While we may have passed peak remote work in 2021, businesses continue to consider the benefits of giving up expensive office space in favor of letting employees work from home. Companies are also aware of the recruitment benefits of flexible working patterns: Employees accustomed to remote work don’t relish spending the working week in an office when they can complete their tasks just as well—and perhaps more productively—at home.
Businesses faced with employment culture’s evolution towards remote work have embraced Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) as a way to support remote work while retaining control over their data and slashing IT workloads and costs.
What Is DaaS?
DaaS is a cloud-based solution that allows businesses to deliver virtual desktops to their employees, providing secure access to applications, data and IT services from any device at any time. DaaS offers customizable desktops on a high-performance cloud platform, simplifying IT management and reducing costs through a pay-as-you-go billing model.
Key Benefits of DaaS for Remote Work
DaaS offers numerous benefits for businesses looking to support remote work, including reduced IT workloads, predictable expenses, secure data and devices, scalability, and high availability.
Reduced IT Workloads
Outsourcing desktop management to a cloud provider reduces the workload on your IT staff, freeing them to focus on more strategic initiatives. Think of how much time your business’s IT team and help desk staff spend responding to support requests from desktop users that could easily be taken care of by a DaaS provider.
Minimized IT Costs
The pay-as-you-go pricing model of DaaS allows businesses to align their IT expenses with actual usage, providing more predictable monthly costs and eliminating the need for large upfront investments in hardware and software.
Secure Data and Devices
Security-aware DaaS providers like Liberty Center One ensure that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access while employees work remotely. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. Plus, it’s stored in the cloud and not on user devices. People will lose their phones and laptops, but that’s not a security risk for DaaS users because the data is safe in the cloud. Furthermore, DaaS allows for active security monitoring, which provides an additional layer of protection for your company’s data.
Scalability and BYOD Support
DaaS enables businesses to easily scale their desktop environments as needed, making it ideal for rapidly growing companies and those that rely on contractors and freelancers . Additionally, DaaS supports BYOD initiatives, so employees working from home can access work desktops from personal devices, increasing flexibility and productivity.
High Availability, Backup and Disaster Recovery
DaaS providers typically offer high availability, ensuring that employees can access their desktops at any time, even in the event of hardware failures or natural disasters. Backup and disaster recovery features give businesses peace of mind that their data is secure and recoverable.
DaaS vs. VDI
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is an older alternative to modern cloud DaaS solutions. Both enable remote work and virtual desktop access, but differ in deployment, management, scalability and cost structure.
VDI is an on-premises solution. It requires substantial investment in infrastructure, hardware and software, as well as ongoing maintenance and support. DaaS, as we’ve mentioned, is a cloud-based solution. It is hosted and managed by a third-party provider, eliminating the need for on-premises infrastructure and maintenance.
Gartner predicts that 80% of virtual desktops for remote users will be DaaS by next year. Two-thirds of businesses have said that they plan to invest or invest more in virtual desktop technology, and the vast majority of that investment will be in cloud DaaS solutions.
The Future of DaaS and Remote Work
DaaS offers a powerful solution for businesses looking to embrace remote work and provide their employees with a secure, flexible and cost-effective desktop environment. As virtual desktop technology continues to evolve and mature, it will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of remote work.Liberty Center One’s powerful Cloud Desktop Service is a ready-made DaaS solution that empowers businesses to deploy custom virtual desktops to remote and in-office employees. To learn more, talk to a DaaS specialist today.