Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) - The Pros and Cons

Pros
• Reduced cost in purchasing desktop computers because thin clients often last 2-3 times longer than a desktop.

• Central management of all your desktops and control of what is being used and installed on them.

• Rapid client deployment.

• Reductions in desktop support costs.

• Reduction in electricity costs because thin client computers use only a fraction of the energy that a desktop does.

• Follows compliance with HIPAA regulations and Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

• Fewer application compatibility problems.

• Simple OS migrations.

• Greater portability and versatility- VDI allows access from almost any modern personal computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Cons
• Can be hard to maintain hardware peripherals such as printers, faxes, and modems.

• PDA sync not supported.

• Bi-directional audio and scanning are not natively supported.

• Display protocols aren’t suitable for graphic design.