endpoint solutions for daas facilitated virtualized desktops · while traditional enterprise vdi...

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Endpoint Solutions for DaaS Facilitated Virtualized DesktopsErik Willey 09.22.2014

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SUMMARY:

Introduction

Replacing costly, high-maintenance PCs with a virtualized desktop infrastructure (VDI) offers significant advantages to organizations of all types and sizes. In these times of tight budgets and mobility-minded employees, VDI offers a means of reducing costs, increasing data security, and supporting BYOD. While analysts and IT professionals agree that the era of the physical PC is nearing an end, VDI has nonetheless been slower to take off than initially expected.

According to virtualization expert Matt Kosht, this may be due to VDI’s niche orientation. While VDI clearly has the ability to deliver advantages in specific use cases, for some organizations traditional on-premises datacenter-based VDI can be prohibitively costly and complex. Kosht points to cloud-hosted virtualization as a simpler, less expensive alternative.1 Also referred to as Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), cloud-hosted virtual desktops offer a potential alternative to traditional VDI, delivering its key benefits along with lower costs, easier implementation and management, simpler scalability, and more.

DaaS 101

From the user perspective, the desktop is their personal workspace; they want it to be reliable and consistent while being customizable to their specific needs. When it achieves these things, how it is delivered is of little importance to the user. In its first incarnation, the desktop environment ran locally on a user’s PC or laptop. Users loved the control, while IT was burdened with securing and maintaining multiple machines. When desktops go virtual via VDI, the user continues to experience a fully functional and customizable desktop, while their software runs from a centralized server in the organization’s datacenter. Owned and managed by the company’s IT department, these server-based desktops are transparently provided to each user. IT is no longer burdened by the management of individual machines, but must take on the cost and responsibility for a large quantity of server and storage hardware on which to run the virtual desktops.

While traditional enterprise VDI offers the potential for greater security, flexibility and reduced computing costs, adoption has been slow to gain traction as some organizations struggle with the inherent complexity and up-front capital requirements. Cloud-hosted virtual desktops offered as a subscription service can deliver many of the key benefits of VDI without the need to deploy an internally managed data center.

Whether achieved via VDI or DaaS, Virtualized Desk-tops offer:

• Centralized data storage and management

• Enhanced security against viruses, malware, theft, and data loss

• Reduced maintenance and management costs

• Easier scaling than with physical PCs

• BYOD support with desktop access via tablets & other devices

• Efficient, secure data management for branch and remote offices

• Reduced TCO via maximized resource utilization and reduced management resources


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The DaaS model builds upon this basic concept of desktop virtualization, further reducing the internal IT burden by delivering data storage, processing, and related functions as a third-party service. Users continue to receive personalized desktop environments and experience an identical application experience; however the software is now run from a remote datacenter and delivered via the Internet. Essentially, the entire back-end of a virtual desktop infrastructure is delivered by the cloud service provider, including data storage, processing power, backup, security, and upgrades. Organizations purchase services on a subscription basis that is typically monthly but can have weekly, or even daily, options. User workstations need only a monitor and a scaled-down device to deliver the desktops, with slim thin or zero clients, delivering maximum space savings and reduction in costs.

Benefits of DaaS

Cloud-hosted desktops offer an alternative means of achieving the benefits of desktop virtualization for any organization that finds VDI prohibitive due to cost, staffing constraints or other factors. Virtual desktops delivered via DaaS provide the benefits of VDI discussed above, plus several additional advantages, including:

• Faster, less costly implementation • Ongoing reduction in costs • Stable, predictable costs • Costs are converted from CAPEX to OPEX • Immediate return on investment • Simplified management • Rapid, cost-effective scaling • Simple, economical pilots • Device and location independence • Easy migration to Windows® 7 • A robust, satisfying user experience

"One of the biggest advantages [of DaaS] is that you don't have to know VDI to get the same benefits."

When delivered via Thin or Zero client, added benefits of Virtual Desktops include:

• Improved reliability, with typical endpoint lifespan 2x that of a PC

• Approx. 80% less energy consumption/user than a typical PC

• Support for green initiatives; lower energy use and e-waste production

• Even greater reduction in TCO due to: lower endpoint device cost, reduced energy consumption and greater reliability


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Less Costly Implementation and Reduced Capital ExpendituresDatacenter-based, hypervisor-powered VDI with zero or thin client endpoints is certainly less expensive to implement (and maintain) than physical PCs and laptops. The costs required for the necessary storage, memory, and computing power, however, can be substantial. Gartner estimates that 40% to 60% of the cost of most virtual desktop implementations is for storage hardware,2 while other estimates indicate that moving hard drives from the desktop to the datacenter can increase storage costs more than 100-fold.3 In addition, these costs must typically be logged as up-front capital expenses (CAPEX) at a time when many IT leaders are being pushed to move expenses from CAPEX into the operating expense (OPEX) budget.

