Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): What It Is and How It Works

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) takes your traditional desktop PC environment and moves it to a centralized server. This Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) approach transforms how organizations manage computing resources. Instead of running Windows or Linux on your laptop, you access that desktop over a network.

The computing happens on your data center servers, not on your device, so you can log in from a laptop, tablet, or thin client and access the same full desktop environment; you can potentially get workstation-level performance even on weak hardware.

What Is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?

Virtual desktop infrastructure VDI is a technology framework that creates virtual desktops on central servers and delivers them to users on demand. Servers in a data center host all desktops as virtual machines instead of individual PCs at each desk, and employees connect through simple endpoints like thin clients or laptops.

You can think of VDI as an evolution of remote desktop tools like Microsoft’s RDP, which connect you to one specific PC. VDI runs many desktop instances on powerful servers and distributes them to multiple users simultaneously. This centralization lets IT manage all desktops from one location, improving control and security across the organization.

What is virtual desktop infrastructure useful for? It’s great for organizations that want to simplify desktop management and support remote and hybrid work.

The virtual desktop infrastructure VDI market continues its rapid expansion. In 2024, the global VDI market reached $15.61 billion and is projected to grow to $78.03 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of 22.1%. This growth reflects the increasing demand for remote work solutions and centralized IT management across industries.

What Is an Example of a VDI?

Consider a design firm where designers use powerful software like AutoCAD or Adobe Creative Suite. Instead of buying high-end PCs for each designer, the firm sets up a VDI environment using VMware Horizon or Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. 

Each designer connects to a remote virtual desktop with all necessary software and horsepower, including graphics acceleration and memory, provided by central servers.

The designers can access these same virtual desktop infrastructure solutions from a weak home laptop or even a tablet, and still get the performance of a workstation. 

This scenario is a common, real-world example of VDI; the end-user experience is a standard desktop, but it’s delivered over the network from a centralized, virtualized data center.

How Does VDI Work?

A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) setup relies on several key software components that work together seamlessly.

Four core components power every VDI deployment:

The hypervisor slices a physical server into multiple virtual desktops. Popular options include:

•  VMware ESXi

• Microsoft Hyper-V

Both enable many isolated desktop instances to run simultaneously on powerful server hardware. To learn more, explore ‘what is server virtualization‘ and how it powers VDI.


Connection Broker: The connection broker manages connections like a traffic controller. When you log in, it authenticates your credentials, finds an available virtual desktop, and assigns you either a fresh pooled desktop or your personal persistent one.

Desktop Images: Desktop images serve different purposes depending on deployment type. Non-persistent (pooled) setups give all users identical desktops from a golden image, while persistent deployments provide each person with a unique desktop image that’s saved between sessions.

Connection Protocols: Modern protocols handle communication between your device and the server. When you move your mouse or type, those inputs travel over the network, and the server sends back screen updates. RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), VMware Blast Extreme, and Citrix HDX handle data transfer efficiently across various network conditions.

VMware Blast Extreme has become the standard for VMware Horizon setups since it offers H.264 video encoding optimized for mobile devices and bandwidth efficiency. Plus, performance stays smooth even when users connect from locations with limited internet speeds.

How a Session Works: When someone launches their session, the connection broker checks their credentials and finds an available virtual desktop. If needed, it creates one from the desktop pool, then connects their client to that virtual machine.

From the user’s side, they’re simply logging into a normal PC; everything actually runs on a remote server.

Hypervisor Capabilities: The hypervisor keeps multiple desktop VMs isolated and running smoothly. It can also leverage specialized hardware like GPUs for graphics-intensive applications, including CAD software, video editing, and 3D rendering tasks that demand substantial computational power.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can be persistent or non-persistent. We’ll cover these types next, but the key takeaway is that VDI’s flexibility allows it to work in different modes depending on the need.

What are the Types of VDI?

When implementing a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) setup, there are two main types of VDI deployments: persistent and non-persistent. To understand what is VDI desktop in both models, let’s break down how each approach works. We’ll also look at when to use them.

Persistent (Personal Desktops): In a persistent setup, each person connects to the same desktop VM every time. They can customize it completely, including saving files, changing settings, and installing apps. 

It’s called “persistent” because the desktop state persists between sessions. This approach suits power users, developers, and anyone who needs a personalized computing environment. It remembers their preferences and also maintains their workflow exactly as they left it.

Non-Persistent (Pooled Desktops): In a non-persistent model, people get a fresh, standardized desktop each time they log in. Any changes disappear when they log off, so the system creates a new desktop from the master image for each session.

Both types can coexist in a deployment. Some organizations give power users persistent desktops while providing non-persistent ones for temporary staff or kiosk stations. The choice depends on whether they need flexibility or ease of management and resource use.

What are Cloud-Native Virtualized Desktops?

So far, we’ve explained VDI in the context of a company’s own data center. However, many modern VDI solutions are cloud-native, which means the virtual desktops run on cloud providers’ infrastructure rather than local servers. This eliminates the need to buy and maintain physical hardware yourself.

