This blog is focused on secure delivery of user workspaces to unmanaged or untrusted devices. These can be any of the 5 billion PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android phones, etc. Unmanaged/untrusted devices occur in scenarios where IT either cannot manage the endpoint (BYO, contractor, M&A, etc.), or cannot for compliance reasons deliver data to the end point (Hospital, Financial Services, Government, etc.).
Until recently, VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) was the most widely used tool to deliver virtual apps and desktops to unmanaged devices. VDI was expensive, and because it was focused on delivering Windows-based applications and desktops, was mostly confined to large form factor end points. The user experience was not mobile form factor friendly.
80% Lower Cost with DaaS, but only for Desktop Form Factors
As DaaS (Desktop as a Service) has become more popular with solutions like Microsoft AVD, Microsoft Windows 365, Amazon WorkSpaces, Workspot, Dizzion, etc. the cost aspect of VDI has been fundamentally altered. For on-premises VDI deployments, IT was forced to deploy for peak load, wherein most of the infrastructure was under-utilized through the rest of the day and almost idle during nights and weekends. According to various studies the overall data center utilization is 15% on average. So 85% of the data center sits idle. With DaaS, IT can take advantage of just-in-time and just-enough consumption models, and match capacity to usage, thereby significantly increasing the utilization rates and reducing overall cost. However, DaaS does not at all change the user experience limitations of VDI – it is still unsuitable for mobile devices.
95% Lower Cost with Enterprise Browser, great for all form factors, but only for Web Apps
More recently Enterprise Browser solutions like Island, Talon, Workspot and others, have created a new method to securely deliver applications to any unmanaged device. An enterprise browser eliminates most of the infrastructure needed for VDI and thereby significantly reduces cost. An enterprise browser enables reactive application UI, and enables great mobile user experiences, in addition to great desktop user experiences. However, enterprise browsers only work for web applications. If the user needs to access either a Windows apps, or the full Windows desktop, the enterprise browser is not sufficient.
Use Both – Enterprise Browser for Email/Collaboration, DaaS for Everything Else
Email and collaboration are the business applications users use most frequently. And we do this mostly from a mobile phone. In a pure VDI/DaaS world, the end user will need to launch a full desktop, likely from a large form factor device in order to check email, or join a meeting. In addition to the obvious back to the 90s workflow to check email, this also increases the cost of the DaaS solution, because the desktop has to be fired up for these tasks. What if we were able to take email and collaboration and deliver as web applications using an enterprise browser? These applications are reactive applications and would be completely usable on any mobile device, as well as large form factor devices. And if the user needed to access the full desktop, they could fire up their virtual desktop.
Unified Enterprise Browser & DaaS Optimizes Both Cost and User Experience
A unified enterprise browser and DaaS solution will optimize user experience across all form factors. On mobile devices, use the enterprise browser capabilities to check email or join a meeting. For bigger tasks, like editing a document, use DaaS, and pay for computing only when the desktop is being used. Best of both worlds.
