Considering Windows Virtual Desktops (WVD) As A VDI solution? Data Protection May Be Easier Than You Think

By David Ngo

Many organizations are adopting cloud-hosted virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) like Microsoft WVD to quickly adapt to the remote worker explosion. But how do you easily back up and protect critical user and organizational data?

Moving to cloud-hosted VDI for a surge in remote work

Without a doubt, COVID-19 has accelerated  remote working and distance learning. Due to this critical need to supporting remote working and/or a transient student body, many organizations are turning to cloud-hosting virtual desktop infrastructures or Desktop as a Service (DaaS) solutions.  Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) hosted in Azure provides a standardized work environment on personally-owned and company-issued endpoint devices like desktops, laptops and mobiles.

If you’re torn between trying an on-premises VDI or moving to a cloud-hosted VDI solution, you might ask yourself how easily and quickly you need to move.  If like many organizations today, you need to implement a secure VDI solution to a burgeoning remote workforce or educating in short order, moving to a DaaS or a cloud-hosted VDI should be considered.  You’d be in good company, too. According to Gartner, cloud infrastructure solution spending will nearly double over the next two years,¹ while Allied Market Research says cloud-hosted VDI and DaaS solutions will grow by nearly 20% by 2023.²

Non-persistent VDI

Non-persistent VDI is essentially like coming into a classroom or a drop-in cubical where the workspace may be tailored to the needs of getting the work done, but nothing about it is personalized to the individual user.  Once the non-persistent session is ended, nothing is typically saved from the session.  However, non-persistent VDI can be set up to connect to a service like Microsoft Office 365 or a file share to store data.  Because these services and their data are external to the virtual desktop, changes made to them are saved and can be backed up and protected. You can protect an individual’s end user data on file shares using Metallic Core Backup and Recovery, while for  backing up Office 365 data, Metallic Office 365 Backup and Recovery is the best choice. Even if the user has a fresh, new non-persistent virtual desktop each time they log in, important changes to Microsoft Office 365 and file shares can be backed up and protected with Metallic.

Persistent VDI

The persistent VDI experience is where the state of the virtual desktop is preserved between login sessions. It will behave just like a user’s personal computer – settings can be personalized, and data can be stored on the virtual desktop itself or on a network share or cloud service like Office 365. In this configuration, if data is stored on each virtual desktop, it’s best to use Metallic Endpoint Backup and Recovery to make sure that data is protected. Of course, using Core Backup and Recovery as well as Office 365 Backup and Recovery is optimal in safeguarding all of your users’ data.

No matter which method of VDI (be it cloud-based or on-premises) your organization chooses to implement to empower the remote worker and distance learner, Metallic can assist and give you end-to-end data protection across your entire IT infrastructure – from servers, to endpoints, to virtual desktop infrastructures. The Metallic product you need may vary depending on where your data resides, but you still get the reliable backups and security you need in today’s uncertain world.  If you’re one of the many organizations deploying cloud-based VDI solutions like Microsoft WVD, or others – Metallic Endpoint Backup and Recovery can cover your physical desktops and laptops, as well as the data stored locally from your VDI, all from a single product.  And of course, Metallic also has your Microsoft WVD and Azure environment covered with Metallic Core Backup and Recovery,  while offering backup coverage for business critical data delivered through Office 365 too.

No matter which Metallic solution you use, you benefit from full encryption of data at rest and in motion, so your data remains secure, protected – and most important, recoverable.  When so much is uncertain in today’s world, with Metallic you can rest assured your data and VDI is securely backed up and protected

Learn more about how you can benefit from Metallic endpoint protection.

References

1. Gartner. IT Spending Forecast, 3Q 2019 Update: The Next Generation of Cloud. Oct 2019
2. Allied Market Research. Cloud-based VDI Market by Deployment Model (Private, Public, and Hybrid), User Type (SMEs and Large Enterprise), and End User (BFSI, Education, Healthcare, Government, IT & Telecom, and Others) – Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023. November 2017