Azure VDI: What Happens When You Deliver Virtual Desktops? | Parallels

Azure VDI desktops are virtual desktops delivered through the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. As virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions are traditionally served from on-premises servers, what exactly do you gain by putting it in the Azure Cloud?

Well, the cloud computing industry—whether Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)—is booming. It would seem, on the surface, that there’s plenty of room for everyone. However, this is isn’t the case. Two major providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure have staked a huge chunk of the market and are slowly edging out rivals.

Microsoft is slowly catching up by targeting app developers and IT pros using its platform’s intuitive tools. By offering great tools for scaling and simplified deployment of apps, Azure is slowly emerging as a top contender with AWS in the cloud industry.

Azure Cloud + VDI = The Best of Both Worlds

You’re probably familiar with the business benefits of cloud services:

Improved business agility.
Anytime/anywhere access.
Zero capital expenditure (Capex) on IT infrastructure.
Enterprise-grade security (if run on a reputable platform like Azure).

VDI solutions also have similar qualities. VDI desktops typically run on almost any device. Although it probably doesn’t enable as much Capex savings as the cloud, VDI does help businesses realize huge operational expenditure (Opex) savings through much lower endpoint administrative and maintenance costs.

Lastly, because VDI centralizes the administration of desktops, applications, and data, it makes it easier for admins to secure those digital assets. Because VDI and cloud solutions nicely complement each other, a VDI solution deployed in Azure can also mean:

Greater accessibility. Desktops can be accessed anywhere in the world, from any device.
Bigger savings. You get savings in both Capex and Opex.
Stronger security. Applications, desktops, and data are all kept in a central location, with stringent security policies and enterprise-grade security solutions.

Azure VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)

Previously, the way to deliver virtual desktops through Azure was by utilizing a virtual desktop delivery solution capable of being deployed on that platform, such as Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS). You would install Parallels RAS on Azure virtual machines to deliver desktops and applications.

Now there’s another way. Microsoft launched Azure Virtual Desktop, a solution hosted in Azure designed to deliver virtual applications and desktops. It can deliver both multi-session virtual desktops and if needed, dedicated VDI desktops.

VDI-based, one-to-one desktops are ideal for workloads that require high computing resources while doing remote work. People that work in various industries—including oil/gas, engineering, film, energy, medical, and automotive—who need to use applications even when away from their physical desktops are better served by dedicated VDI desktops than their multi-session counterparts.

Azure Virtual Desktop is an appealing option for organizations because it provides increased security, cost savings, and increased employee efficiency.

Enhanced security

Azure Virtual Desktop provides the same security that you expect from Azure. Organizations don’t need to worry about the hardware getting lost, stolen, or tampered with since your data is hosted in Azure. With simple permission changes, IT admins can modify which user gets access to what services. Additionally, IT admins can quickly patch up and update software, ensuring that all users have access to the latest software version.

Cost savings

Organizations that employ Azure Virtual Desktop rely less on expensive desktop computers and software licenses, potentially saving costs in the long run. IT admins can easily provision IT resources to users via any device such as bring your own devices (BYOD) or thin clients, which are cheaper options. Additionally, Azure Virtual Desktop allows organizations to upgrade and maintain their apps in a centralized server, further saving costs.

Improved employee efficiency

With a virtual desktop delivery solution, your staff are no longer tied to the physical office to do their work—they can work from any location, at any time, using any device of their choice. Not only does this increase their efficiencies, but it also creates a better work-life balance.

Azure VDI Best Practices

The best practices to carry out when deploying Azure VDI would be:

High-availability VDI environments. Having availability is crucial while deploying VDI. It doesn’t matter how fast or simple your desktop management system is if your users can’t consistently access desktops or related resources.
Employ thin clients. Devices without internal processing capacity are known as thin clients. These gadgets often come with a monitor and other peripherals, and they act as access points to distant resources (such as keyboard and mouse).
Comprehension of End User Requirements. Understanding which apps end users want, their dependencies, and the resources required—including VM and storage resources—will help you configure your deployment successfully.

Delivering Azure VDI Desktops through Parallels RAS

Parallels ® RAS already supported the traditional way of delivering VDI virtual desktops through Azure. Now it also integrates with Azure Virtual Desktop. By using Parallels RAS, you gain the flexibility of delivering Azure-based VDI virtual desktops in whichever way suits your business needs.

Parallels RAS greatly extends and simplifies the capabilities of Azure Virtual Desktop by deploying and managing all workloads and resources from a centralized console. Organizations can integrate Parallels RAS deployments with Azure Virtual Desktop, delivering a single solution to end-users. With Parallels RAS and Azure Virtual Desktop you can:

Unify administration and user experience (UX): Centrally deploy and manage all workloads from the Parallels RAS Console.
Extend reach with the flexibility of hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.
Leverage built-in auto-scaling capabilities on Microsoft Azure and/or on-premises.
Provide advanced management for users, sessions, and processes.
Multi-cloud ready: Parallels RAS supports on-premises, hybrid, and public cloud deployments on Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and more.
FSLogix Profile Container integration: Centrally deploy, configure  and manage  FSLogix Profile Containers, as the preferred integrated user profile  management  solution.

Leverage the 99.9% availability of Microsoft Azure Cloud to make sure your data is always accessible, and Parallels RAS to make sure the access is always secure and monitored.

Download your 30-day evaluation period of Parallels RAS today and start delivering Azure VDI desktops in less than an hour!

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