How does VDI work?

VDI is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. VDI works by providing remote workers with a virtual desktop hosted within a secure centralized server instead of on their own laptop, computer, or tablet. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure allows companies to safely manage their remote workforce and helps to prevent data breaches and cybercrime.

VDI and Hypervisors

VDI uses a hypervisor to segment physical servers into VMs, which in turn host VDEs. This means VDEs are the second level of virtualization, both of which rely on the physical server for resources like memory and processing power. This setup allows users to connect remotely to the VDI, be allocated a virtual desktop environment, and complete their work using the host server’s resources. Users connect through a connection broker, an intermediary software gateway between the user and the server. VDEs are created and deleted automatically by the hypervisor using Operating System (OS) images.

VDI and VDE

As a result, VDEs are identical every time—and can include precisely the access levels and software needed by each user. When a user disconnects, the VDE they were using is “killed,” and a new VDE is created from the latest version of the relevant OS image the next time they connect. Compared to a pure-play VPN solution, VDIs provide businesses with far greater control over user behavior and interaction with sensitive data and resources. If users operate within a pre-configured, secure environment—and all system and data access is initiated and contained within it—there is a far lower risk of serious security and privacy breaches.