AWS VDI: Amazon Workspaces vs Azure Virtual Desktop

Amazon Workspace is a tool for provisioning cloud-based desktops to end-users, allowing them to access applications, documents, and resources from supported devices. It runs on AWS cloud and offers a high-quality cloud desktop experience that is cost-effective performs as well as traditional desktops.

Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly Windows Virtual Desktop) is an app and desktop virtualization service that runs on Azure, allowing users to use full Windows 10 deployment, Windows 7 virtual desktops, Microsoft 365 Apps and Remote Desktop Services in a unified setting.

What is Amazon Workspaces?

AWS’s desktop computing solution, Amazon Workspaces provisions cloud-based Microsoft Windows or Amazon Linux desktops or workspaces for users. It eliminates the need to deploy hardware, procure, or install applications. It allows you to remove or add users with ease, choose your operating system from a range of hardware configurations, choose your desired protocol, and deploy or manage applications with ease. Other features of Amazon Workspaces are:

Pick up from where you left off for a persistent desktop experience.
Bring your applications or licenses.
Use the same tools for managing both on-premise desktops and WorkSpaces.
Control the IP addresses that can be used to access the WorkSpaces.
Use multi-factor authentication.
Encrypt data at rest using AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS).

What is Azure Virtual Desktop?

Azure Virtual Desktop is a tool that allows you to enable a remote desktop experience from anywhere at any time, securely. You can set up Azure Virtual Desktop in minutes, and manage other Azure services in collaboration with end-to-end Azure Virtual Desktop deployment. The features of Azure Virtual Desktop are:

Deliver Windows 10 desktops anywhere from any device.
Ensure compliance with built-in intelligent security.
Reduce the cost of existing licenses.
Quickly scale up and simplify deployment based on business needs.

Azure Virtual Desktop vs Amazon Workspaces

Both Azure Virtual Desktop and Amazon Workspaces are suitable solutions for your remote desktop and remote working needs. Both solutions enable you to access the right applications and desktops, from any place at any time. However, there certainly are significant differences between the two, and making the right choice is a matter of what an organization needs. The differences between the two are mentioned below:

Features

Both products provide many of the same features, such as remote connections from anywhere, use of native applications or web browsers, persistent file storage, custom application deployment. Using AWS Workspace, each user has their own personal desktop, which can be Windows or Linux. On the Azure Virtual Desktop side, Windows will be the sole operating system available, and users will be able to choose between a personal desktop and a shared virtual computer. Many people sharing a virtual machine is a cost-effective approach to save money and reduce the number of virtual machines.

Resource allocation

Amazon Workspaces offers one-one resources, making it suitable for cases when you need reliable, dedicated computing power. Azure Virtual Desktop, on the other hand, offers both one-to-one and one-to-many resources. In one-to-many case, Microsoft provides the host, but multiple users can access it at the same time. It is suitable for cases when dedicated computing power is not a huge requirement.

Costs

While the vdi costs associated with delivering virtual desktops and applications depend on the scale, Azure Virtual Desktop is ahead when it comes to being economical. As Microsoft VDA offers one-many resources, costs are significantly reduced as the environment scales up.

Easy Deploy Virtual Desktops with Azure Virtual Desktop and Parallels RAS

The industry-leading solution for deploying virtual desktops on different vdi solutions. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) not only supports but also extends and integrates Azure Virtual Desktop capabilities. Parallels RAS supports various cloud deployment models and offers organizations public, on-prem or hybrid clouds.

You can use Parallels RAS to easily deploy virtual desktops with Azure Virtual Desktop, to improve productivity, ensure flexibility and facilitate simplified management and deployment. With Parallels RAS, you can unify, configure and manage all the main virtual desktop delivery solutions from a central location.

Download the free trial of Parallels RAS today and simplify the management of your virtual desktops, optimize your workspaces and reduce the total cost of ownership.