Why a remote desktop solution?

Architecture firms have two main options when it comes to remote desktop technology: using virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or cloud-based Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). Let’s compare the two. 

Remote work is now the norm in the architecture industry. For example, in a recent survey with 200 New York practices, 90% said they had embraced some form of hybrid working. The most common pattern was for staff to work three days at the office, and two from home. 

If the architects at your firm are to be productive when working away from the office, using remote workstations by far the most efficient and secure approach. A remote desktop lets them log into their work environment and use their design software over the internet using any computer at any location (thereby avoiding having to lug desktop computers around or carry critical design files on pen drives).

There are two kinds of remote workstations that architects can use - VDI and DaaS. How do they compare, and which is right for you?

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How VDI and DaaS work
• Key differences between VDI and DaaS
• When VDI is the best option for architects
• When DaaS is the best option for architects

VDI and DaaS as remote workstation options

Virtual desktop infrastructure and Desktop -as-a-Service are the two main kinds of technologies that architects can use for remote work.

Let’s get a brief overview of how they work, before comparing the two. 

Virtual desktop infrastructure 

A VDI allows you to create virtual machines on a server (either on your company’s physical premises, or by hiring rack space at a local data centre). You load your design software and files onto the virtual machines and employees log in via the internet using any device. Once they’re logged in, they see a ‘normal’ desktop on the screen, with all their design apps and files loaded. They can then start working as usual. 

Desktop-as-a-Service

DaaS works in a similar way to VDI. However, rather than connecting to a server at your office or at a local data centre, the virtual machines that employees log onto are held in the cloud. Architects connect securely over the internet, then open up their usual apps and files and work remotely. For the user, the experience is identical to using a VDI. The difference is that your firm isn’t responsible for creating the environment - users just access it when they need to. 

What are the differences between VDI and DaaS? 

VDI and DaaS are both effective solutions to support remote work in architecture. At first glance - and especially for the end user’s experience - they appear fairly similar. That said, there are some significant differences. 

Analogy - private jet vs flying commercial

When comparing VDI and DaaS, we often use an analogy with flying. 

You can think of virtual desktop infrastructure as a little like purchasing a private jet for your company’s designers. On the other hand, using DaaS is like flying commercial. 

There’s also a third category - DaaS-on-VDI. This is the rent-a-jet model. 

Going by private jet and flying commercial both get you from A to B - just as VDI and DaaS both let architects work with 3D BIM remotely. But there are some clear differences too. 

Personalised experience vs uniform experience

Just like a private jet, a VDI offers you a highly personalised, custom-built experience. You can specify the exact amount of memory you need, the type  of GPUs, the number of desktops and all the other bits and bytes. You get an experience that’s totally tailored to your architects and the work they do.

On the other hand, DaaS is similar to flying commercial. While there are some options when it comes to tailoring your experience (number of seats, extra add-ons), you ultimately get a much more standard package. 

High investment vs low investment

To build and maintain a VDI requires a significant upfront investment in hardware and software. You’ll also need to maintain the environment and this typically requires employing a technician or outsourcing to a consultant. It’s similar to using a private jet - buying the plane is expensive, and you need to retain a pilot to fly it whenever you need. 

DaaS is more like buying tickets on a commercial airline. You only pay for what you use, and have no responsibility for managing and maintaining the underlying hardware. If you are using the DaaS a lot (e.g. on a major project), then you’ll pay more - just as you would if buying lots of aeroplane tickets. But when you don’t need to use it, you don’t pay a penny. 

High responsibility vs low responsibility

In a very similar way, a VDI requires much greater management and maintenance. You are responsible for ensuring the environment is secure and stable and meets the needs of end users. If the VDI fails for some reason, you must solve the problem. 

With a DaaS, you’re like a passenger on a plane. It’s not your job to check it has enough fuel, or train the pilot, or clean the place up. You simply use it for your tasks, then log off. 

