Desktop as a Service - a New and Innovative Technology

Desktop as a Service is a new and innovative technology that could change the way small to medium sized organizations do business using cloud technology. Bothelho stated that desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a cloud service in which the back-end of a virtual desktop infrastructure is hosted by a cloud service provider (Bothelho, 2013). Currently employees go to an office and have to log into a server and use many different devices provided by the employer. Brick said, “With DaaS that is all about to change. Employees can log in from the location of their choice, on the device they prefer, with unprecedented security and capacity for collaboration” (Brick, 2013).

To first understand what Desktop as a Service is, we need to understand cloud computing and virtual desktop infrastructure. Griffith stated that in the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive (Griffith, 2015). Metaphorically speaking the cloud is servers accessed via the Internet. What is on the other side of the connection is the unknown. Griffith stated that the end result is the same: with an online connection, cloud computing can be done anywhere, anytime (Griffith, 2015). Harbaugh said, “Virtual desktop infrastructure utilizes server hardware to run desktop operating systems and application software inside a virtual machine” (Harbaugh, 2012). This will allow users the option to access their desktop remotely from any number of devices; virtual desktop infrastructure would even allow access to smart phones and tablets due to the interface and the processing being done by the virtual machine, not the device you are accessing it on. As stated in Why Desktops as a Service, “Virtual desktop technology requires a lot of new physical data center infrastructure and software just to deliver virtual desktops” (Why Desktops as a Service (DaaS). (n.d.).

Desktop as a Service takes that cost and knocks it down by combining the two and allows organizations to install applications into a cloud and have it synchronized with other information over the web. DaaS is accessible anywhere at any time. Desktop as a Service will provide a firm with a new infrastructure for all of their computer systems and allowing for some cost cutting measures. It will be bale to cut costs on office computers and software. It will also make the lives of the IT department much more simplified or even be able to be cut from the organization’s budget. Harbaugh said that if you install OS and application software updates and patches to the one image, and every desktop system using that image is automatically updated and patched (Harbaugh, 2012). Every device that is connected to the DaaS can use the same programs and files; this can greatly reduce the administrative and support costs for the company. Roob said that a small business owner doesn't need to invest in IT infrastructure because a DaaS provider already has it set up using economies of scale that small businesses can never achieve, said Brian Duckering, senior director of product marketing at NComputing (Robb, 2014). It will also cut down on the need to update each computer in the office or organization; once the DaaS is updated, everyone working from that DaaS benefits from the update. Also, reducing the cost for the hardware due to the fact that everything will remain in the cloud. Harbaugh said, “Instead of buying a raft of PCs that will be scattered around the office--or even outside the office if you’re supporting a mobile workforce or employees who work remotely--you'll acquire one premium system with redundant power supplies, a UPS, high-performance storage, and high-bandwidth networking that will deliver capable hardware to all users equally” (Harbaugh, 2012). In Why Desktops as a Service it is stated that this leaves many of the headaches and performance issues with the cloud provider. Optimal performance is maintained because you’re leveraging a global network of data centers (Why Desktops as a Service (DaaS). (n.d.)). The use of DaaS would meet the demand for the employees to work on different devices such as a tablet, smart phone or any other non-standard device. It will also allow employees to work from remote locations as long as there is an Internet connection. Brick said, “Desktop-as-a-Service