Securely Manage Data With Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

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What is Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)?

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) utilizes virtual machines to provide and manage virtual desktops which may be hosted in the cloud or on hardware in data centers. However, a majority of VDI refresh cycles are moving from on-premises data centers to cloud deployments. VDI hosts desktop environments on a centralized server and deploys them to end-users upon request. In VDI, users have the ability to access virtual desktops remotely from their devices. Users can access these virtual desktops from any device, from anywhere in the world.

How Does VDI Work?

The desktop runs on virtual machines (VMs) over a hypervisor and is delivered to endpoint devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Users can then use the endpoint devices to interact with the operating system and its apps.

VDI can be classified as persistent and non-persistent. Persistent VDI is customized for a personal user, and the user can log in to the same desktop each time. Non-persistent VDI consists of desktops that revert to their initial state after the user logs out.

VDI operates by completing the following actions:

  1. The end-user logs into their virtual desktop.
  2. The login request is accepted after authentication is completed. The user is then sent to their desktop.
  3. The server creates multiple VMs on which the virtual desktop is hosted.
  4. The desktop image the end-user sees is a replica of the original desktop.

What are the Benefits of VDI?

Security

Due to workforces being more mobile and increases in the desire to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, global accessibility is a key VDI benefit for remote, long-distance, and mobile end-users. With desktop virtualization, data is managed and protected in one central server location. IT Admins can better maintain security with tools like built-in firewalls, automated encryption, network isolation, secure perimeters, multi-factor authentication, and least privilege permissions. With enforced privileged access management, businesses can ensure employee and customer data is kept confidential. 

Cost Savings

Since processing is done on the server in the cloud, the hardware requirements for end devices are much lower. Users can access their virtual desktops from older devices or tablets, or their own personal devices, reducing the need for IT to purchase new and expensive hardware. Teams can also save on costs by eliminating the need for complex laptop shipping and physical desktop hardware. Laptops, in particular,  are expensive to buy and manage — and can easily lead to a security breach. They’re notoriously attractive to thieves, since no data on them can be considered fully secure. Laptops are also vulnerable to end-user risks, whether those are sloppy internet habits or careless use of random USB keys.

Flexibility

The flexibility of endpoint maintenance saves teams time and money. Routine upgrades and installations can be completed without user intervention, without disturbing end users’ productivity. Desktops can easily be virtually created by copying images and files, and then swiftly deployed. End users are not tied to any particular hardware with VDI, so desktop fixes and new desktops can get them up and running in no time.

What are the Challenges of VDI?

Although VDI is certainly more secure than it was in the past, VDI still deployed on premises comes with a number of long-term nuanced problems that are difficult for IT teams to navigate and justify its usage when promoting it to executives. Some of these challenges include:

Unanticipated costs

In order for VDI to maintain efficient performance levels, the associated costs can become quite high. All desktop data must travel over the networks and be stored in centralized data centers. As a result, organizations must invest in the hardware necessary to implement such an infrastructure, including periodic replacements in the event of an outage or downtime. Licencing software can also be confusing and complex. Ultimately, before an organization makes an investment, it should carefully evaluate the optimal use cases for desktop virtualization.

Performance problems

Digitally-focused organizations must be prepared to shift their strategy seamlessly. Historically, however, VDI does not provide teams with much flexibility. In a VDI environment, unpredictable workloads can cause performance lows, with storage often causing major issues. Organizations need to examine their existing storage and networking infrastructure to determine what changes are necessary to optimize overall VDI performance.

User Experience

VDI administrators must oversee the servers, hypervisors, storage systems and networks. Oftentimes, one mistake can take down hundreds of virtual desktops in a single timeframe. Therefore, it is especially important for VDI administrators to implement a solid business continuity plan to protect critical infrastructure and achieve high availability.

What are Examples of VDI Use Cases?

There are a number of use cases that are uniquely suited for VDI, including:

Remote work

Since VDI makes virtual desktops easy to deploy and update from a centralized location, an increasing number of companies are implementing it for remote workers.

Bring your own device (BYOD)

VDI is an ideal solution for environments that allow or require employees to use their own devices. Since processing is done on a centralized server, VDI allows the use of a wider range of devices. It also offers better security, since data lives on the server and is not retained on the end client device.

Disaster recovery

With a single click, IT can activate standby cloud desktops so teams can keep data safe, use any device to access their cloud desktop, and maintain productivity.

Understand Tehama’s Cloud-Based VDI Solution

Tehama works to ensure secure and compliant cloud VDI for a global workforce. Leveraging a global workforce is riddled with security risks: from abuse of privileged credentials and data theft to legacy hardware and infrastructure constraints. Tehama mitigates these risks by establishing a secure perimeter around cloud workspaces and corporate data. Benefits of partnering with Tehama include:

Onboard global teams in 60 minutes

Teams can rapidly build, scale up and down end-user compute environments which are securely connected to corporate networks for performing development and IT service delivery. Managers can control access to corporate network assets with zero-trust application-level precision. Tehama’s elastic pricing model provides more flexibility to scale up and down during peak and troughs or during seasonal periods for better cost management.

Increase endpoint device security

Organizations can eliminate the need for dedicated hardware and remove the fear of endpoint devices being compromised or stolen. Teams can eliminate the risk of data loss, and at the same time achieve far greater levels of business agility. Using Tehama, scalable end-user computing provides developers with access to a broad range of hardware compute platforms and higher grade virtual desktops which outperform the compute resources of typical laptops.

Workforce Productivity and Experience

Improve user experience and reduce downtime with increased productivity from simple and fast desktop provisioning and user onboarding, to flexible work strategies. Tehama provides a unique user experience that improves performance, graphics, and overall desktop behavior

Meet Regulatory requirements

With Tehama, teams have the ability to gain immediate access to development environments having high regulatory compliance requirements without building out costly compliant infrastructure and business processes. Organizations can leverage a SOC 2 Type II end-user compute environment and achieve and maintain regulatory compliance requirements for banking, financial services, insurance, and government enterprises.

An Optimized Future with Tehama

Tehama adds a level of predictability with cloud infrastructure, virtual rooms and virtual desktops, getting remote employees online almost immediately. Tehama’s built-in SOC 2 Type II controls significantly reduce the risk of malware intrusion into corporate networks from remote devices and eliminates the potential of privileged credential theft and lateral network movement associated with VPN access.

Connect with Tehama to learn how Tehama’s solutions can benefit the health of your organization. Contact us today and begin building a secure, sustainable remote workforce that scales – in minutes, not months.

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