machines, organizations are constantly looking for creative ways to offer new services. Desktop as a Service (DaaS) comes from the same school of thought, and is an emerging trend in the evolution of cloud services.
So Why DaaS? It is clear why DaaS is so attractive to companies who want their end-users served and their IT budget streamlined:
- The user experience and business needs dictate the mode of operation, the type of applications and the level of service, translating to a custom-made offer with a known price tag.
- The latency issues that were once a limiting factor to a smooth DaaS experience no longer exist.
- As an attractive model for many organizations, DaaS minimizes cost of hardware (CAPEX) and turns desktops and applications costs into a predicted monthly expense (OPEX)
- DaaS also provides end-users with the proper environment to do their daily job, nothing more and nothing less.
What about the Service Providers? In a DaaS model, the service provider manages all the applications, desktop, platform, and infrastructure, while the cloud service provider uses a single application instance to serve multiple customers, otherwise known as multi-tenancy. This “many-to-one” software architecture enables service providers to maximize computing resources and balance, flexibly, and efficiently, between capacity and performance. This is the heart and soul of the DaaS business model.
DaaS makes good business sense. With more and more companies migrating their IT operations to the cloud, and with the costs of cloud services coming down and cloud computing power growing, DaaS has become a valid business opportunity for both service providers and customers alike. Ericom Connect is well-positioned to take part in the growing hosted services ecosystem by offering service providers the opportunity to easily manage tenants, as well as admin rights and privileges, from a single web-based access management platform.
When it comes to the cloud, businesses need to consider both the advantages and the challenges of the technology. Security, access, reliability and flexibility are all aspects that lie on both sides of the spectrum, representing potential boons and pitfalls. For many businesses, finding success with a cloud storage or Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution becomes a matter of balances the advantages and disadvantages in ways that minimize or eliminate the bad and enhance the good.
According to readwrite, these issues are well documented by cloud users. Even in the personal use arena, 40 percent of Dropbox users have security questions or concerns, while access and uploading was a primary concern for users of other services. These differences are indicative of a wider trend, pointing toward businesses being well aware of the challenges that the cloud can present to them. And more businesses are adopting regardless of those challenges, or meeting them head on with the right tools to minimize risk.
Accessibility and the cloud
One of the best uses of the cloud is as a desktop replacement solution. Businesses can reduce costs, both on hardware and energy, with effective DaaS. However, as with desktop virtualization solutions, DaaS requires the right access tools to work. When implementing these types of systems, access to data, applications and the everyday tools that allow for effective workflow is key to success. For many businesses, this means investing in desktop management solutions that provide versatile access without affecting performance.
When it comes to cloud desktop replacement, the right software will also eliminate security concerns. This “two birds with one stone” approach can save a business even more than the initial solution. With further cost reductions, a company can free up resources to expand other areas of the business, or further IT innovation.
The decisions to invest in DaaS or other desktop management solutions come from a desire to simplify, save and enhance performance. By investing in subpar tools for the job, a business will only hinder those efforts and slow down advancement. But implementing high-quality solutions will help a company achieve success and begin seeing the benefits immediately.