Data as a Service – Everything You Need to Know

As the volume of data that businesses encounter increases, so does the necessity for efficient data governance. For data management, many enterprises are turning to cloud service providers. In this environment, Data as a Service, also known as DaaS, is becoming an indispensable instrument for data integration, data storage, and data analytics management.

Data as a Service is the latest buzzword, promising to deliver ready-made data sets to organizations looking for ready-to-use business systems.

While it has been around for a few years now, it has recently reached a tipping point with far more high-profile services becoming available. It’s tempting for companies to just sign up for DaaS, ditch their data team, and never look back.

What is Data as a Service?

Data as a Service is a cloud-based platform that provides companies with the necessary tools to manage their data. It’s a subscription-based model that allows users to access unlimited resources at an affordable cost.

The global market for Data as a Service is anticipated to reach a revenue of 10.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, representing a steady increase over the following years. DaaS uses cloud computing technologies to provide data-related services such as storage, integration, and processing. ~Statisita

There are two types of desktops available in DaaS:

• Non-persistent desktops are temporary, and you can delete them at any time. They will also automatically be deleted when the lease period expires, usually around 15 minutes.
• Persistent desktops are always available and cannot be deleted by users. You can only delete a persistent desktop if it has been idle for more than 24 hours or if it has become inactive, for example, during a reboot.

Use Cases for Data as a Service

Data as a Service is a niche solution offering the ability to analyze data without worrying about the infrastructure. It can be used for many different purposes, including:

• Benchmarking – comparing your company to others within the same industry or across different industries.
• Business intelligence – using data to make better business decisions, including predictive analytics and reporting.
• Data marketplaces – buying and selling data, such as government datasets, corporate databases, and social media streams.

What are the Benefits of Data as a Service?

Data as a Service can help your business by providing a wide range of benefits, including:

Improved Accessibility

The first benefit that DaaS offers is improved accessibility. This means that users can access their data anywhere, regardless of location or device type.

Improved Scalability and Security Posture

One of the most significant advantages is its scalability. You only pay for what you use, whether it’s storage space or processing power, so there’s no need to buy extra servers or upgrade equipment every time your business grows (or shrinks). This helps to keep costs down while ensuring that your IT infrastructure remains secure and reliable.

Lower Operating Costs

Another essential benefit is lower operating costs. This is because you don’t need to worry about maintaining your own data center or ensuring its security and compliance with regulations. Instead, you can focus on your core activities while IT experts handle all the other tasks related to managing your virtual desktops and applications.

Increased Agility

Cloud-based data access provides an affordable option for businesses that want to take advantage of new technologies without investing in hardware or software. This allows them to quickly adapt to changes in their business environment and respond more rapidly to market demands.

Improved Business Intelligence

Data is the foundation of a successful business, but accessing it can be challenging when multiple applications are involved. Cloud-based DaaS integrates your company’s enterprise applications into one seamless interface, allowing users to view all relevant information from one place. This enables faster decision-making across multiple departments and improves operational efficiencies by eliminating duplicate workflows and manual processes.

Higher Workstation Lifetime Value

Another benefit is a higher Workstation Lifetime Value (WLV). WLV refers to how long a computer will last before it needs repairing or replacement; this value increases when fewer parts are needed because they have been replaced by software only or, in this case, virtual machines. The longer a computer lasts before needing repair or replacement, the more money an organization will save in the long run.

Final Words

In the end, businesses can benefit from Data as a Service in several ways. Query response times are sped up, which is a massive benefit for reporting on a business. There’s also more flexibility in how data sets can be structured and processed, making it easier for organizations to work toward their goals and move faster as they do so.

Some enterprises already use Data as a Service to improve data integration and governance, speed up the process of extracting insights from data, and do so more efficiently. These companies can then use better data governance and integrity to maintain a competitive advantage over rivals and expedite internal processes.

Protected Harbor makes it simple to use cloud-based data management solutions and on-premises infrastructure (if needed) to gather, regulate, transform, and distribute trusted data. Additionally, it provides the fastest, most secure, and most inexpensive data solutions with the most flexibility for creating a cloud-based data solution customized to your organization’s needs.  Consumers can choose which particular data products they employ or just embrace the complete platform all at once.

Try Protected Harbor today and use a dependable, secure cloud-based data solution that operates at your organization’s speed.

What are DaaS providers?

DaaS is short for Desktop as a Service. It’s a cloud-based computing solution that gives you access to your desktop and remote working via the internet, regardless of where you are. As a result, third-party hosts provide one sort of desktop virtualization. A virtual desktop or hosted desktop service is another name for DaaS.

DaaS Providers

If you’re diving into cloud services to deliver your applications, a growing proportion of these apps may be hosted in the cloud. When your application needs storage, networking, and computing resources, you can host it yourself or with a service provider. But you might want to consider a third option: a DaaS provider.

DaaS providers allow on-demand access to infrastructure and app environments from a single provider, with lower costs than buying your own servers. They also provide services like load balancing, high availability, and disaster recovery if needed. In basic terms, DaaS service providers are organizations that provide desktop virtualization services as per your needs.

Why should you consider using a DaaS provider?

Data centers are a necessity in today’s digital world. But, with so many options and daas offerings, and different features, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. However, it is not hard to find the right one once you know what you want.

It can offer increased security for your managed desktop, servers and ensure your business continuity is never compromised. They can provide you with multi-factor authentication, 24/7 support, and the facilities to install a disaster recovery plan on-site. Many data centers have built-in backup power systems to keep your network running smoothly at any time of day.

Desktop as a service (DaaS) providers offer a wide range of hosted desktop solutions. Many can provide turnkey virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) implementations that support multiple users, but some also offer single-user desktops. Some providers offer additional services and management options, while others provide only essential software.

There are many reasons to consider using a DaaS provider:

• They can allow IT to focus on more strategic projects by taking over day-to-day tasks such as application and OS updates and patches.
• They can simplify the deployment of new desktops by reducing the need for manual configuration.
• They can reduce hardware costs through thin clients or zero clients.
• They can enable BYOD policies by allowing users to access their desktops from any device with an internet connection.

What are some of the benefits of using a DaaS provider?

There are numerous benefits of daas, making it an ideal solution for businesses. By adopting DaaS offerings and cloud desktop services, companies can enjoy improved scalability, enhanced data security, and simplified IT management. With DaaS solutions, businesses can seamlessly provide their workforce with flexible and secure desktop environments, reducing operational overhead and ensuring remote accessibility across various devices.

The most obvious benefit of a DaaS provider is the flexibility it allows your business. This can be particularly advantageous if you need to hire new staff quickly. You can add more desktops and operating systems whenever needed and remove them at short notice.

When you use a DaaS solution, you only pay for what you use, so there’s no need to worry about capital expenditure or over-provisioning.

The fact that desktops and operating systems are hosted offsite and accessed over the internet makes it easy for employees to work from anywhere — a definite plus in an era when remote working and cloud computing is becoming increasingly common.

Another benefit of DaaS solutions such as citrix virtual apps is that they’re easy for IT teams to manage, as the provider does all the work. The only maintenance required on your part is to keep client machines up to date and running smoothly.

Setting up a desktop virtualization solution using traditional methods can be expensive, so you may save money by using a service DaaS provider instead.

Who are the big players in the market?

Stability, security, mobility, and multi-factor authentication are all features to look for in a DaaS service provider. The following is a list of the Top Desktop as a Service (DaaS) providers in 2021:

• Amazon Web Services – workspaces
• Microsoft Azure – Windows Virtual Desktop
• Protected Harbor Desktop
• Citrix Managed Desktops
• VMware Horizon Cloud
• Cloudalize- DaaS

How to choose the best desktop as a service solution

Choosing the right managed desktop solution can be difficult. First, you should assess your business needs when deciding on the right DaaS platform. Consider whether you’re looking for a secure virtual desktop infrastructure vdi solution or need help with end-user support and remote working. Second, look into the solution’s scalability and ensure it fits your current and future IT requirements.

Finally, research the DaaS platform provider’s pricing structure and customer service to ensure that you get the best value for your budget. With this in mind, you should have no trouble finding the perfect desktop-as-a-service solution for your business so that you can leverage all benefits of daas.

Conclusion

Any of the players named above will not let you down. All of them are excellent DaaS providers. Ultimately, it comes down to which cloud services best satisfies your needs while focusing on the cost savings.

When you’re short on time and need to enable a vast workforce, it’s challenging to examine every DaaS service provider access and make an informed decision.

We leverage a unified data center in a DaaS solution like Protected Harbor Desktop to deliver desktop virtualization services to end-users over the internet, on their preferred device, and at their preferred time, and regular snapshots and incremental backups keep your essential data safe.

Protected Desktop is a cloud-based virtual desktop that provides a wholly virtualized Windows environment. Your company will incorporate highly secure with integrated multi-factor authentication and productive applications within DaaS by utilizing one of the most recent operating systems (OS). With our on-demand recovery strategy, we monitor your applications for a warning indication that may require proactive action.

Protected Harbor alleviates the problems that come with traditional, legacy IT systems. Another significant benefit of our high-quality DaaS solution is that it allows you to extend the life of your endpoint devices that would otherwise be obsolete. Set up your desktop; click.

Learn the Fundamentals

After the inception of the cloud in the world of technology in 2006, we saw a rise in the number of providers delivering ascendable, on-demand customizable applications for personal and professional needs. Identified nowadays as cloud computing, in most basic terms it is the delivery of IT services through the Internet including software, servers, networking, and data storage. These service providers differentiated themselves according to the kinds of services they offered, such as:

• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Cloud computing enabled an easily customizable model of strong computing power, lower service prices, larger accessibility, and convenience, in addition to the newest IT security. This motivated a large number of small and medium-sized firms to begin using cloud-based apps to perform specific tasks in their businesses.
The Cloud computing world can be a confusing place for a business, should they use DAAS, SAAS, PAAS, or something else.  As a first step we will explain each service and what is it best used for.

SaaS

SaaS or Software as a service is actually a cloud-based version of one piece of a software package (or a software package) that’s delivered to final users via the Internet. The final user or consumer does not own the app, also it is not stored on the user’s device. The consumer gets access to the application via a subscription model and generally pays for the licensing of the application.

SaaS software is simple to manage and can be used as long as one has a device with an active internet connection. One benefit is that end-users on SaaS platform do not have to worry about the frequent upgrades to the program as this is handled by the cloud hosting service provider.

DaaS

DaaS or Desktop as a service, is a subscription model service that enables businesses with efficient virtual desktops or RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Licensed users will have access to their own applications and files anyplace and at any time. Nearly any application you are already using or intend to use can be integrated into a DaaS model. DaaS provides you any level of flexibility your little, medium, or enterprise-level business requires while still permitting you to take care of the management of your information and desktop.

In the DaaS model, the service provider is accountable for the storage, backup, and security of the information. Only a thin client is required to get the service. These clients are the end-user computer terminal only used to provide a graphical user interface to the user. Subscriber hardware cost is a minimum and accessing the virtual desktop is possible at the user’s location, device, and network.F

PaaS

Platform as a service is an application platform where a third-party provider allows a customer to use the hardware and software tools over the internet without the hassle of building and maintaining the infrastructure required to develop the application.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a service is a cloud computing service where the infrastructure is hosted by enterprises on a public and private cloud and is rented or leased saving the maintaining and operating costs of the servers.

What’s the difference?

SaaS and DaaS are both applications of cloud computing but they have their fundamental differences. In simple words, the SaaS platform focuses on making software applications available over the internet, while Desktop as a Service enables the whole desktop experience by integrating several applications and the required data to the subscriber. DaaS users only need a thin client to enjoy the services, while SaaS companies provide the services through a fat client. SaaS software users need to store and retrieve the data produced by the application themselves but DaaS users don’t have to worry about the data as the service provides is responsible for the storage/ backup of the data.

You’ll find few who will disagree that ease of use is a reason why “Software as a Service” is a staple of businesses and has risen to popularity among enterprises both large and small. As for convenience, the rollout is more effortless than that of a DaaS situation. SaaS is the more versatile option of the two, and best of all, there are very affordable options if you’re trying to pinch those pennies as a smaller entity.
One of the key components of utilizing DaaS is security, closely followed by efficiency. From a security standpoint, since information is housed in a data center it helps lend itself to increased and more reliable security, removing all the risk that comes along with data being hosted on devices themselves.

