VPN vs VDI: What’s the Difference and Which one to Choose

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Remote work has introduced terms like VPN and VDI into our daily lives. If you are a business owner or manager considering new systems to ensure your employees can work safely from home, you should learn the differences between VPN and VDI to determine which is best for you. Now that more employees are working from home, and IT departments are seeking ways to support the rise in remote work, comparing VPN vs VDI and determining which one to choose is more important than ever. The answer is complex and depends on multiple factors. Continue reading this blog post as we’ll explore the capabilities of both to help you make an informed decision.

What is VPN?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encrypted connection from a client device to a network (Internet or Intranet) that creates a secure tunnel between an endpoint device and another network. After establishing a connection with the VPN server, your computer behaves as if it were on the local network of the VPN server. As a result, you can access the resources on that network. Additionally, the encrypted connection allows sensitive data to be transmitted securely. 

Features of VPN 

• Encrypts connection between client device and network (Internet/Intranet).
• Conceals real IP address for privacy.
• Provides secure access to network resources remotely.
• Supports data protection by preventing interception.

Use Cases of VPN

• Secure remote work for employees.
• Protects data during online activities (e.g., browsing, emailing).
• Safe access to corporate networks and sensitive information.
• Ideal for users in public Wi-Fi environments needing security.
• Ideal for accessing region-locked content and websites.

Understanding VPS vs VPN is key to choosing the right solution.  

What is VDI?

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is a desktop virtualization technology in which a desktop operating system is managed in the cloud or a data center. It eliminates the need for multiple hardware setups for each user by leveraging virtualization capabilities. VDI divides the server into multiple virtual desktops, which users can access remotely. Virtual desktops are hosted on virtual machines. Users can remotely connect to their virtual machines from various platforms, including laptops, mobile tablets, thin clients, and even zero clients.

Features of VDI 

• Centralized management of desktop environments.
• Virtual desktops run on servers in the cloud or data centers.
• Accessible from various devices, such as PCs, tablets, and thin clients.

Use Cases of VDI

• Secure remote access for employees.
• Simplified IT management with centralized updates and configurations.
• Cost savings by reducing hardware needs.
• Improved security by keeping sensitive data within the data center.
• Flexibility for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies.

VPN vs VDI: Key Differences 

Although VPN vs VDI may seem similar at first glance, they work differently and offer distinct services. While VDI provides access to a remote desktop that users can work on, VPN creates a tunnel between the end user and the organization’s private network. Since both are popular solutions for remote work, many employers are unsure which one to choose for their business. Therefore, it’s best to compare the solutions to see which one suits your needs.

1- Hardware

VPN is highly dependent on the user’s hardware, as all processing is done on the client’s devices. Older hardware and outdated operating systems can impact performance and productivity.

On the other hand, VDI has minimal hardware requirements, and the end user’s devices are irrelevant to the overall experience. Processing is done using resources allocated to the virtual machine on the server side. It’s common for VDI to use inexpensive or older devices, called thin clients.

2- Data Storage and Security

There’s a significant difference in how VPN and VDI are managed. VPNs protect data in transit by sending it through an encrypted tunnel. While tunneled data reaches the user securely, once it’s on the client device, it has no security restrictions. It can be transferred and copied to client devices without restrictions. Copying company files locally can pose a risk for potential data breaches.

When using VDI, applications and data remain on the virtual machine that runs the workstation. Therefore, files are protected on corporate servers or in the cloud. Administrators can configure the virtual desktop to restrict data transfer outside the corporate network.

3- Performance

Users will experience different performance results with VPNs, depending on their hardware and connection quality. Additionally, encrypting and decrypting large amounts of data can impact overall speed. If your choice is VPN, you should be familiar with best VPNs for Chrome. 

VDI provides a faster environment and better UX because each user has dedicated resources for their workstation. Instead of relying on user devices, VDI uses dedicated server resources to improve customization and performance.

4- Management and Maintenance

VPN server maintenance is easier and less expensive. However, maintaining client devices is more complicated because they use off-site resources, requiring connecting to the device for troubleshooting or updates.

