Capterra Glossary
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
A VDI (or virtual desktop infrastructure) is a process that consists of using virtual machines to connect and manage virtual desktops. Through these virtual machines, employees can remotely access all of the data that they would be able to access from a desktop computer in the office. This is done by connecting the data to a server instead of directly storing it on a device, such as a laptop, cell phone, or a tablet. To access the virtual desktop, users log in using a portal, and the information is accessible on the cloud.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
SMBs that have remote workers or allow their employees to use their devices for work can reap many benefits from instituting a virtual desktop infrastructure. This allows employees to access information contained on the virtual desktop from anywhere. While this offers increased flexibility, it is also much safer because data is stored on a server instead of on a physical device that could be accessed by others if lost or stolen. As SMBs are often on a stricter budget than larger enterprises, they can also save money by eliminating the need for on-site servers.
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy