VPN vs VDI vs RDS: Choosing the Best Remote Access

With the current pandemic, nobody can tell precisely when we go back to normal. With people working at home for a while now, you might still be looking for a better remote solution. 

There are a lot of options out there, including Cloud. However, for big and complex industries such as finance, healthcare, and legal, Cloud might not be the best solution. We would suggest looking into these three remote access networks: 

VPN 

The most common of the three is a Virtual Private Network or VPN. Perhaps you’ve heard of VPN when somebody is accessing a blocked app in some country or while traveling. Here’s how it works. It uses a private and secure connection to the server or corporate network to access your business applications.  

Pros

Cons

Out of the three, VPN costs less because of the minimal use of hardware.

VPN uses existing hardware on your computer

  VPN can keep your connection secure and encrypts your data. Additionally, some companies that handle VPN have a “no data logging” policy, which means they do not save any of your data

You can access all the applications and data from anywhere at any time, granted that you have a secure connection

Sometimes, the hardware and user’s connection may slow things down

VPN could be hard to set up without the right knowledge. However, you don’t have to worry about it when you have Klik Solutions on your side

If you are not careful, you will still be susceptible to cyberattacks

VDI 

On the other hand, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI, provides a virtual desktop on a centralized server, and all users can get the same applications. Each server gets its own operating system, and the users can reconfigure it according to their preference.  

Pros

Cons

The cost will be reduced in the long run because you will need less IT and administrative support

Your data will be centralized and your management more streamline

There won’t be a need to update multiple desktops one at a time

Access all the applications and data from anywhere at any time

Expensive upfront cost as you need to invest in the infrastructure, hardware and storage

You will have increased network requirements. For a business that processes documents or spreadsheets, this is not a problem. But if your business requires graphic renderings or video editing, you will need to invest more

A greater chance for a system-wide error. While it may be easier to update or troubleshoot a centralized system, it goes both ways. If there is an image not working properly, it will not work properly for the whole workforce

RDS 

The last one in this list is a Remote Desktop System or RDS, formerly known as Terminal Server. It works by having users log in to the centralized server through the Internet. This way, all users get the same virtual Desktops. 

Pros

Cons

You will have a better security, all the data centers where the systems are housed are state of the art facilities and will be protected from theft or loss

It is relatively cheaper than a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

It will boost productivity by making the business applications accessible from anywhere at any time

RDS should be powerful enough to cover all your business’ needs. If it is not, there could be downtime, which could lead to unproductivity.

It is susceptible to bottlenecks. Depending on the power of your system, the size of the application and the number of people accessing it, bottlenecks can occur and result in reduced performance

So did you decide which remote system is the best for you? Your answer could be any of the three. Because the decision depends on the applications you use, on the size of the date, and, finally, the budget.

If you know exactly what you want – Get a Proposal Now!

You can also call us +1(888)959-1196 or send us a message at info@klik.solutions. We can discuss those options with you and determine which one suites your needs the most.