This model is often called Desktop as a Service (DaaS). In a cloud-native scenario, you don’t need to buy and maintain physical servers yourself, since the cloud provider handles all the hardware infrastructure and ongoing maintenance responsibilities. You simply define your desktop requirements and access settings.

Providers like Amazon or Microsoft host the desktops directly. Citrix DaaS manages the control layer, letting you run workloads on your preferred cloud or on-prem servers. Understanding ”what is a VPS provider” helps clarify how cloud infrastructure supports these deployments. It does so effectively and reliably.

For example, Amazon WorkSpaces and Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop are popular cloud-based offerings. As an admin, you define desktop images and access entitlements, while the cloud provider runs the VMs, scales resources, and maintains all the hardware infrastructure.

Overall, whether you run VDI on-premises or use DaaS, the concept remains the same; only the location of the servers and management responsibilities differ. These controls apply consistently regardless of where people connect from or what device they use.

What Is VDI Desktop Used for?

VDI excels in several scenarios that call for flexibility and consolidated control, which is why  VDI is used in a wide range of scenarios. Here are some of the most common use cases:

Remote Work and BYOD: Companies with remote employees or bring-your-own-device policies use VDI to give people secure access to corporate desktops from anywhere. If an employee is traveling or working from home, they can launch a VDI session effortlessly. 

They get the same office experience since all their applications, files, and settings are instantly available. When remote work expanded in recent years, organizations turned to VDI as their solution; it gave distributed workforces immediate access to corporate resources from anywhere.

Security-Sensitive Operations: Banks, healthcare providers, and government agencies use VDI to keep tight control over data and application access. This is because Virtual desktops prevent sensitive information from living on laptops that could be lost or stolen.

Simplified IT Management: VDI makes management easier for IT departments. Deploying software updates or new applications becomes efficient when you can do it once on a master image. This beats touching hundreds of individual PCs across the organization.

For example, a university lab might use VDI so that resetting all the lab machines for a new class only takes updating one master image. It reduces IT workload and keeps all deployed desktops consistent.

Contractors and Temporary Staff: When you have short-term workers or third-party contractors, VDI can quickly provision a standardized workspace for them. Each contractor gets access for their contract duration, so you skip issuing company laptops entirely.

Once they’re done, just disable their VDI access. There’s no need to retrieve hardware or worry about data lingering on a device. This simplifies offboarding processes significantly and reduces security risks associated with former contractors.

Resource-Intensive Applications: As mentioned in our design firm example, VDI can provide high-performance computing power to people who have less-powerful devices. Engineering firms, 3D animators, and scientific researchers benefit significantly when working remotely.

They can use VDI clusters with powerful CPUs and GPUs to handle heavy workloads. Then they deliver the results to lightweight client devices. This eliminates the need to purchase expensive workstations for every team member who occasionally needs high computational power.

These are just a few examples of VDI where, in large deployments, centralized management makes the biggest operational difference.

What are the Benefits of VDI?

The advantages help explain why organizations across industries are adopting Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) technology. Here are the key benefits that make a virtual desktop infrastructure or VDI an attractive solution.

Unified Management and Control: IT teams can manage all virtual desktops from a single location. Software updates, security patches, and configuration changes can be deployed to hundreds of desktops. This happens simultaneously rather than touching each machine individually.

This unified approach reduces IT workload significantly while maintaining consistency across the entire organization. Configuration drift disappears when every desktop runs from the same master images, and troubleshooting gets far simpler.

Enhanced Security: With VDI, sensitive data never leaves the data center, so even if someone’s device is lost or stolen, corporate information stays secure on the server. This consolidated approach helps organizations meet compliance requirements, particularly in regulated industries like healthcare and finance.

Cost Efficiency: While VDI requires upfront investment, it reduces long-term costs in several ways. For instance, you can extend endpoint device lifespans since processing happens on the server; older laptops can function effectively for years longer than they would running applications locally.

According to recent studies, 68% of organizations with BYOD programs report productivity gains after implementation. Plus, hardware procurement costs drop when employees use their own devices securely without compromising corporate data. 

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Virtual desktops can be quickly restored and accessed from alternate locations if the physical infrastructure fails. This capability keeps operations running even during unexpected disruptions, making VDI valuable for business continuity planning.

All that said, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) comes with challenges worth considering. 

What are the Limitations of VDI?

Learning about the answer to “what is virtual desktop infrastructure” in theory is one thing. Understanding its real-world drawbacks is equally important for making informed decisions about deployment.

High Initial Costs: Setting up a VDI deployment can be expensive at the start. You need powerful servers, reliable storage systems, networking gear, and licenses for virtualization software. This upfront investment can be a barrier, especially for small businesses.

Complex Deployment and Management: While VDI can simplify some aspects of desktop support, the infrastructure itself isn’t simple. Configuring and maintaining the hypervisors, connection brokers, and other components requires specialized expertise. Many organizations lack this expertise initially.

