AWS Recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

In a significant development, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service (DaaS) for the first time. This recognition marks a notable progression from its 2023 classification as a Challenger. AWS attributes this accomplishment to its dedication to fulfilling a broad spectrum of customer requirements through an extensive array of virtual desktop services.

AWS’s success can be attributed to several key factors:

• License Portability: AWS offers flexibility with license portability, including support for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. This allows businesses to seamlessly integrate their existing software licenses into AWS’s virtual desktop environment.
• Geographic Strategy: AWS’s strategic placement of data centers across the globe ensures low latency and high availability for users, regardless of their location.
• Operational Capabilities: AWS’s focus on cost optimization and automation enhances operational efficiency, enabling businesses to manage their virtual desktop infrastructure more effectively.
• User-Friendly Interfaces: AWS provides intuitive interfaces for managing its virtual desktop services, reducing the need for third-party tools and simplifying the user experience.

  For more detailed insights, you can access the complete 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service (DaaS).

  AWS DaaS Offerings
  

  AWS offers a robust lineup of DaaS solutions as part of its End User Computing portfolio. Here’s a closer look at these offerings:

  Amazon WorkSpaces Family
  

  Launched in early 2014, Amazon WorkSpaces has continually evolved to meet the needs of remote and hybrid workers, knowledge workers, developer workstations, and learning environments. This service provides a cloud-based desktop computing environment that supports multiple operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu, Amazon Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

  Key features of Amazon WorkSpaces include:

• Availability in Sixteen AWS Regions: Ensuring global access and redundancy.
• Six Bundle Sizes: Including the GPU-equipped Graphics G4dn bundle for high-performance needs.
• WorkSpaces Personal: Offers each user a persistent desktop environment, ideal for developers and knowledge workers who need to install applications and save data.
• WorkSpaces Pools: Efficient for scenarios where persistent desktops are not required, such as contact centers or virtual learning environments.
• WorkSpaces Core: Provides managed virtual desktop infrastructure compatible with third-party VDI solutions like Citrix, Leostream, Omnissa, and Workspot.

  Amazon WorkSpaces clients are accessible on desktops and tablets, with additional options like web access via Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser and the Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client. If you have an appropriate Windows 10 or 11 desktop license from Microsoft, you can bring your own license (BYOL) to the cloud, running on dedicated hardware.

  For more information, you can explore the Amazon WorkSpaces Family and review the WorkSpaces Features.

  Amazon AppStream 2.0
  

  Launched in late 2016, Amazon AppStream 2.0 provides instant, streamed access to both SaaS and desktop applications without the need for code alteration or application refactoring. This service is designed to easily scale applications and make them available to users worldwide, eliminating the need to manage underlying infrastructure.

  Amazon AppStream 2.0 offers a variety of compute, memory, storage, GPU, and operating system options to empower remote workers. The service also includes auto-scaling capabilities to prevent overprovisioning.

  AppStream 2.0 provides three fleet types:

• Always On: Offers instant connections for users.
• On-Demand: Takes approximately two minutes to launch, suitable for users who need quick but not immediate access.
• Elastic: Ideal for handling unpredictable demand.

  Pricing for AppStream 2.0 varies by fleet type, with options for per-second and per-hour billing for both Windows and Linux environments. For more details, check out the Amazon AppStream 2.0 Pricing.

  For further information on Amazon AppStream, visit the Amazon AppStream page.

  Understanding the Gartner Disclaimer
  

  It is important to note that Gartner’s research publications represent the opinions of their research organization. They do not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in their reports, nor do they advise technology users to select only vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner’s research documents should be interpreted within the context of the entire report. For more information, you can request the full Gartner document from AWS.

  Gartner, Magic Quadrant, and associated marks are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, used with permission. All rights reserved.

  This recognition by Gartner underscores AWS’s commitment to innovation and excellence in providing virtual desktop solutions. With robust offerings like Amazon WorkSpaces and Amazon AppStream 2.0, AWS continues to empower businesses to work efficiently and effectively in a cloud-first world.

For more Information, Refer to this article.