Unlock the Potential of Remote Work with Current VDI Solutions: A 2025 Guide
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) remains crucial for providing secure and accessible desktop environments to employees anywhere with an internet connection. However, choosing the right VDI solution can be challenging given the many options. This guide explores current VDI solutions and highlights key trends to help your organization make an informed decision.
VDI Options
Legacy VDI
Traditional VDI setups are deployed on-premises. They require companies to buy and maintain expensive hardware and infrastructure. Managing these environments can be complex, demanding specialized skills in areas like Hypervisor, Networking, Storage, and VDI itself. Scaling legacy VDI can also be difficult, and accessibility may be limited compared to cloud options.
Cloud VDI
Cloud-based VDI solutions can offer significant advantages over legacy setups, including greater scalability, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. Companies can quickly add or remove virtual desktops based on demand, without needing to invest in more hardware. Cloud VDI provides all the customization of on-prem solutions with the benefit of near-infinite scalability. Most Cloud VDI operates on a pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for the virtual machines used on an hourly basis, allowing for easy scaling up or down. Be aware that monthly costs can be highly variable, so proper sizing is essential to manage expenses.
Cloud PC
Cloud PC is Microsoft's cloud-based virtual desktop service. It enables users to access a Windows 11 virtual desktop from any internet-connected device. Cloud PC is a fully managed service, offering simplified setup and management. It focuses on being user-centric, delivering a streamlined experience across devices. While it offers less workload customization, Cloud PC stands out for its predictable license based cost. Various pricing plans are available to suit different usage scenarios, helping organizations manage their budget effectively.
Current VDI Trends (2025)
The VDI market is currently in a state of turbulence. Market factors will shape the future of enterprise VDI for years to come.
Movement Away from Traditional Vendors
Recent acquisitions of major players like Citrix and VMware have disrupted the market. This has accelerated the growth of new market players. Citrix's push to move on-premises customers to the cloud has met resistance from organizations unwilling or unable to make this shift. VMware's acquisition by Broadcom has led to significant changes as well. Many organizations are reconsidering their relationship with VMware, especially if they are not among their top 600 customers. This market shift has opened doors for previously niche players like Nerdio, Itopia, and Workspot to attract customers from Citrix and VMware.
Return to Self-Hosting (with a Twist)
Enterprises that haven't seen expected cost savings from cloud migrations are slowing or even reversing course. New hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud infrastructures, such as Azure-Stack HCI and Nutanix, allow organizations to bridge on-site and cloud hosting. This enables them to find the best fit for each workload and burst capacity to the cloud when needed, all managed from centralized control planes.
Rise of the Hybrid Workspace
The surge in remote work has created a demand for applications and data that ensure productivity regardless of physical location. Modern VDI solutions are designed to support remote workforces efficiently. Enterprises are now moving towards delivering focused applications and data, shifting away from the fully realized VDI desktops of a few years ago. This isn't a return to older "Seamless Published Apps" , but rather a re-imagining of app delivery as a self-hosted SaaS model. This approach provides anywhere-anytime access to data while keeping application and data control within the enterprise. This is seen in stripped-down, minimally personalized Cloud PCs that run a basic OS and receive applications at runtime. The maturity of MDM and other remote provisioning tools also enables seamless configuration of both corporate and BYOD assets.
Benefits of Cloud VDI / Cloud PC
Considering a move to Cloud VDI or Cloud PC offers several benefits:
Scalability: Cloud computing simplifies expansion, helping you remove redundancies or instantly add storage capacity as your business needs change.
Accessibility: Moving to the cloud allows users to access programs and information from anywhere. This can also save money on physical infrastructure.
Performance: Cloud solutions improve application performance for both customers and employees. Service-level agreements often include data loss prevention strategies, reduced downtime, and faster integration of new tools.
IT and Security Support: Cloud providers often offer IT and security resources that might be specialized and unavailable in-house. Cloud providers manage IT, handling software patches, system updates, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Key Questions for Your Cloud VDI Journey
Successful cloud migration requires a strategic plan. When integrating new technology, be ready to answer these questions:
1. What cloud platform should you use?
2. What business benefits will a cloud platform bring?
3. How will it improve business operations and performance?
4. What resources will move to the cloud (e.g., data, applications)?
5. How will these assets function in the cloud, and where are they currently located?
6. What is the best way to modify current applications for the cloud?
7. How will app management be maintained in the cloud?
Many businesses have already started their cloud transition. Contact us to learn more about our Modern Workplace VDI solutions and plan your successful cloud migration.
