What is Desktop as a Service (Daas)? [2024]

Introduction

The term “Desktop as a Service,” or DaaS in short, has been quite a major buzzword in recent years, especially with the surge of popularity in remote working.

Yet, what actually is DaaS, and do you need one for your business?

If you’ve been asking those questions, you’ve come to the right place.

This post will discuss all you need to know about DaaS, including its benefits and how to integrate DaaS into your organization, and without further ado, let us start with the basics.

What is DaaS?

DaaS, as we know, stands for Desktop as a Service, and in a nutshell, it is a type of cloud computing service that offers remote/virtual desktops for end-users over the cloud.

Typically the virtual desktop run by a Virtual Machine (VM) is licensed with a subscription fee on a per-user basis.

The DaaS provider or vendor manages everything needed for an end-user to access and use virtual desktops: ensuring network reliability, storage, cloud computing, and other backend resources.

Using a DaaS service, end-users can connect to a virtual/remote desktop that runs in the cloud, with desktop OS and applications required to do their work. While it may vary depending on the DaaS provider, end-users can connect to the DaaS service using PCs, laptops, or even mobile devices (tablets and smartphones).

How Does DaaS Work?

DaaS works on the principle of VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure): a desktop OS (Operating System), like Microsoft Windows, is run and managed on a remote server.

The end-users (your employees) can then access the DaaS service through an internet connection, either via a local client downloaded to a device (computers or mobile devices) or via a web browser.

The DaaS service provider owned and operated backend Virtual Machines that run a desktop OS (i.e., Windows Server), essentially a VDI. However, the VDI is then streamed to the customer’s end-user devices.

Organizations that subscribe to a DaaS do not need to manage their own hardware running the desktop OS, and everything will be handled by the DaaS vendor. The DaaS vendor will manage the whole process of the VDI deployment and maintenance practices like security updates and regular backups.

Why Use DaaS? Key Benefits

Partnering with a reliable and trustworthy DaaS provider is a good way for businesses that want to facilitate their workers with remote desktops to minimize hardware investments and centralize data management but don’t want (or can’t) invest in and manage in their own VDI system.

There are three main benefits of using a DaaS solution:

1. Simplicity: since the DaaS vendor handles everything for you, then it’s much simpler to set up and maintain the whole system. Your end-users can easily access and connect to the DaaS service on any device.
2. Lower maintenance cost: standard VDI deployments are notorious for their difficult and expensive maintenance. If you run or maintain the VDI deployment yourself, most likely, you’ll need to hire experienced IT staff or specialists to manage your system.
3. Security: security is also another common issue with VDI systems, but a VDI/DaaS solution can help improve the virtual system’s security. The DaaS provider will handle security, protecting the identity of the virtual workers and integrity of data transmitted during the virtual work without any degradation in speed and reliability.

These are on top of the benefits you’ll get from traditional VDI deployments, including but not limited to:

1. Custom allocation of resources: VDI, including DaaS, gives the ability for companies to tailor resource allocation to different users to maximize security and efficiency. For example, videographers may need more resources for their virtual desktops compared to copywriters who only need to run Google Docs.
2. Versatility: employees can easily and securely access their remote desktops and applications from anywhere and on any device (including more affordable devices since the heavy computing is done on the server). Persistent or static DaaS may also allow users for more personalizations on their remote desktops, including downloading and installing custom applications when allowed by the DaaS vendor.
3. Compatibility: since DaaS, being technically a VDI deployment, allows each user to access a dedicated Virtual Machine (VM), there are fewer compatibility issues. Working with reliable DaaS partners like V2 Cloud will also ensure seamless integration with essential IT solutions and technologies.
4. Scalability: by partnering with a credible DaaS service, organizations can quickly increase the number of remote desktops and add applications based on the business’s needs without investing in expensive additional infrastructure. T
5. Redundancy: in the event of disasters, data breaches, and other critical issues, DaaS can be a viable solution for organizations to ensure business continuity. With a DaaS solution, organizations can rely on the remote services of the DaaS and stay running during critical emergencies.

A Daas system can be quickly and easily provisioned to meet your business’s unique needs. When your business hires a new employee, then onboarding this employee can be as simple as registering an account for them on the DaaS platform.

On the other hand, when employees leave your company, you can simply revoke their credentials on the DaaS system.

Conclusion

Desktop as a Service, or DaaS, is a cloud-based service that securely streams remote desktop and virtual applications from the cloud to any device.

DaaS can allow organizations to save a lot in upfront investment and maintenance costs since they don’t need to purchase licenses for every desktop and don’t need to hire in-house IT specialists to maintain an in-house system.