How can you find the most cost-effective virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platforms for your business?

My approach would be the following steps: 1. Determine the number of users and their specific application needs. 2. Conduct performance testing to gauge necessary computing power, storage, and network bandwidth. 3. Choose platforms with flexible scaling options and ensure easy integration with existing IT infrastructure. 4. Review Vendor Support and SLAs: Ensure strong support and Service Level Agreements. 5. Examine Security Features: Evaluate security measures like data encryption and access controls. 6. Analyze TCO: Include setup, maintenance, and hidden costs. 7. Seek User Feedback: Gather practical insights from employees. 8. Check Compatibility: Ensure integration with current software and hardware.

To find the most cost-effective VDI platforms for your business, start by assessing your needs 👀. Determine how many users you have, what applications they're using, and what level of performance is required. This will help you understand what kind of VDI solution you need. Don’t forget to consider future growth because scalability is key for cost-effectiveness 📈. Choose a platform that can adapt to changing demands to avoid costly overhauls down the line.

En un mundo tan cambiante como en el que hoy vivimos un tema que no debe perderse de vista es que no todo es para todos, que significa esto? que no obstante la IA avance brindando mas y mejores herramientas (plataformas) lo importante es evaluar el tipo de negocio y sus necesidades, muchas veces "menos es mas"

Following are some options of DaaS: Citrix DaaS: The most well known, offers flexible desktop virtualization. Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): A cloud-powered Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution that enables seamless access to desktops and applications from anywhere. Google Compute Engine: Ideal for large-scale operations, but lacks application virtualization. V2 Cloud: Suited for small businesses VMWare Horizon: Great for centralized desktop virtualization Oracle VM VirtualBox: A free option, especially useful for developers Amazon WorkSpaces: Provides fully managed cloud desktops, Remember to assess your business needs, scalability, and security requirements when choosing the right VDI platform!

Before selecting a VDI platform, it’s essential to thoroughly assess your business needs. This involves considering the user count, application types, and performance requirements to gauge the necessary scale and scope of the VDI solution. Additionally, factor in potential future growth. Opting for a scalable platform can significantly enhance cost effectiveness by adapting to changes without necessitating costly upgrades, ensuring the infrastructure can grow with your business needs…

From my perspective I always engage in such discussion with a ‘*project appraisal*’ methodology. This speaks to the fundamentals of financial analysis, which is directly related to cost planning in this case. It’s always better to be open minded about such topics to derive the maximum value out of them. It’s also crucial to understand the importance of control and data management each VDI solution holds. Is it always about cost? Solution A: $50 per user across board but poor data ethics. Solution B: $100 per user across board with detailed adherence to data ethics. Which solution works best?

Calculating the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for a VDI platform is crucial in finding the most cost-effective solution for your business. TCO encompasses both upfront and ongoing costs, including licensing fees, hardware investments, and deployment expenses. Additionally, it accounts for subscription or usage-based fees, maintenance and support costs, and infrastructure management expenses over time. Hidden costs, such as potential downtime, training requirements, and customization efforts, should also be considered. By evaluating these factors, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial implications and make an informed decision on the most cost-efficient VDI platform that meets your business needs.

Cost comparison is critical. Look beyond the initial setup costs and consider ongoing expenses such as licensing, maintenance, support, and scalability. Some platforms may offer lower upfront costs but higher long-term expenses. Calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a comprehensive understanding.

the process of comparing the price of different products or services: We carried out a cost comparison of the different approaches.

When comparing costs, also take into consideration any additional costs like cost of new equipment and compatibility of existing equipment. Also look at the projection of the new platforms over a 5 year period to understand what the financial impact will be in the long run. You must also look at scaling and growing over time as some vendors will sell features that you may not need immediately.

Choose VDI Features Wisely using my R.E.S.E.T. approach. Roles (R): Align features with user needs (office workers vs. designers). Expectations (E): Consider ongoing support costs for complex features. Scalability (S): Choose features that scale with future growth (avoid vendor lock-in). Evaluation (E): Test if features meet your needs during the pilot & avoid bloatware. Timeline & Budget (T): Prioritise features & factor in costs for additional functionalities. By applying my R.E.S.E.T. approach, you can optimise VDI costs by selecting features that deliver value.

A feature set defines the features and their attributes (such as type, cardinality, etc), including constraints that must be enforced amongst features.

Another crucial aspect related to UX in my view is the flexibility and customization capabilities of the VDI platform. A cost-effective solution should allow for easy customization to meet the unique needs of different user groups within your organization. Customizable settings and configurations enable IT departments to tailor the virtual desktops to specific workflows, enhancing user satisfaction and productivity. Therefore, evaluating the platform’s ability to adapt to your specific business processes is essential for ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience.

A user experience test is also called a usability test, which is used to evaluate the user-friendliness of an application. The idea behind implementing Usability testing is to evaluate the ease and flexibility of using the application from the user's perspective.

Another key area to consider is the cost of data especially with cloud-based offerings, investing in the right bandwidth will affect the user experience.

Más allá de todos los detalles mencionados; lo fundamental sería claridad en lo que se quiere llegar, que se necesita tener, con cuánta espalda se cuenta y mucha actitud de retro alimentación más resiliencia para no morir en el intento. Gracias por compartir Marta Ramos Córdoba Argentina

A deployment model here is a model that imports (i.e., reuses) the application and platform model fragments and then simply adds the desired deployment relationships between them.

In all aspect of deployment, try to build a system that is redundant and will allow the business to operate with as little downtime as possible.

It is best practice to invest in local resources for support. Train key service staff and get them certified on the product you choose. Most vendors support will rely on knowledgeable service staff.

We should consider the full cost of ownership. Subscription offer flexibility, while one-time licenses can save money over time. Pay-as-you-go models are ideal for ensuring we only pay for what we use. We should scrutinize infrastructure costs, licensing fees, and maintenance and support expenses. Leveraging free trials allows us to test platforms thoroughly before committing, while negotiating volume discounts offers can further reduce costs. Long-term commitments should come with financial benefits, ensuring the VDI platform we choose is both tailored to our needs and fairly priced. By carefully evaluating these factors and making informed decisions, we can secure the technology that supports our growth efficiently and cost-effectively.

Para encontrar a infraestrutura de área de trabalho virtual mais econômica, avalie o número de usuários e requisitos de desempenho (ex: 20 usuários com 1GB RAM cada), compare provedores, como Amazon e Microsoft, verifique modelos de preços, considere custos adicionais (ex: licenças de software, suporte técnico), realize testes piloto de um mês, busque soluções escaláveis, otimize recursos com monitoramento, e garanta segurança e conformidade conforme requisitos legais.