

In that instance, users will be able to log in to their WorkSpaces instance using their existing credentials, and IT teams can apply group policy settings as usual, deploy software with existing tools, and use existing RADIUS servers to enable multifactor authentication.
AWS WORKSPACES PRICING PDF
SEE: Navigating data privacy (ZDNet/TechRepublic special feature) | Download the free PDF version (TechRepublic)Ĭredentialing for Amazon WorkSpaces access can be handled in a number of ways, including using pre-existing on-premise Microsoft Active Directory installations linked to AWS Directory Service. User access can also be restricted via IP address, device type, or with digital certificates, and the entire system is integrated with AWS Key Management Service for encrypting storage volumes. In terms of the security of WorkSpaces, Amazon said it uses encryption strong enough to meet HIPAA and PCI compliance through its PC-over-IP protocol, which encrypts traffic and doesn’t send any data to, or store anything sensitive on, end-user devices. Amazon WAM packages applications into containers and makes them appear on user WorkSpaces instances as if they were locally installed, while administrators maintain the ability to manage them as containerized apps, which eliminates the need for time-consuming update, deployment, and retirement cycles.

IT teams can use default Windows/Linux images or create their own custom ones to ensure business-essential apps are installed on new VMs Amazon also offers Amazon WorkSpaces Application Manager (Amazon WAM) for deploying and managing additional applications on WorkSpaces VMs.

To fill various workstation roles, a number of different bundles are available that allocate more or less CPU power, GBs of RAM, GPUs, video memory, SSD root and user storage, and software.

AWS WORKSPACES PRICING WINDOWS
SEE: Top cloud providers in 2020: AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, hybrid, SaaS players (ZDNet)Īmazon WorkSpaces virtual machines (VMs) can be deployed in both Linux and Windows formats and are designed to fill the role of basic end-user workstations. Like other DaaS solutions, Amazon WorkSpaces is designed to scale up as businesses grow and new workstations are needed.Īmazon describes WorkSpaces as “an easy way to provide a secure, managed, cloud-based virtual desktop experience to your end-users,” and said that its cloud-native, fully managed design means IT teams “don’t have to worry about procuring, deploying, and managing a complex environment.” What is Amazon WorkSpaces?Īmazon WorkSpaces is Amazon’s entry into the DaaS field and gives businesses the ability to create persistent, virtual, and cloud-hosted Windows and Linux workstations. Read on to learn why this new way of deploying workstations may be worth the investment, and the way of the future. SEE: Cloud data storage policy (TechRepublic Premium)ĭaaS providers have been growing slower than expected over the past few years, but with the spread of the pandemic and the likely long-term shift to remote work, Gartner has reassessed its position on the battle between VDI and DaaS, calling DaaS one of the areas of tech experiencing the greatest growth due to the pandemic.īecause growth has been slow, many businesses may still be unaware of the advantages offered by products like Amazon WorkSpaces. That means the computing needs of modern businesses are changing as well-the perfect time for Desktop as a Service (DaaS) products like Amazon WorkSpaces to finally gain market traction. The modern workforce is more distributed than ever before, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only solidified the fact that working remotely is the way of the future for many businesses. Amazon WorkSpaces cheat sheet: What you need to know about this DaaS productĪmazon's Desktop as a Service product can virtualize the computing needs of your entire workforce, secure business data, and make life easier for remote employees and IT teams.
