The rise of security threats across increasingly distributed workforces has seen a greater demand for virtual desktops to support modern work styles. To meet this demand, your business needs high-performance technology that allows users to securely and flexibly collaborate from anywhere.
This leaves you with two key choices: in the cloud vs on-premise virtual desktops. It can be challenging to know which is the right decision that fits your company’s specific requirements, so we do the legwork for you and weigh up the pros and cons of each.
Cloud-based Desktop as a Service (DaaS) allows businesses to access their desktop environment from the cloud, eliminating the need for on-premise hardware. On the other hand, on-premise virtual desktops involve maintaining all desktop infrastructure within the organisation's physical premises.
The choice between cloud vs on-premise virtual desktops is critical because it directly impacts productivity, cost management and data security. A cloud DaaS, such as Citrix, adapts to the ever-changing needs of modern businesses, while on-premise virtual desktops provide a sense of control that some organisations still prefer.
Scalability and flexibility: A cloud DaaS solution like Citrix offers unparalleled scalability and flexibility. This lets you easily scale your resources up or down to meet changing demands without the hassle of procuring and managing new hardware. Such agility is crucial in a world where business needs can fluctuate rapidly.
Cost-effectiveness: Cloud DaaS can reduce overall costs by eliminating the need for on-premise infrastructure, reducing maintenance expenses and streamlining your hardware fleet. In fact, your business can save as much as 70% on costs over 3 years by leveraging Citrix Cloud services. Plus, their pay-as-you-go model ensures that you only pay for the resources you use.
Accessibility and collaboration: Cloud DaaS promotes improved accessibility, allowing your users to access their desktops from anywhere with an internet connection. The collaboration features enable easy file sharing and integration with collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams. This fosters teamwork and productivity, even among distributed teams.
Security updates and maintenance: A cloud provider can manage automatic updates and maintenance. This reduces the burden on your IT team and ensures that your environment remains up-to-date and secure. Such levels of security expertise often surpass what many organisations achieve on their own. For example, Citrix Analytics for Security uses in-built machine learning to proactively detect, assess and mitigate threats without disrupting your employees. This can also be used for classifying risk scores for user sessions and taking action as needed. With Citrix Analytics for performance, users can automatically grouped by performance scores with prescriptive insights to optimise and resolve issues fast.
Compliance: Cloud-based DaaS can keep your network environment constantly updated with compliance regulations. This is particularly useful in a world of ever-changing data privacy regulations. However, do note that some highly regulated industries require businesses to keep data on-premise.
Potential downtimes: Unfortunately, downtime is always a possibility. However, cloud DaaS providers invest heavily in failover systems to ensure maximum uptime. What’s more, reputable cloud providers offer high availability and disaster recovery options to minimise disruptions.
Reliance on internet connectivity: Cloud DaaS relies on having a stable internet connection. So, in situations where internet connectivity is unreliable, it can potentially lead to disruptions in certain cloud services. This underscores the importance of robust and consistent internet connections for a seamless cloud computing experience.
Control and customisation: On-premise solutions provide a high level of control and customisation, allowing you to fine-tune your desktop environments to meet specific needs. This is typically more appealing to industries with strict regulatory requirements or unique software configurations.
Security: The perceived security benefits come from keeping data on-site. Some organisations with strict security requirements may prefer this model. It gives them greater control over their data and potentially reduces exposure to certain external threats. However, security is highly dependent on your organisation's own practices and an on-premise solution may not necessarily be more secure than a well-managed cloud solution.
Initial investment: On-premise solutions require a higher initial investment, including hardware and infrastructure setup, which can be a barrier for some businesses. This investment can be substantial, involving the purchase of servers, storage, networking equipment, licensing costs and even HVAC systems to keep servers cool.
Maintenance challenges: On-premise infrastructure maintenance and upgrades can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Your IT team must take responsibility for keeping the infrastructure running smoothly, which can divert them from more strategic initiatives. Moreover, keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements and security updates can be challenging.
To make an informed decision between cloud and on-premise virtual desktops, you must evaluate the unique needs of your business, including security, scalability, and the need for control over your environment. It’s also crucial that you conduct a comparative cost analysis that takes into account initial investments, ongoing operational costs and potential savings offered by cloud DaaS.
Assess the hardware and licensing costs and the labour and opportunity costs associated with managing an on-premise solution. Finally, consider your organisation's growth prospects and how scalability needs might influence your decision.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution in the cloud vs on premise virtual desktops debate. The choice between the two depends on your organisation's specific requirements and preferences. However, the benefits of cloud DaaS like Citrix typically outweigh those of on-premise.
From lower initial expenses to quicker setup, simpler administration to increased adaptability. The trick is to carefully assess your needs, conduct a thorough cost analysis and consider your scalability requirements before deciding between cloud vs on-premise virtual desktops.
To learn more about Citrix Cloud DaaS and how it can benefit your organisation, get in touch with us. As a trusted partner, we can help you make the right choice to drive your business forward in the digital age.
As a longstanding Microsoft Solutions Specialist, our Microsoft Azure Cloud Services empower you to harness the full potential of cloud technology for unparalleled scalability, security and performance.