With the cloud-hosted model, computing expenses move into the OPEX column, enabling organizations to realize an immediate return on their desktop virtualization investment. Another way to look at this is that per desktop total cost of ownership (TCO) is immediately reduced upon deployment of DaaS, whereas with traditional VDI it takes an estimated 18-24 months to recoup up-front costs and begin lowering TCO.

Ongoing Reduction in CostsNot only is DaaS less costly to implement, it reduces the cost burden of virtual desktops on an ongoing basis. To accurately compare the cost of external cloud-hosting versus internal data centers, the evaluation must go beyond the price of purchasing storage.

As noted by cloud expert Bernard Golden (named by WIRED Magazine in 2012 as one of the 10 most influential people in cloud computing), when all factors are considered, the overall monthly cost of hosting a server is significantly increased by:

• The direct costs that accompany running a server: power, floor space, storage, and IT operations to manage those resources. • The indirect costs of running a server: network and storage infrastructure and IT operations to manage the general infrastructure. • The overhead costs of owning a server: procurement and accounting personnel, not to mention a critical resource in short supply – IT management and its attention.4

Golden further notes that the UC Berkeley RAD Lab has estimated that cloud provider costs are 75 to 80 percent lower overall than internal data centers, due to their high volume purchasing power and sharp focus on efficient management practices and cost containment.5

Stable, Predictable CostsAn additional budgetary advantage of DaaS is the reliably predictable per-user cost structure that enables companies to pay only for what they use. Often spoken of in terms of “cloud economics,” this regularity helps IT departments better manage tight budgets.

Simplified ManagementWith DaaS, the time-intensive tasks involved in designing, implementing, and managing virtual desktops are eliminated, freeing up internal IT resources to focus on


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other initiatives. Even if your team has the time, they may not have the necessary expertise to implement VDI, since managing desktop virtualization is quite different than managing server virtualization or large numbers of PCs.6 Anayst Gabe Knuth characterizes DaaS as essentially VDI that you pay someone else to manage:

One of the biggest advantages [of DaaS] is that you don't have to know VDI to get the same benefits. That means you don't need to have anyone on staff that's familiar with the nuances of desktop storage optimization or image management, for example. And, you don't have to worry about unexpected bottlenecks appearing at some magical tipping point when you begin to scale up.7

Internal management of the virtual desktops is simplified through an intuitive, web-based interface that enables IT to quickly and easily provision access to applications, databases, collaboration tools, and infrastructure elements via a browser-based portal.

Easy ScalabilityTouted as a more easily scalable option than physical PCs, VDI does offer advantages here, to a point. With DaaS, scaling becomes truly adaptable to an organization’s changing needs, enabling the addition or removal of desktops in a matter of moments. Knuth weighs in on this advantage with enthusiasm:

One of my favorite benefits of DaaS is that the scaling is incremental in either direction. If you need more, you simply provision one more desktop. Sure, on most days adding a single user to a VDI environment is OK, but how many "single users" can you add before you put yourself at risk? There's eventually going to be a point where this incremental method has you in a situation where your reserve capacity isn't enough to shoulder the load if a host goes down or you experience an extremely high peak period of use. The same holds true for de-provisioning users from the system. If you have a VDI environment and want to de-provision a single user, that's not such a big deal. But if you remove many


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users, you're left with unused capacity in your now-overbuilt and even higher- cost-per-user environment.8

Not only does this simplified scaling enable organizations to pay only for what they need at any given time, it makes it possible to complete challenging projects in a fraction of the time previously required – for example scaling up to support seasonal work or new office locations.

Hassle-free PilotsBecause DaaS requires no advance planning, purchase, or deployment of new hardware or software, it’s incredibly quick and easy to take a test run. You’ll want to do your due diligence in selecting a provider, but beyond that, launching a pilot is a simple process with set costs and a rapid timeline. Should you decide to proceed to deployment, ramping up is likewise quick and easy. If, following a pilot, the decision is to pull back at that time, there’s no binding commitment or sunk hardware costs.

Device and Location Independence One of the sought-after advantages of VDI is the ability to support mobile workers, multiple devices, and multiple locations. A poorly implemented VDI solution can pose difficulties in supporting this objective, with performance suffering for users at a greater distance from the datacenter. When DaaS service providers offer a geographically dispersed network of datacenters, latency is minimized and mobile users benefit from improved performance.

In addition, with DaaS, any device capable of running remote access software, with WiFi or voice network connectivity, is ready to serve as a virtual desktop client for complete location and device independence, with greater performance reliability, than many traditional VDI installations.9

“As with VDI, users will be able to work from anywhere. But with cloud desktops, they will benefit from improved performance, even on smartphones and other devices with less powerful hardware than PCs have,” says Knuth. “As a result, devices and workers can be more efficient and productive.” 10

Easy Migration to Windows 7 (and Beyond)With cloud-hosted desktops, Windows 7 migration can be accomplished in a fraction of the time previously required. The need to upgrade or replace existing hardware is eliminated, allowing organizations to extend the life of existing hardware or transition to robust, less-costly thin or zero clients.

