What's the difference between VDI and VMI?

VDI Vs. VMI: Which Solution Suits Your Business Needs?

The development of cloud strategies has brought various remote work benefits to firms. From boosting data security to reducing operating costs for smaller businesses, the advantages are there for all IT leaders to see. VDI vs VM

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI) are the technologies that have gained popularity for a few years. Both leverage cloud technology to deliver a competent app virtualization service to users. They allow employees to perform remotely on a wide range of devices.

And as you would guess, which is an ideal option as workplaces persist in evolving. Let's see.

What is Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI)?

Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI) is a technology delivering a mobile operating system to users by hosting it within a data center. This mobile-based infrastructure is provided to remote employees to work from anywhere, anytime.

VMI solution allows IT administrators to host virtual mobile devices only on Android operating systems (OS). This is because Apple restricts the detachment of OS from hardware. And in the case of VMI, the operating system runs in a remote data center. Therefore, users can only implement a virtual mobile solution if they have Android.

Virtual Mobile Infrastructure works on one communications protocol to deliver OS to the endpoint device, which is deciphered to the mobile device.

This implies that business applications can run on a local mobile gadget and utilize local hardware components, including cameras, accelerometers, and GPS, on the local operating system. This gives users the same experience as on the operating system and its various applications.

What is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a technology that creates software emulation of hardware by hosting it on-premise or in the cloud. Cloud Virtual desktops- such as Citrix managed desktops- allow end users to have secure access to desktops through any web browser on any endpoint.

Virtual desktop infrastructure is based on the concept of desktop virtualization, which isolates the desktop environment from the physical endpoint, offering remote access to users.

VDI vs. VM: Which One Will Suit Your Business Model?

Facilitating a secure remote work environment for the workforce is a critical consideration for many enterprises focused on business continuity and employee collaboration.

VDI and VMI are interrelated infrastructures. VDI delivers remote access to multiple devices whereas Virtual Mobile Infrastructure delivers applications over client mobiles.

Here are a few points to consider before users make a choice:

1. Security:

In terms of security, Vdi is more secure as VDI creates a multi-layered security structure with stringent protocols that reduces the chances of cyber breaches even when employees work from different networks. Virtual desktop solutions lay grounds for cybersecurity while the workforce operates from different locations on various networks. With data breaches becoming more frequent, virtual environment isolation and centralization builds a multi-layered security strategy for a business. As data is stored in servers, it also eliminates the risk of exposed sensitive data stored locally on client devices in case of disaster. With VDI, firms no longer need to worry about security and performance when enabling the workforce to mobile corporate content on a 24/7 basis.

However, in the case of VMI, security is a barrier. IT professionals must rethink the secure way to deliver critical data to users and whether virtual mobile solutions can offer them IT visibility of mobile enablement strategy. VMI can only safeguard corporate data stored on employee devices. In case the employee's device is damaged or stolen, administrators can remotely wipe data but also lose the employee's data.

1. Bring your own device (BYOD):

Firms that need access to personal devices prefer VMI, especially while managing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. However, one should reconsider rolling out mobile applications according to what their employees expect from the user experience, as VMI is only compatible with Android devices.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is compatible with every device, and users can get added security and compliance according to industry needs. Moreover, VDI supports scalability for BYOD to ensure that companies don't have to invest big in acquiring office devices, but they can allow employees to work on their own devices, be it Windows, Mac, Linux, or more.

Although VMI solutions enable administrators to manage, secure and scrutinize employee-owned mobile devices, it still brings certain issues to the fore. It can be invasive for employees who don't prefer company setting prospects on their devices. Knowing that UIT has control over the personal device can lead to discomfort.

1. Mobility:

VDI improves mobility by offering remote access while employees can work on a wide range of endpoints. This model helps IT to have centralized management of business resources while having the flexibility to deploy them rapidly from a single portal. Regardless of the endpoint, employees have a similar experience to a physical PC each time they log in. This consistent user experience promotes employee productivity from anywhere, anytime.

One should note that VMI is not a standalone solution implying that companies will have to invest in other mobile management offerings to secure employee devices and corporate data. So, VMI also offers mobility to a great extent, but it also restricts access to mobile devices.

1. Costs:

Delivering access over mobile devices is one of the significant reasons behind IT modernization to bypass the high costs of supporting legacy applications.

According to VDC Research, an average company's IT budget is consumed majorly in maintaining legacy applications to meet the changing competitive needs. However, VMI delivers feature-rich applications over mobile devices to streamline the remote workforce's daily tasks and be available at any hour of the day. This technology benefits firms that are yet to extend beyond horizontal applications such as email, messaging, and calendars.

For that reason, mobile enablement is a powerful catalyst for firms looking to boost infrastructure without a huge expenditure. However, virtual mobile infrastructure ultimately requires modern mobile infrastructure requirements created for real-time interconnectivity and ease of administration.

Though users collaborate on applications hosted on a virtual desktop as if they were on a physical machine, virtual desktop data is hosted in virtual machines (VM) running on servers. This means the virtual desktops are hosted in cloud on-premise servers. Here, VDI can be deployed on a low-cost thin client as well; This frees the company from investing in high-performance desktops to operate remotely.

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