Cloud Desktop vs Desktop Cloud
In cloud computing industry, there're two popular and confusing terms called desktop cloud and cloud desktop. More and more cloud service providers announce to provide support for both. But what would be their relationship and difference? How will we benefit from such service? We'll compare the two services side by side in this article and find out which service you will need.
Cloud Desktop
In short, it's a computing technology that allows users be able to connect to cloud service via desktop computer. All services/data are stored in remote cloud storage for central management. In this way company be able to reduce costs on equipments and maintenance.
Desktop Cloud
It's also a kind of computing technologies that's firstly announced by Intel group. The purpose of desktop cloud is to simplify the management over multiple computers. Via desktop cloud you can manage multiple desktops from the same window without leaving your computer. The modern desktop cloud is completely created from data center for enterprise deployment.
As we see, they are both cloud based services. Cloud desktop is more about a desktop management for cloud services and desktop cloud is more about desktop management over multiple virtual machines from cloud. Let's see their respective advantages side by side
Cloud desktop advantages
Data security
All data is stored in cloud platform, local users do not have have direct access to copy and take away. Each users can be assigned different permissions in using the service for best protection.
Easy maintenance
Because all applications and data are stored in cloud environment, technicians be able to maintain all tasks centrally like installation, virus scanning, updating and backup etc. They no longer need to work on each independent computers and repeat the same work again and again.
Energy Saving
All applications are running on cloud terminals, we just need a displayer and connector to cloud engine. No host computer needed at all. This will reduce the power consumption up to 80%.
Fast deployment
When you need to give new user access, he just needs a terminal unit, keyboard and mouse to work with. You don't have to spend hours and start from cratch in preparing a working computer.
Low replacement frequncy
You might need a new computer after 3-4 years because hardware limits. However, there's almost no limits for cloud because you just need to add new devices and all old ones are still working fine. In general, the life cycle of cloud engine is 8-10 years.
Convenience
You can connect to cloud desktop by most mobile devices like iPad, smart phones. As long as you're able to connect to internet you can use cloud desktop.
Desktop Cloud advantages
Central desktop management
IT professionals be able to complete all maintenance work from data center. Most tasks can be done automatically like software deployment/update, security updates etc. It greatly reduced human operation on independent devices.
Remotely hosted data
All data is stored in remote cloud devices, it is just a displayer from end user side. All changes are stored on remotely device not local so data security is mostly guaranteed.
Multi-desktops from one window
You can switch to different desktops easily from an explorer interface. It's extremely helpful when you need to handle different tasks on different system. It will reduce time and improve work efficiency.
Fast recovery
All desktop cloud data is centrally stored in data center with screenshot backup. When there's a disaster, it can be recovered fastly and ensure your business abilities.
Till present, most cloud service providers be able to offer cloud desktop only, the desktop cloud is still some kind new and mainly provided by IBM. You can find more about this service on this IBM business desktop cloud page.
Being an enterprise solution, desktop cloud is expensive to deal with. Unless you're running a big group and has pretty high requirement to data security and like to reduce investment as more as possible for large deployment, you don't have to consider this service. On the other hand, cloud desktop is pretty flexible for single user service. You can sign up easily from cloud service providers. You don't need to pay server renting fees and software license etc. You just need to purchase the exact service you needed in the cloud and you will get desktop connection to it.