A Satisfying User ExperienceFor employees whose work depends on the use of their computing desktop, productivity is enhanced when they can effectively access that desktop anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Not only does DaaS deliver on this flexibility, it delivers consistent enterprise-class performance levels as well. Because most DaaS service providers employ networks of data centers strategically located to meet customer needs, they can deliver best-fit protocols for work levels ranging from task workers


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to those with demanding video and graphics needs. And because cloud desktops never need to be “turned off,” executives, managers and knowledge workers gain the agility of the persistent, instant-on experience offered by DaaS, which lets them walk away from in-process work and resume it at a later time from a smartphone, tablet, or home-office PC.

Equipping the DaaS Workstation

Organizations often begin the migration to DaaS by using existing PCs as DaaS workstation endpoints. While this may offer a simplified approach and reduced up-front costs, it can quickly lead to additional costs and complications.11 For this reason, many organizations that reuse PCs do so with the intent to phase in a full complement of thin or zero clients as quickly as budget allows, which delivers the added benefits offered by these leaner devices.

Advantages delivered by thin and zero client endpoints include:

• Lower purchase cost • Reduced energy consumption up to 80% less than typical PCs • Reduced air conditioning requirements • Quieter, fan-free operation • Slim, space-saving footprint • More robust, reliable operation • Reduced staffing requirements for deployment, maintenance, updates, and helpdesk support • Overall lower total cost of ownership (TCO)

ViewSonic® Endpoint Solutions for DaaS

ViewSonic smart displays, and discrete and display-integrated thin and zero clients, support the range of DaaS use cases with powerful high-resolution graphics

"Productivity is enhanced when [employees] can effectivily access [their] desktop anywhere, anytime on any device."


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V iewSon ic Corpora t ion · (909) 444-8888 · www.v iewson ic .com

Windows and Windows 8 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. VMware and VMware Ready is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. Citrix Ready® is a trademark of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Corporate names and trademarks stated herein are the property of their respective companies. Copyright © 2014 ViewSonic Corp. All rights reserved. [17357-00B-08/14]

For more information, please contact ViewSonic at [email protected] or visit ViewSonic.com

1 Kosht, Matt, Five reasons why VDI adoption will never take off, Accessed 8.19.14 at: http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/opinion/Five-reasons-why-VDI-adoption-will-never-take-off

2, 6 Rubens, Paul, Sept. 4, 2012, VDI, DaaS Compete for Desktop Dollars, Accessed 8.20.14 at: http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/datacenter/vdi-daas-compete-for-desktop-dollars.html

3 How DaaS is Reshaping Virtual Desktops, NaviSite Whitepaper

4, 5 Golden, Bernard, March 13, 2009, Capex vs. Opex: Most People Miss the Point About Cloud Economics, Accessed 8.21.14 at: http://www.cio.com/article/2430099/virtualization/capex-vs--opex--most-people-miss-the-point-about-cloud-economics.html

7, 8, 10 Knuth, Gabe, Desktop as a Service: cost and scalability are its chief advantages, Accessed 8.21.14 at: http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/opinion/Desktop-as-a-Service-cost-and-scalability-are-its-chief-advantages

9 Hess, Ken, Cloud-Hosted Desktops: The Final VDI Solution, Accessed 8.21.14 at: http://www.moltentechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/Cloud-Hosted-Desktops-The-Final-VDI-Solution.pdf

11 Willey, Erik, 4.4.14, The Hidden Costs of Repurposing PCs as VDI Clients, Accessed 8.22.14 at: http://www.viewsonic.com/documents/white_papers/ Repurposing-PCs-as-VDI_WP_lowres_en.pdf

capabilities and up to quad display output. A certified partner with globally-recognized service providers including NaviSite, VESK, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), ViewSonic’s client products are compatible with all leading DaaS providers.

Conclusion

While traditional enterprise VDI offers the potential for greater security, flexibility and reduced computing costs, adoption has been slow to gain traction as some organizations struggle with the inherent complexity and up-front capital requirements. Cloud-hosted virtual desktops offered as a subscription service can deliver many of the key benefits of VDI without the need to deploy an internally managed data center. Many organizations benefit from the predictable, monthly costs structure, paying only for the services they need at any point in time. Simple, cost-effective pilots and up or down scaling enables the ability to rapidly meet changing requirements. The value, efficiency and reliability of DaaS can be further enhanced by the use of endpoint clients purpose-built to support desktop virtualization, such as ViewSonic’s discrete thin and zero clients, integrated thin and zero client displays, and smart display clients.

endpoint solutions for daas facilitated virtualized desktops · while traditional enterprise vdi...

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