A virtual desktop is a workstation that essentially only exists on a virtual level. This means that users can access it via the Internet from any location, for example, from the home office.
The virtual desktop represents the image of an operating system. This can also be used, for example, together with other virtual machines that are located in a central network.
But what advantages do virtual desktops actually offer in detail, and what types of them are there? The following article explains this.
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The popularity of virtual desktops is increasing rapidly
Virtual desktops are already being used in numerous companies today, especially because hybrid and remote work have experienced a very strong upswing in recent years. In this way, companies ensure valuable support for their employees who work from different locations.
The virtual desktops run what is called an operating system image. They are based on a central system that is hosted in a data center at another location. Due to the central control of the data center, virtual desktops, such as the popular Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), even have higher security compared to conventional physical offices.
Examples of the different types of virtual desktops
A total of five different methods can be used to virtualize the desktop, each of which has specific advantages and disadvantages. For this reason, a thoughtful examination of each use case is necessary so that the virtual desktop can actually be implemented successfully.
For example, the concept of operating system deployment is characterized by the operating system being sent either to a physical machine located on a physical desktop or to a virtual machine in a data center.
If the data center itself is the location where the desktop is virtualized, valuable free resources are available to the client. This concept is known as a remote desktop service and is particularly cost-effective.
This is how you can benefit from virtual desktops
The virtual desktops are particularly impressive due to their high level of user-friendliness and remarkable flexibility. Companies also benefit significantly from the fact that all devices are separated from their own resources and sensitive data. There is, therefore, no risk to them if it is stolen or lost.
Thanks to the central management of the virtual desktops, maintenance and updates are also possible immediately – and this is completely independent of location. Administrators can also quickly assign and set up virtual desktops. It is often no longer necessary to provide physical devices.
Virtual desktops are also generally very low-maintenance. You also don’t rely on physical devices. This creates a high potential for cost savings for companies. However, the computing power should not be neglected. The data control center provides this. This proves to be significantly more powerful compared to conventional thin clients.
In addition, scientific studies have already proven that employee productivity and efficiency are higher as a result of remote work. The virtual desktop concepts support this significantly. Because the applications and data are separated from the end devices, all resources are stored centrally. These are also backed up at regular intervals.
Also Read: Virtual Reality, “An Illusion, A Shadow, A Fiction”