Desktop-as-a-service: a concept whose time has come

Desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) is a subset of virtualisation, under which a desktop is provided to the user when they connect to it, rather than having it installed on their physical device. The “as a service” element means the user has the desktop configured for them by either an internal or external provider, and potentially on a fixed-cost basis.

DaaS can be as simple as a session on a shared server, or as complex as a dedicated machine over which the end user has complete control. The key is that it is stored and managed centrally and provided “on-demand” to the user.

Last year, the drive towards creating cloud computing environments combined with the economic recovery saw shipments of virtualised servers rising 28 per cent and end-user spending reach $16.8bn, according to analysts at IDC.

The operational advantages of DaaS relate to technical issues and work patterns. From a technical perspective, migration to Windows 7 will be a major driver over the course of the next 12-18 months, given that support for XP ends in April 2014. DaaS provides an attractive alternative to the cost and complexity of managing the migration process in-house.

Work patterns also stand to benefit from this model, with DaaS offering operational advantages such as flexible working (i.e. from home), business continuity (e.g. from a branch office) and disaster recovery. Providing desktops as a service means that everyone within an organisation has a common desktop, application set and working experience.

For organisations that demand high levels of performance and availability but cannot afford the cost of a fully equipped and resilient datacentre, buying a “share” of a third-party desktop solution offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional IT solutions.

Personalisation is another advantage to the virtualisation process. Separating the individual user from their device can have significant performance and end-user experience benefits, particularly where users access their desktops in a number of ways, such as by laptop, desktop and thin client. And as businesses increasingly focus on the cost and environmental impact of travel, power consumption and technology refresh, any move towards thinner clients and more flexible working has significant appeal.

The concept of the fixed-price desktop based on DaaS is now attracting considerable interest from firms looking to cut costs and streamline operations while meeting demand for services with reduced resources. The cloud-based desktop provides the capacity users need, when they need it, rather than leaving computing power idle on the desktop and in the datacentre.

And the pay-per-use model is quickly catching on from both a software vendor and hosted service perspective. Indeed, it may well be one of the most significant changes to the computing model over the coming years.