What is vdi desktop

The finance or accounting industry requires a bank-level secure platform to work, and office desktops have a greater chance of getting compromised. They are also more vulnerable to cyber threats, thefts, or breaches.

Virtual desktops help you to install different security policies like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, AI data monitoring, and much more. Not just these industries, but VDI is used in many other sectors like retail, IT, legal, insurance, and others because it is scalable and flexible for organizations of all sizes.

Virtualization is the technology that divides the system architecture into different layers. Before virtualization, the hardware was bound to the operating system OS at the time of installation. Thus, in the case of a hardware failure, the OS also crashed, and you would lose all the data. Through virtualization, the OS and the underlying hardware are separated by a software called a hypervisor.

You can install multiple operating systems on a hypervisor-installed server. A hypervisor is software that separates the operating system from the underlying hardware.

It creates a virtual environment where the hardware can be divided into multiple Virtual Machines VMs. Each VM hosts virtual desktops that can have its unique configuration, OS, and applications.

They have all the hardware like internet cabling, firewalls, routers, and hard disks installed on their data centers. Suppose they want to create 10 VMs for ten users, and users want utmost optimization of the resource allocations of users. How will they do that? This is where hypervisor software comes into play. It helps companies create multiple VMs for various users according to their requirements. Moreover, it allows admin users to manually or automatically allocate resources according to the business requirements.

Connection broker is also a software program that connects the users to resources like Windows desktops, Linux applications, etc. It is also responsible for the authentication of users and allowing them access to their desktop instances.

The connection broker also keeps track of active and inactive desktops. When a user sends a request to connect to a desktop, it provides the user with an idle desktop instance. When a user disconnects the desktop, it updates the status of the desktop to inactive. It is a network device that is responsible for the distribution of resources. Gateway: It is a security layer that validates the virtual desktops delivered to the end-user within SSL and then forwards the request to the Storefront.

StoreFront: It is a type of application store which is generated according to unique user IDs. It validates the credentials against the Active Directory. Active Directory is a service that connects users from their database, and it is used to manage multiple users. It comes under the Control part in the flow chart. Studio: It is a console used by the admin or IT team to manage and configure the user environment. Director: It is a web-based tool used to monitor the virtual desktop environment.

Database: It stores all the information like configurations and usage information of the particular environment. Have a look at this infographic flowchart of the VDI technology. Now you would be able to relate the functioning of the components with the following steps. To Summarize: The hypervisor creates multiple virtual machines for the users. The connection broker accepts the request after authentication when the user logs into their desktop from the client software or URL.

It then analyzes the request and sends the user to their resource section. The most distinguishing feature of VDI is remote access. As soon as you are away from the system, you can not access your desktop anymore. With VDI, you can access your desktop from anywhere, day or night.

Another vital aspect of VDI is security. While VDI has a number of uses, it also has a few limitations. For instance, the security of a VDI cannot be taken for granted. The OS image will need to be properly updated and managed and the end-client authentication should be performed strictly. Further, it is important that performance adjustments and VDI deployment checks are done from time to time to ensure that technical issues are resolved without any delay.

To do these things, organizations will require dedicated IT staff — this, unfortunately, may not be feasible for all businesses. Figure: Benefits and Limitations of VDI Basic Components of VDI The basic components that are part of the virtual desktop infrastructure are: Virtualization: Virtualization is what separates the system architecture into various layers. Before virtualization, the hardware of a device was linked to the operating system, which meant the OS would crash if there was a hardware failure.

This would result in the user losing all their data. But virtualization helps separate the underlying hardware from the operating system via software called a hypervisor.

Thus, users can install and use multiple OS on a hypervisor-installed server. Hypervisor: This is the software that helps separate the hardware from the operating system. The hypervisor creates a virtual environment, wherein the hardware is split into various virtual machines. Each virtual machine has its own configuration, applications, and OS.

With respect to virtual desktop infrastructure, the hypervisor helps create multiple desktop instances on these virtual machines. Each desktop instance will then serve as a separate desktop and can be allocated to different users.

Connection broker: This software helps connect desktop instances and users. It is essentially responsible for authenticating end users and connecting them to their specific desktop instances. This software also keeps track of all the inactive and active desktops.

So, each time a user requests a connection to a desktop, the connection broker provides the user an inactive desktop instance. Desktop pools: A desktop pool is a group of similar desktops that can be configured for a specific function. For instance, the entire IT department of an organization may use a desktop pool, where all desktops have the same applications and configuration. Application virtualization: This technology creates a virtualized application image and then replicates this to all desktops that are part of a desktop pool.

The VMware ThinApp , for instance, is an example of this. Figure: Why chose VDI. Why Anunta? Story of the Week. Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn. Notify of. Inline Feedbacks. Submit Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel. Book a free consultation. No, thank you. I do not want. All data from a VDI connection lives on the server, not the device.

In addition, the VDI environment is fully and centrally controlled from a data center. Administrators can apply software patches and updates, change configurations, and enforce policies for all virtual desktops across the deployment. In this way, VDI allows for fine-tuned control and secure isolation of OS images from a central server, which is a less complicated setup than managing laptops running OS locally. While there are many benefits to virtual desktop infrastructure, security cannot be taken for granted with VDI.

The OS images have to be properly managed and updated, and end client authentication must be rigorous. Digital workspace solutions can help in this regard via SSO, improved endpoint security , and encryption for data in transit.

Performance is another key consideration with VDI. When it first became widely available in the mid s, typical performance for VDI lagged behind that of a local OS. Occasional performance-tuning and reviews of the VDI deployment are advisable to make sure that solvable technical problems are addressed. Assuming all supporting infrastructure is functioning as intended, a user who remotely accesses a VDI solution from their endpoint can interact with applications and data as if they were running locally.

This setup lets users safely access everything they need from virtually any device, without requiring specific hardware. Augmented by solutions for convenient single sign-on SSO and secure remote access, virtual desktops can also be run and managed alongside the growing spectrum of cloud, web, and mobile apps that are integral to modern workflows. Employees get a unified experience that enables greater productivity, while IT avoids silos and mitigates the risk of unauthorized logins.

In other words, VDI in the context of a digital workspace platform contributes to a superior working environment without compromising on security. As part of the digital workspace experience, it delivers a consistent experience across devices including PCs, tablets, smartphones, and thin clients, giving employees and contractors a high degree of freedom in how they work.

Citrix offers a diverse portfolio of desktop virtualization solutions serving organizations of all types and sizes. Alongside Citrix Workspace , it can ensure the best possible VDI experience by giving employees comprehensive and secure access to everything they need to stay productive from anywhere.

What is desktop as a service DaaS? Desktop and application virtualization—a complete guide. In North America: 1 Solutions Solutions. Digital Workspaces. Unified Endpoint Management. Application Delivery. Secure Access. Content Collaboration. Collaborative Work Management. Boost Productivity Support employee well-being Enable a hybrid workforce Transform employee experience. Small business. What is Citrix Workspace? Citrix Workspace. Download Citrix Workspace app Citrix Workspace app is the easy-to-install client software that provides seamless secure access to everything you need to get work done.