DaaS vs. on-premises VDI: What are the advantages?

See a side by side comparison of Citrix DaaS and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

More and more organizations are making the move to the cloud. In fact, 99% of IT executives say they are moving some if not all of their systems to the cloud. If you’re a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops customer, you may be thinking of moving to a hybrid or cloud services model. So here’s the question: Would a desktop as a service (DaaS) deployment provide any real advantages compared to the on-premises deployment you already have in place? Let’s take a look.

The challenge of on-premises deployments

Hardware, space, and infrastructure are all required

On-premises deployments of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops require physical hardware, and the space and infrastructure to maintain it.
On-premises storage requires an up-front investment.

Continuous, hands-on management leaves less time for other business initiatives

IT teams need a thorough understanding of how Citrix technologies work to create the best environment for their users.
Performing manual updates can be time-consuming and cumbersome.

Top 5 benefits of desktop as a service

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1. Simplified business continuity and disaster recovery

By leveraging the power of Citrix DaaS on the public cloud of your choice, your environment is already built for redundancy in the case of an unexpected event.

2. Hybrid cloud flexibility for increased business agility

Cloud deployments are easily scalable. Whether you are undergoing a merger, acquisition, hiring a seasonal workforce, or bringing on a new team full time, you can get those users up and running in no time.

3. Fast, easy access to new features and functionality

Now, the latest features and functionality roll out automatically within the cloud console. Streamlined management of all your cloud and on-premises resources allows your teams to focus on other strategic initiatives rather than cumbersome updates.

4. Faster time to value and broader cloud service integration

A more agile and modern datacenter means your infrastructure can grow with your business. And Citrix DaaS supports any cloud and any hybrid deployment. With the flexibility of the infrastructure, IT teams can configure their environments to suit your business needs.

5. Efficient management of cloud IaaS costs and consumption

Leveraging the cloud reduces hardware costs and the maintenance costs of a physical space (such as heating and cooling). If you already have an on-premises investment, you can dynamically leverage Citrix DaaS cloud resources in tandem with the resources you already have on-premises. Additionally, with a subscription model, monthly costs are more predictable and flexible in relation to the number of users you have.

Citrix on-premises VDI vs. Citrix DaaS
deployment features

	Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Premium (on-premises)	Citrix DaaS Premium (cloud service)
Virtual applications and desktops		
HDX user experience optimization		
Optimization for Microsoft Teams		
Citrix Provisioning		
Citrix App Layering		
Advanced policy controls		
Citrix Director for monitoring		
Google Cloud support		
Cloud-based license management		
Quick deploy capabilities		
Hybrid cloud flexibility		
Autoscale		
DaaS capabilities		
Citrix Workspace experience		
Service continuity		
Web-based Citrix Studio for management		
Windows 10 multi-session		
ICA Proxy via Citrix Gateway service		
Enhanced Workspace Environment Management capabilities		

The choice is yours

Improve agility with Citrix cloud services

Leverage the resources you already
have—with room to grow