Desktop virtualization

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), also known as Desktop Virtualization, refers to virtualization and virtual machines that provide and manage virtual desktops. Users access these virtual machines remotely from any supported device, including remote locations, and the compute processing is completed on the host server. Users connect to their virtual desktop sessions through a connection broker. This broker is essentially a software layer that acts as the intermediary between the user and server, enabling the orchestration of user sessions to virtual desktops or published applications.

VDI is usually deployed in an organization's data center and managed by its IT department. Typical on-premises providers include Citrix, VMware, and Remote Desktop Services. VDI can be hosted on-premises or in the cloud. Some organizations use the cloud to scale virtual desktop environments, enabling a hybrid capability that allows IT admins to meet changing organizational demands quickly.