Windows Virtual Desktop vs virtual machine

Remote Desktop Services [RDS] is the offering of Microsoft for building virtualization solutions for every end customer need, including delivering individual virtualized applications, providing secure mobile and remote desktop access for your users whom infrastructure may rely on physical machines or virtual machines in cloud.

Depending on your environment and preferences, you may set up the RDS solution for Session-Based Virtualization, as a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure [VDI], or as a combination of the two:

• Session-based virtualization:Leverage the compute power ofWindows Server to provide a cost-effective multi-session environment to drive your users' everyday workloads.
• VDI:LeverageWindows Clientto provide the high performance, app compatibility, and familiarity that your users have come to expect of theirWindows Desktop experience.

Azure Windows Virtual Desktop is a cloud offering from Microsoft that allow its users to virtualize desktop and apps.

Here's what you can do when you run Windows Virtual Desktop on Azure:

• Set up a multi-sessionWindows 10deployment that delivers a fullWindows 10 with scalability
• Virtualize Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and optimize it to run in multi-user virtual scenarios
• ProvideWindows 7virtual desktops with freeExtended Security Updates
  
• Bring your existingRemote Desktop Services [RDS]andWindows Server desktops and apps to any computer
  
• Virtualize both desktops and apps
  
• ManageWindows 10,Windows Server, andWindows 7 desktops and apps with a unified management experience

For the comparison of the concerning virtual solutions, well be segmenting it into four sections:

• Features comparison ofRemote Desktop ServicesvsAzure Windows Virtual Desktop
• Management ofMicrosoft Remote Desktop ServicesvsWVD
• Cost ofRDSvsWVD
  
• Performance ofRDSvsWVD
  
• Use case scenarios ofRDSvsWVD

Features RDS[Hosted in Azure using Virtual Machines] Azure WVD Operating System.

The management of cost and infrastructure includes installing roles, configuring the complete environment, patching of the servers etc. and no doubt, the management of a solution comes with its workload and cost. The below are the given details about the management of the two.

The cost calculations provided below in the table has been made keeping the following considerations in mind:

• Number of users utilizing the environment = round about 16users
• Having the same set of features and experience excluding the obvious limitations that come with the solution itself

Performance is significantly improved for WVD which also comes with the support of over the web experience for remote desktop sessions.

The most common use case scenarios that one would come up with and how good they are tackled by the two concerned solution.

It really depends on ones environment needs. Some of the factors which may affect your decision would be:

• AnRDSenvironment is already in place and the license required for them have just been renewed, following the approach if it ain't broke, don't fix it would seem more appealing to you
• If a new virtual environment to be setup,WVD being the latest technology with less workload and high scalability and very minimal downtime would be a more interesting option for you
• If usingOffice 365is a must, bundling it withWVDwithMicrosoft 365 Subscription, even switching from already deployedRDS environments would be a huge cost saver for you
  
• If keeping the access of your environment infrastructure only to you isnt a big consideration,WVD would prove to be a better choice

Hope the comparison provided and the considerations while choosing between the two would prove to help you deciding your next big step for your virtual environment.Book a strategy call with us now to get started!