App streaming or full desktop-as-a-service? Here’s how to tell which platform will best suit your remote-access needs.
More and more businesses are transitioning to cloud-based platforms that offer fully managed solutions to streamline business processes. With more employees than ever working from home or working virtually from anywhere, businesses like yours are leveraging these completely scalable options for any number of desktops or users.
Many cloud platforms allow businesses to take advantage of a pay-as-you-go model, paying for these services by the day or even by the hour. It can be tricky, though, to know which platform will work best for your business, provide the most value, and keep your teams productive.
Many of these platforms seem the same on the surface, such as Amazon WorkSpaces and Amazon AppStream 2.0. They are, however, best used in specific cases. Let’s look at how these AWS tools differ and the use cases each one supports.
Amazon WorkSpaces
Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed Desktop as a Service (DaaS) solution that runs on AWS. Amazon WorkSpaces can be provisioned on Windows or Linux desktops very quickly and offers the scalability to set up teams across the globe with the software, apps, and data access they need to get the job done.
Amazon WorkSpaces can help your teams accomplish anything from simple data entry and word processing tasks to much more complicated and complex tasks that require specialized software and significant computing power. Just about anything a business needs can be provisioned on your teams’ remote desktops for easy access from anywhere in the world.
One of the advantages of Amazon WorkSpaces over an in-house remote desktop setup is that you won’t be paying for a lot of extra money for licenses that are unneeded by certain users. Each user can be given access to only the tools that address the needs of their role and group. This focused access improves workflows and saves money.
With uncertainty as to what the future of work may look like and many teams working remotely for the foreseeable future, Amazon WorkSpaces is a great solution for making your office truly remote-accessible. It’s the solution you need to keep teams working together, even when they are apart.
Your business also benefits from Amazon WorkSpaces’ enterprise-level security for data and applications. The scalability, security, and customization of Amazon WorkSpaces have kept it at the top of the category for DaaS since the inception of the platform.
If you are looking for a cloud-based desktop environment to keep remote teams productive in this difficult world, Amazon WorkSpaces will provide exactly what you need, where you need it, without paying for extras. This is a great choice for companies that need a full-blown virtual desktop environment with instances that can be customized and accessed from anywhere using nothing more than a web browser.
Amazon AppStream 2.0
AppStream 2.0, as the name implies, is used to stream applications. Your legacy applications are centrally managed on AppStream 2.0 and securely delivered to any computer or user worldwide. The scalability of AppStream 2.0 means you will never have infrastructure issues such as acquiring, provisioning, or operating legacy hardware as you add new users.
AppStream 2.0 allows your legacy applications to be streamed to any HTML5 browser without the need for plug-ins. For example, educational institutions can provide each student with the applications they need for any class or program of study. Software vendors can leverage AppStream 2.0 to send application demos, trials, or training information, all with no downloads or installations by the end-user.
Amazon AppStream 2.0 is more flexible than Amazon WorkSpaces when it comes to configuration, making it a better option for those looking to simply stream legacy applications rather than launch a complete virtual desktop environment. It also provides a more streamlined user experience than the full DaaS environment.
Is the DaaS or app streaming right for you?
If you are looking for a way to stream legacy applications as you finalize a transition to the cloud, AppStream 2.0 may be just the tool you need to make that happen.
If you are looking for a fully managed cloud-based desktop (DaaS) environment, Amazon WorkSpaces offers the flexibility your team needs to complete their work while offering cost savings and top-level scalability.
If you are unsure which solution best fits your needs, contact CloudHesvie today. Our staff will walk you through the options and show how that transition would look in your IT environment.
