There is a showdown between VPN and VDI

November 24, 2022

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Whether using VDI or VPN, knowing the differences between them can help businesses optimize their current environment and allow end users to achieve more anytime, anywhere.

In 2011, the Telework Research Network estimated that 3,1 million persons in the United States were working remotely, and this number does not account for those who are self-employed or who perform unpaid work. As a whole, the number of people working from home rose by 73% between 2005 and 2011.

Terminal services and other third-party programs have made it possible for employees to access their company’s internal network from home for many years. Most studies suggest that it also boosts worker productivity, lowers traffic and congestion in cities, and allows workers more time to spend with their family.

Tech-wise, however, telecommuting is more challenging. Access to private networks, such as VPNs, has expanded as a viable alternative throughout the years (VPNs). However, virtual desktop infrastructures, a new type of virtualization, have expanded the industry (VDIs). In practice, this implies that companies frequently need to weigh the pros and downsides of different network configurations. For more context on how to approach that choice, please read on. (For further context, see Virtual Networking: What’s All the Hype?)

Explain the concept of a VDI, or a virtual desktop environment.
To run a virtual desktop on top of a data center, virtualization techniques like virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) are employed. Using a hypervisor and a server-based computing approach, it provides access to virtual desktops. Virtual desktops enable users to access their software from a remote server rather than installing it on their local workstation. Because of this, you may use the same desktop image for your virtual desktop regardless of where you physically save your data.

VPN stands for “virtual private network,” which begs the question: what is it?

Accessing internal networks from off-premises is another feature made possible by VPNs. To do this, the computer attempting to remote enter the network must first authenticate with a VPN server, which then issues an IP address to it. Through this “tunnel,” an external computer can connect to a network and gain access to internal business resources.

Why and When to Use a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

VPNs and VDIs have their advantages, but they also come with certain problems. The ability to always use the same virtual desktop picture is arguably the most appealing feature of a VDI. Eliminating the downtime often involved with setting up a workstation for a new employee is possible by assigning programs to distinct departments, each of which has access to a given image.

This consolidated method of managing desktop pictures is not restricted to software. It also has the capability of updating a system’s security measures. As an illustration, updating just one image is sufficient instead of deploying a patch using System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or Group Policy.

A unified public perception has its advantages, but it also presents certain challenges. The problems with a photograph seldom just impact the person who originally uploaded it. Further, the time-saving benefits of having a single picture are nullified if you have a single user who requires a specialized program that the rest of the users do not.

When to Use a Virtual Private Network

VPNs and VDIs can help you save a lot of money. When it comes to lowering expenses, virtual private networks (VPNs) shine because they allow businesses to use the resources of an ISP and so add an effectively endless amount of capacity without requiring a correspondingly large investment in new physical facilities.

In addition, unlike virtual desktop images (VDIs), a disruption to a single VPN client will not necessarily affect the other VPN connections. This facilitates a distributed model of remote access, which may enhance user safety.

However, VPNs do not provide application remote access. VPNs can only give out IP addresses to devices within the same network. This implies that users will still have to deploy the necessary software to their distant computers. While virtual private networks (VPNs) provide an additional layer of protection for data transmissions, they may also pose a security risk since they increase the number of possible entry points into a company’s internal network. (Visit Virtual Private Network: The Branch Office Solution for more information on VPN.)

How about virtual desktop infrastructure against virtual private network?

Virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) provide convenient access to corporate applications but are prone to problems that impact many users at once. However, virtual private networks (VPNs) might introduce unwanted distractions into the workplace by allowing remote access through a more decentralized method.

There is, as with everything else in technology, no silver bullet for granting workers remote access to office spaces (although more innovations are surely in the works here). Therefore, it is the responsibility of businesses and their network administrators to identify the optimal solution.