Fixed vs scalable

Once you have built a customised VDI, its features are fixed. You cannot (easily) add more capacity, users or RAM. This is rather like a private jet - if it only has space for, say, eight passengers, it’s going to be uncomfortable if you try to carry any additional people. 

By contrast, DaaS is super scalable - just as it’s easy to simply buy tickets for more seats on a commercial airline. Want to invite 10 subcontractors to work on a project? You can spin up their virtual machines in a matter of minutes. Have you had to let a designer go? You can simply close their account and stop paying for their sessions. 

Here’s the quick recap: 

When is VDI the best choice for remote architecture?

Using the virtual desktop infrastructure model can be a good choice for architecture firms in certain circumstances. 

Legal or regulatory requirements: When you are working on architecture projects that are highly regulated, VDI may be the only option. For example, architects who are designing nuclear power plants or military installations willbe prohibited from using a DaaS environment in the public cloud for regulatory reasons (even if the cloud is technically just as secure). 

Continual high utilisation: A VDI is always an expensive option. However, if you can confidently expect continual high and stable utilisation rates (80% or above, a constant number of users) then you may still see a return on the investment. 

Highly specific needs: Sometimes, architecture firms require a VDI that is fine-tuned to a specific software they use. While this might cost much more to set up, the ability to get the environment just as you want is desirable for some. 

Sunk investment: If you have already built a VDI and hired technicians to maintain it, then switching to an alternative remote desktop solution may not be economical in the short term. 

When is DaaS-on-VDI the best option?

DaaS-on-VDI lowers the threshold, and makes it available for smaller organizations. You don’t own the jet, but you can rent a part of it. 

Good if you have a large and stable design team, but you don’t want to burden (or you don’t have) a large IT team

DaaS-onVDI providers typically specialize in very specific software and/or industries and certainly will have a more regional focus (can be a good option if they are physically located near you)

When it comes to pricing, this approach is definitely better than VDI, but can only beat pure DaaS if you have a very high utilization (think: over 175 hours per week on average).

Here are some examples

• Sherpa
• Creative ITC
• Arcade
• Cetegra
• SLTN
• Cloudalize

Hint: Some large CAD and BIM Resellers offer this as well 

When is DaaS the best choice for remote architecture?

A growing number of architecture firms are starting to use DaaS solutions like designair to support remote work. The cloud-based platform works a little like Netflix - you open an account, load up your preferred architecture software, then begin editing CAD and BIM files from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Using DaaS can be a good fit for architects for several reasons:

More cost effective: With DaaS, you literally only pay for what you use. There’s no high upfront equipment costs, engineering, consultants or maintenance. You simply open an account, pay for the sessions you use, then close the virtual machine down when it’s no longer required. 

Work literally anywhere: A DaaS for architecture truly enables remote work - employees, partners, clients or subcontractors can open your architecture software and view designs from anywhere, at any time. While this is technically possible with a VDI, you need to install the client on employee devices. Also, since most VDIs are installed on local servers or private data centres, lag becomes an issue when people are connecting from further afield. These issues don’t affect DaaS. 

You have varying usage patterns: Many architects use their remote desktops intermittently. It’s typical to have peaks and troughs in usage - heavy activity on big, collaborative projects, followed by quieter periods. With a DaaS, you only pay for what you use, and can scale up and down at the click of a button. 

Buy vs build IT strategy: With any kind of corporate IT, you can either custom build your tools or buy them off the shelf. If your general IT strategy focuses on ‘buy’, not ‘build’, then DaaS will fit in with your wider strategy. 

In summary:

 

Designair: A DaaS for architects who need remote desktop

Designair is a cloud-based DaaS platform that’s been engineered for the needs of architects. Once you open a designair account, you simply choose your preferred architecture software, load it onto virtual machines, and pull your design files in from any cloud-based or on-premises fileshare. Then, your architects simply connect to the platform from any device using their web browser, and start editing their files. 

Want to see how it works? Contact us for a demo today. 

We sat down with Dina Sarhane, the DS Studio's founder, to learn more about their fully cloud-based approach to computing for architects – and what others can learn from it. 

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