Which one’s for you?

So, you’re in all probability wondering: Should your company adopt SaaS or DaaS? Our question is why not use both? It is correct that the cloud-based SaaS business model offers the flexibility to use their features while not needing to host the applications, However, the DaaS model has its own advantages. The reality is most businesses need a hybrid solution that utilizes the capabilities of both SaaS and DaaS. Using both the services allows them to access the functionality they need to be efficient while maintaining the ease and security of having all their business and applications on one dashboard with a single sign-on, equipping staff auditing capabilities.

Ultimately, the decision to adopt SaaS or Desktop as a Service depends on your company’s specific needs and resources. It’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option and consider factors such as cost, security, and compatibility with existing systems. It may also be helpful to consult with a technology professional or service provider to determine the best option for your company.

Some additional benefits of using both SaaS and DaaS:

• Best of cloud computing world: SaaS enables dependable cloud applications, DaaS delivers full client desktop and application experience. Users lose none of the features and functionality, Dedicated servers for cloud hosting is an add-on.
• Application Integration: DaaS adds another layer to the flexibility by allowing users to integrate a large number of applications into a virtual desktop.
• Customization and Flexibility: The users can customize the application according to their requirements and the flexibility to use the applications from any device anywhere is the top feature in cloud models.
• Security and Control: DaaS permits users the choice of storing all application information, user data, etc. at their own data center, giving them full control.

Migrating your business to a DaaS or SaaS platform

Since every service provider has its own set of processes to migrate the existing businesses to a cloud platform. We cant represent everyone but generally, it’s a reasonably simple process to switch over to a cloud environment.

Contact Protected Harbor for a customized technology improvement plan that includes technologies like Protected Desktop, a DaaS service for the smaller entities which delivers the best of the solutions and aspects of Protected Harbor including 24×7 support, security, monitoring, backups, Application Outage Avoidance, and more. Similarly a Protected Full Service for the larger entities enabling remote cloud access and covering all IT costs. No two TIPs are the same as they are designed specifically for each client’s business needs, we believe that technology should help clients, not force clients to change how they work.

VDI vs DaaS, What is the Difference and which is best for your business virtualization needs?

Virtual desktops give users secure remote access to applications and internal files. Virtualization technologies often used in these remote access environments include virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and desktop as a service (DaaS).

Both remote access technologies remove many of the constraints of office-based computing. This is an especially high priority for many businesses right now, as a large portion of the global workforce is still working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many organizations are considering implementing permanent remote work on some level.

With VDI and DaaS, users can access their virtual desktops from anywhere, on any device, making remote work much easier to implement and support, both short and long-term. Understanding your organization’s needs and demands can help you decide which solution is right for you

What Is VDI?

VDI creates a remote desktop environment on a dedicated server. The server is hosted by an on-premises or cloud resource. VDI solutions are operated and maintained by a company’s in-house IT staff, giving you on-site control of the hardware.

VDI leverages virtual machines (VMs) to set up and manage virtual desktops and applications. A VM is a virtualized computing environment that functions as though it is a physical computer. VMs have their own CPUs, memory, storage, and network interfaces. They are the technology that powers VDI.

A VDI environment depends on a hypervisor to distribute computing resources to each of the VMs. It also allows multiple VMs, each on a different OS, to run simultaneously on the same physical hardware. VDI technology also uses a connection broker that allows users to connect with their virtual desktops.

Remote users connect to the server’s VMs from their endpoint device to work on their virtual desktops. An endpoint device could be a home desktop, laptop, tablet, thin client or mobile device. VDI allows users to work in a familiar OS as if they are running it locally.

What Is Daas?

DaaS is a cloud-based desktop visualization technology hosted and managed by a third-party service provider. The DaaS provider hosts the back-end virtual desktop infrastructure and network resources.

Desktop as a Service systems are subscription-based, and the service provider is responsible for managing the technology stack. This includes managing the deployment, maintenance, security, upgrades, and data backup and storage of the back-end VDI. DaaS eliminates the need to purchase the physical infrastructure associated with desktop visualization.

