Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a cost-effective solution for companies of all sizes, but which provider is right for your business?
Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is not an entirely new phenomenon, but it’s certainly experienced significant growth in the past few years, both in terms of technology and market share. Virtual desktops are a secure and flexible means for businesses to support a remote work staff and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) practices, but they can also be costly and time-consuming. In a DaaS framework, a provider takes care of the technical and logistical aspects of cloud desktop and app environments, and a business rents these services for less than the cost of building and maintaining them itself. We’ve combed through the many DaaS providers on the market and chosen five of the best, based on services, security, scalability, and cost. Amazon WorkSpaces is an industry leader in DaaS, with great features and pricing options for small businesses. Customers can provision Linux and Windows virtual machines, while AWS runs on Windows, macOS, Chromebook, iPad, Amazon and Android tablets, Chrome and Firefox. Both operating systems come bundled with default software like Internet Explorer, while Microsoft Office and others can be added for $15 per month. One of the biggest advantages with Amazon WorkSpaces is the flexible pricing. Businesses that are interested in trying out the services can take advantage of a free tier with two workspaces, up to 40 hours per month. There are several payment options based on disk size, number of CPUs, memory, and whether you bring your own licenses (BYOL). Bundled services can be charged monthly or even hourly, so you pay for what you use. There are no one-time fees and no commitments: you can cancel your subscription at any time. Another big name in DaaS, Citrix Managed Desktops has great hosted desktop services that are particularly well suited to a mobile workforce.