Network and Performance Dependence: VDI lives and dies by network performance. If people have a poor internet connection, their desktop experience will suffer. This includes laggy mouse movements, slow screen refreshes, and general frustration that impacts productivity.

Likewise, since everyone shares resources on a server, if that server is overburdened or misconfigured, all parties feel the slowdown. For graphics-heavy tasks or real-time needs, any latency can be a significant problem that disrupts workflows.

Single Point of Failure: In a traditional setup, if one employee’s PC dies, only that one person is affected. But if your VDI server or network goes down, it can knock out dozens or hundreds of virtual desktops. 

Proper redundancy and fail-safes are vital to mitigate this risk. You also need good backups and disaster recovery plans. However, these protective measures add to both the cost and complexity of the overall VDI deployment.

Licensing and Software Compatibility: Depending on the software you use, VDI might introduce licensing headaches. Some applications have licenses tied to physical hardware or individual machines, which creates complications when those machines become virtual instances instead.

Additionally, certain peripherals or specialty software that assume a direct connection to hardware might not work smoothly in a virtual setting. This can limit which applications you can successfully deploy through the VDI infrastructure.

VDI has its drawbacks, but proper planning addresses them effectively. Organizations that set up their infrastructure correctly and handle compatibility issues upfront typically find the benefits far outweigh the challenges, particularly once deployment is complete.

Start with a pilot program before committing fully, and test VDI with a small group first so you can catch performance issues and make adjustments before rolling it out across your entire organization.

Audit and Compliance: VDI platforms typically include comprehensive logging and monitoring capabilities. IT can track activities, login attempts, and data access patterns. This proves essential for compliance with regulations. These include HIPAA, GDPR, and SOX requirements.

These audit trails provide the documentation needed to demonstrate compliance during regulatory reviews. Organizations can produce detailed reports showing exactly who accessed what data and when. This satisfies auditors and reduces compliance risks significantly.

What Is the Difference Between VDI and VMware?

A frequent question covers the difference between VDI and VMware. VDI is a concept or architecture. VMware is a company that provides virtualization products based on that framework.

Choosing the Right VDI Solution

Selecting the appropriate Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution requires careful evaluation of your organization’s specific needs, existing infrastructure, and long-term goals.

Assess Your Requirements: Start by identifying your use cases and user types. Do you need persistent desktops for power users who require customization, or will non-persistent desktops work for task workers? How many users will you support initially, and what’s your growth trajectory? These basics shape your entire approach.

Consider Deployment Options: Decide between on-premises VDI, cloud-based Desktop as a Service (DaaS), or a hybrid model. On-premises gives you maximum control but requires significant infrastructure investment. Cloud solutions like Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop or Amazon WorkSpaces reduce upfront costs and simplify scaling, but introduce ongoing subscription expenses. Hybrid approaches offer flexibility but add complexity.

Evaluate Major Platforms: The market offers several established VDI solutions, each with distinct strengths. VMware Horizon (now part of Omnissa) integrates tightly with VMware infrastructure and uses Blast Extreme as its primary protocol. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops provides extensive multi-cloud support and the HDX protocol for optimized performance. Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop excels for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Performance and Protocol Considerations: Different display protocols suit different scenarios. Blast Extreme works well across various network conditions and mobile devices, while Citrix HDX excels in low-bandwidth environments. Match your VDI solution to your current hypervisor platform (VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V) for smoother implementation.

Budget and Licensing: VDI costs extend beyond initial software licensing. Factor in server hardware, storage systems, networking infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance. Some solutions charge per concurrent user, while others use per-device licensing. Calculate your total cost of ownership over a three to five-year period to make accurate comparisons.

Cloudzy’s Infrastructure for VDI Deployments

At Cloudzy, our VPS solutions provide the infrastructure foundation for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployments. We offer high-performance servers with NVMe SSD storage across 16+ global locations, plus network connections up to 40 Gbps for the fast, responsive performance VDI demands.

You get full root access, 99.95% uptime, and 24/7 technical support from our team. Our infrastructure supports both Linux and Windows VDI environments with the reliability your virtual desktop infrastructure VDI deployment demands.

Final Thoughts

The virtual desktop infrastructure definition is simple: it decouples desktop computing from physical devices, giving users freedom and IT admins more control. 

VDI changes desktop management by moving everything to central servers. This approach delivers efficiency and security that traditional PCs can’t match while supporting distributed workforces.

That said, success with VDI comes from choosing the right type (persistent vs non-persistent), the right deployment model (on-premises vs cloud), and the right software stack (there are plenty of virtual desktop infrastructure solutions out there). It also requires careful planning to avoid the common pitfalls like network bottlenecks or cost overruns.

If executed well, VDI provides a flexible, scalable way to deliver desktops. Employees can work from virtually anywhere, on virtually any device, without feeling a difference in their computing experience.

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