DaaS solutions and technology stream the virtual desktops to the clients’ end-user devices. It allows the end-user to interact with the OS and use hosted applications as if they are running them locally. It also provides a cloud administrator console to manage the virtual desktops, as well as their access and security settings.

How Are VDI and DaaS Similar, and How Do They Differ?

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and DaaS (Desktop as a Service) share the common goal of providing centralized solutions for delivering desktop environments. Both leverage centralized servers to host desktop operating systems and applications, making managing and securing data easier. However, there are key distinctions. VDI typically requires on-premises infrastructure and demands significant IT management, making it suitable for organizations with specific customization needs or those handling sensitive data. DaaS solutions, on the other hand, are cloud-based, offering scalability and flexibility, making them ideal for task workers and organizations seeking a simplified, cost-effective approach to desktop provisioning and management.

Desktop as a service is a cloud-hosted form of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The key differences between DaaS and VDI lie in who owns the infrastructure and how cost and security work. Let’s take a closer look at these three areas.

Infrastructure

With VDI, the hardware is sourced in-house and is managed by IT staff. This means that the IT team has complete control over the VDI systems. Some VDI deployments are hosted in an off-site private cloud that is maintained by your host provider. That host may or may not manage the infrastructure for you.

The infrastructure for DaaS is outsourced and deployed by a third party. The cloud service provider handles back-end management. Your IT team is still responsible for configuring, maintaining and supporting the virtual workspace, including desktop configuration, data management, and end-user access management. Some DaaS deployments also include technical support from the service provider.

Cost

The cost for DaaS and VDI depends on how you deploy and use each solution.

VDI deployments require upfront expenses, such as purchasing or upgrading servers and data centers. You’ll also need to consider the combined cost of physical servers, hypervisors, networking, and virtual desktop publishing solutions. However, VDI allows organizations to purchase simpler, less expensive end-point devices for users or to shift to a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) strategy. Instead of buying multiple copies of the same application, you need only one copy of each application installed on the server.

DaaS provider requires almost no immediate capital expenses because the cost model operates on ongoing subscription fees. You pay for what you use, typically on a per-desktop billing system. The more users you have, the higher the subscription fee you’ll have to pay. Every DaaS provider has different licensing models and pricing tiers, and the tiers may determine which features are available to the end-user.

Security

Both solutions move data away from a local machine and into a controlled and managed data center or centralized servers.

Some organizations prefer VDI because they can handle every aspect of their critical and confidential data. VDI deployments are single-tenant, giving complete control to the organization. You can specify who is authorized to access data, which applications are used, where data is stored and how systems are monitored.

DaaS is multi-tenant, which means your organization’s service is hosted on platforms shared with other organizations. DaaS service providers use multiple measures to secure your data. This commonly includes data encryption, intrusion detection and multi-factor authentication. However, depending on the service provider, you may have limited visibility into aspects such as data storage, configuration and monitoring.

How Do You Choose What’s Right for You?

Both VDI and DaaS are scalable solutions that create virtual desktop experiences for users working on a variety of devices. Choosing between the two depends on analyzing your business requirements to determine which solution best fits your needs.

DaaS is a good solution for organizations that want to scale their operations quickly and efficiently. The infrastructure and platform are already in place, which means you just need to define desktop settings and identify end-users. If you want to add additional users (such as contractors or temporary workers), you can add more seats to your subscription service and pay only when you are using them.

An in-house VDI solution is a good fit for organizations that value customization and control. Administrators have full control of infrastructure, updates, patches, supported applications and security of desktops and data. Rather than using vendor-bundled software, VDI gives the in-house IT staff control over the software and applications to be run on the virtual machine.

DaaS operates under a pay-as-you-go model, which is appealing for companies that require IT services but lack the funds for a full-time systems administrator or the resources to implement a VDI project.

DaaS is suitable for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), as well as companies with many remote workers or seasonal employees. However, Desktop as a Service subscription rates, especially for premium services, may diminish its cost-saving appeal. With VDI, you must pay a high upfront cost, but the organization will own the infrastructure. Careful forecasting can help fix long-term costs for virtual desktops and applications.