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Comparing VDI and DaaS: Costs and Economics

Every successful organization puts great effort into making decisions that optimize economic benefits, and the choice of digital solutions is no exception. With the move to hybrid work and flexible work environments, it is more important than ever to make the right digital workspace choice, using more substantial cost and investment reviews than were required early in the pandemic, when the focus was on moving fast to support the overnight change to remote work.

This article will consider key aspects of the cost and investment equation for desktop as a service (DaaS) and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), using side-by-side comparisons. It does not aim to pick a winner but rather show how DaaS and VDI differ so that organizations can choose the option that best fits their specific needs.

First up is a side-by-side look at the initial investment required. Over the past few years, cloud and other options that require less capital investment have changed organizations’ investment calculations in many cases, but there are others where long-term capital investments in IT infrastructure can still deliver strong returns.

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Ongoing operational costs are receiving more scrutiny now that the focus of many IT teams has shifted from managing internal operations tasks to leveraging new digital systems to drive innovation.

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As this comparison shows, each option has its own investment and cost issues. The key is to examine both, considering the unique needs of your organization. In addition, an organization’s specific planning and investment models may factor in other issues. Taking an objective approach is the key to making the right decision.

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