Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: Overview, Benefits, Types & Best Practices (2023)

Working remotely or on vacation? Don’t worry! VDI always has your back. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is an architecture that separates users from their desktops and instead gives them access to a virtual desktop. It helps you to create a single pool of sources that can be allocated as needed for any user or group of users, leading to cost savings, scalability, and flexibility.

VDI has been around for quite some time and has become an essential part of many businesses’ IT infrastructure. In this article, we will find all the details about Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, its benefits, and the best practices that should be used to implement it.

What Exactly is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure?

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a new way to deliver desktop computing to users explaining ‘what is a colocation.’ It’s a software-based solution that allows you to use a single desktop to access multiple computers. VDI can provide desktops to any device, including laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. It can provide a consistent user experience across all devices and improve collaboration between employees working in different locations, at home, or in various academic laboratories.

VDI also helps reduce costs by moving away from hardware-based solutions like PCs and laptops towards software-based ones like thin clients or remote desktops, which consume less space and power while providing better performance than traditional clients or physical machines.

Ways of Implementing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) technology that allows users to access applications and desktops from any location can be implemented in two ways:

1. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): This option gives users the same experience as having local PCs, but it’s hosted on the cloud or Orlando data center and accessed via the internet. All you need is an internet connection, and you’ll be able to work as if sitting at the desk at home or in the office. With this type of setup, all applications run on a central server that’s accessible by all employees regardless of their physical location.
   
   
2. Personal vCloud Suite (PVS): This option involves installing Windows Server on each remote machine before connecting it directly with PVS using Microsoft’s RemoteFX protocol for high-performance graphics processing capabilities over TCP/IP networks such as LANs or WANs.

Why Do We Need Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?

VDI offers several benefits that traditional desktop computing environments cannot provide. Users can access their applications from any device, at any time, and anywhere in the world, providing them with greater flexibility and efficiency. For example, if you’re traveling on business and have forgotten your laptop or charger at home but still need access to your data. According to the latest data, cloud-based VDI is estimated to reach a market value of $10,154 million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of 16.5% between 2017-2023.

Using VDI via mobile phone or tablet would allow you to do so without waiting until you get back home. And because everything runs through one central server instead of each computer having its operating system installed locally (as would be required under traditional desktop computing models). There are fewer problems caused by outdated patches, which could slow down performance considerably over time. As per the statistics of 2023, VDI will have a growth rate of 50% in the US.

4 Primary Benefits of Using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

1. Reduce costs: With  its increasing market by 18.2%, Virtual desktop infrastructure can help businesses reduce their IT costs and the number of physical desktops needed. It is because VDI is a software-driven solution that allows users to access their workstations from any device with internet access, which means they don’t need a dedicated machine to work at home or while traveling on business trips.

As well as reducing hardware costs, this also means that organizations won’t need as many support staff since there’s no need for them if people can access their files remotely using smartphones or tablets.

2. Improve employee productivity: By 2027, VDI solutions will have more user base, as the employees will be able to access all their files from anywhere, whether they’re working from home or traveling abroad, without having any problems accessing them whatsoever with its seamless integration between devices such as laptops/desktops along with mobile phones/tablets, etc.
   
   
3. Improve employee satisfaction: Employees who cannot work remotely may feel less motivated than those with this ability because it gives them more freedom when completing tasks outside of regular working hours. It could lead to higher morale amongst workers, ultimately resulting in better overall performance levels within an organization.
   
   
4. Reduce hardware costs: By replacing traditional PCs with thin clients connected through Ethernet cables only once per user instead of multiple times per day during logins, organizations can save money over time due increased longevity in the near future.

How to Choose the Right Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Deployment Model for Your Business?

When it comes to choosing the right Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployment model for your business, there are three main factors that you need to consider:

1. The “number of users” who will be accessing desktops from their devices. If you have more than 50 employees, then a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution with the right softwares is likely the best way for them to access their applications and data.
   
   
2. The “number of devices” that will need access to the same set of applications and data simultaneously. For example, if multiple people share one computer at home or work, it would make sense for them all to use VDI instead of having everyone use physical machines. It also applies when there are multiple workstations within an office location. You don’t want everyone sharing one device because this could cause performance issues or security risks due to having too many users connected simultaneously!
   
   
3. The “number of applications” needed per user across all locations where they’re used regularly (elevator pitch). It includes everything from Microsoft Office 365 Suite packages like Word/Excel/PowerPoint up through enterprise-level suites like SAP Business One ERP solutions. These may require specialized hardware configurations such as high-end graphics cards installed to meet performance requirements specified by vendors when selling licenses through authorized resellers rather than directly through manufacturers themselves.

Best Practices for a Successful Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Implementation

Below are some of the best practices for a successful Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) implementation.

1. Choose the right VDI deployment model. There are several models for deploying VDI, but each has pros and cons. Before you choose a model, consider your needs and the features offered by each option.

2. Ensure your network is ready to support VDI. VDI is a powerful tool for modernizing your IT infrastructure, but it also has some serious security implications. If you’re going to deploy VDI in your organization, ensure you have the right network architecture and tools in place first.

3. Determine the right size of the VDI environment. It is an important step, and it’s one you shouldn’t overlook. You can expect poor performance and frequent outages if your VDI environment isn’t properly sized. Thus, determine the suitable infrastructure for your VDI deployment model.

4. Pick the right VDI management tool that includes automated software updates, monitoring and reporting capabilities, remote reboot, patch management, centralized backup/restore options and more.

What Are the Key Challenges of VDI?

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a type of virtualization that allows users to access their desktops remotely, using a thin client. The main advantage of VDI is mobility: employees can work from anywhere and on any device as long as they have an internet connection. While this has many benefits, there are some challenges associated with it as well:

1. It’s challenging to manage: IT departments need specialized skills to work accurately in VDI environments, especially if they’re unfamiliar with the technology or haven’t used it before.
   
   
2. Security concerns: There are also security concerns around this type of technology because all employee data resides on central servers. If cybercriminals hack into these servers, they could gain access to sensitive information such as passwords or financial records.
   
   
3. Requires lots of bandwidth: Because each employee needs their PC with them wherever they go (and those PCs will be connected via Wi-Fi), you’ll need plenty of bandwidth available so everyone can stay connected at all times without experiencing laggy video quality issues or lost connections due outages).
   
   
4. It’s expensive: Setting up a VDI environment is more costly than traditional PCs because you have to purchase all the hardware for each employee and pay for licenses and additional software.

End Note

VDI has revolutionized how we work with computers and has become one of the most preferred solutions for businesses looking to improve their IT infrastructure. It offers many benefits, such as reduced costs, greater flexibility, and improved productivity. However, it is not without its challenges as well. Therefore you must consider all aspects before making any decision regarding this technology.