Unlike VPN, admins can easily update and troubleshoot virtual desktop infrastructure because they have centralized system management. With centralized access, admins can update multiple devices at the same time and have fine-grained control over the system. However, maintaining such a system involves running and managing multiple VMs for different functions. Given the system's complexity, this solution requires skilled administrators to configure and ensure proper setup.

5- Cost

VPN-based solutions are generally less expensive since there is no need for separate hardware. However, VDI requires hardware to host the service (in addition to the software licenses), making it more costly than VPN.

6- Usability

A VPN's user-friendliness depends on the operating system and devices. Older networks and devices can reduce its speed and reliability. VDIs are more scalable since they are virtualized, but maintenance can be more challenging.

Advantages and Disadvantages of VPN

A VPN setup allows users to work from home using their regular laptops, with applications installed locally. When users need access to office resources (e.g., file sharing, corporate systems, databases), they connect to the VPN to access the corporate network. Choosing the Best VPN for PC ensures secure and reliable remote access. Here are the pros and cons of VPN:

Advantages of VPN

• If users already have corporate laptops, they can simply take them home and start working.
• VPNs require minimal back-end configuration or purchases. There’s no need to invest in expensive VDI servers since the work is done on the laptops.

Disadvantages of VPN

• Applications must be installed and updated locally on the user’s laptop, which can be challenging.
• Older laptops or non-Windows devices (e.g., Macs) may not support all the necessary applications.
• If new laptops are needed, setting them up remotely and ensuring compatibility with existing devices can be time-consuming and challenging.

Advantages and Disadvantages of VDI

Desktop virtualization or VDI referred to remotely accessing a Windows 10 computer and running it as a virtual machine on a data center server. However, in this article, we broaden the definition of VDI to include any scenario where a user accesses a Windows desktop from any client device. This may include Multi-Session RDSH Hosted Desktops or technologies running RDSH in the cloud (e.g., DaaS, Microsoft WVD). Here are pros and cons of VDI:

Advantages of VDI

• It doesn't matter what device the user has; it could be a modern PC, an old desktop, iPad, Chromebook, or even an old MacBook.
• Connecting to a VDI desktop requires no IT expertise. The user simply needs to log in through the appropriate webpage.
• Built-in security is another pro! Applications and data remain on the server or in the cloud, so there's no concern about data loss or theft on the user's device.

Disadvantages of VDI

• Building and managing a VDI environment is complex and requires professionals to design and build it.
• Home users need a constant internet connection to work, and a slow or disconnected connection can cause significant issues.
• VDI requires more bandwidth and server power for larger displays and multiple monitors, which may degrade the user experience for those who typically use multiple monitors.
• Not all applications, especially audio and video conferencing apps, work well over a VDI connection.
• If VDI is used from the office and then extended to remote workers, bandwidth limitations may arise from the office’s internet connection.
• VDI can be expensive due to the server hardware needed to run multiple desktops for employees. If laptops are already provided, using VDI can feel like paying for two desktops per employee.

When to Use VPN

Considering the following reasons, we can say that VPN is best for businesses that need secure, remote access to internal systems, file sharing, and databases without requiring high processing power or complex infrastructure. Here are the use cases of VPN:

• Ideal for users with standard laptops who need secure remote access to internal resources.
• Best when you already have corporate laptops and don’t want to invest in additional infrastructure.
• Suitable for simple file-sharing and accessing corporate systems without requiring heavy processing.

When to Use VDI

VDI is appropriate for businesses that have to provide complete desktop environments, particularly for jobs requiring specialized programs or high performance. Understanding VDI vs VM is key to choosing the right solution. Here are the use cases of VDI:

• Best for environments where users need access to a full desktop experience, regardless of their device.
• Ideal for running graphics-intensive applications or when high customization and performance are needed.
• Useful when security is a top priority, as all data stays on servers instead of local devices.

Conclusion

Now you the differences between VPN and VDI. When it comes to VPN vs VDI, there is no simple answer to whether VPN or VDI is better. In general, it depends on your specific use case and the factors involved. In short, VPN is better suited for smaller businesses because it is cost-effective, easy to implement, and simple to use. However, if you're dealing with a larger workforce that requires high performance and graphics processing, VDI is the better choice.