Is VDI  the next in the line of ‘Infrastructure’ that move to a ‘Service’

The Rise of the “As a Service” Model

The “as a Service” model has dramatically changed how we access and use technology. Recently, its adoption has become so pervasive that the idea of “Anything as a Service” (XaaS) has emerged. 

The story of anything (or everything!) as a service is fascinating and goes back further than many realise. It started in the early days of industrialisation when services replaced individual ownership in non-IT sectors.

In this short article, we’ll trace the history of the shift from wholly-owned to shared services, examine some critical milestones, and review the factors that have made it so popular. 

Early Days: From Utilities to Services 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electricity was one of the earliest examples of a service-based model.  Initially, businesses and even households generated their own power.  However, as centralised utilities became more efficient and reliable, power was provided as a service, so instead of owning and maintaining generators, companies and individuals paid for what they used through a utility company.  This model of resource sharing and consumption laid the groundwork for future service-based concepts. 

Early IT Milestones: The Birth of Networks and Internet Protocols 

Fast forward to the 1960s and 1970s, and we see the birth of shared IT infrastructure, which began with the rise of time-sharing on mainframes.  Companies that did not want to take on the expense of owning large-scale computers could access processing power via time-shared computing, marking the first step toward renting rather than owning IT infrastructure. 

The introduction of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in the 1980s was a significant milestone.  As the foundation of the internet, it enabled global communication over shared networks, making connectivity an accessible service rather than a feature available only to a few.  Businesses started to see the value in services being provided remotely rather than in-house, a trend that would grow with the rise of the Internet. 

Email and the Cloud: The Rise of “Software as a Service” (SaaS) 

Email was among the earliest and most famous “as a Service” applications.  In the 1990s, companies like Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail offered free web-based email services, removing the need for users to maintain their mail servers.  Email services marked the early stages of Software as a Service (SaaS), where applications were hosted on a provider’s server and accessed via the Internet. 

As internet speeds improved, SaaS gained traction with applications like Salesforce, which launched its CRM solution in 1999.  Salesforce pioneered in delivering enterprise-level software via the cloud, allowing companies to access robust customer relationship management tools without costly installations or maintenance. 

The Cloud Era 

With the explosion of cloud computing in the mid-2000s, the “as a Service” model rapidly expanded.  Companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), which launched in 2006, introduced Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), providing on-demand access to computing resources such as virtual machines and storage. Platform as a Service (PaaS) soon followed, allowing developers to build and deploy applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. 

These definitions were formalised in 2011 in the Cloud Computing Reference Model from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

The Everything as Service Era

By the mid-2010s, cloud computing had developed its core features, and adoption increased, aided by cloud providers' focus on better security, which had become a primary concern for customers.

Later that decade, the cloud shifted from developer-friendly to developer-driven as application developers began taking full advantage of the cloud and cloud vendors developed the tools app developers needed. 

This development propelled us into the era of Everything as a Service (XaaS), where nearly every aspect of IT, from software and platforms to networks and security, could be delivered as a service.  Companies no longer needed to invest in expensive infrastructure or software licenses upfront; instead, they could pay for what they used, scaling up or down as needed. 

Drivers Behind the Shift to the “As a Service” Model 

Several factors have driven the widespread adoption of the “as a Service” model: 

Cost Efficiency: Businesses save by avoiding large investments in hardware and software and shifting IT spending from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx) for greater financial flexibility.

Scalability: The “as a Service” framework empowers organisations to dynamically adjust their resource allocation in response to fluctuating demands, thereby eliminating the risks of over-provisioning and under-provisioning.

Accessibility: With an internet connection, services can be accessed from virtually anywhere, enabling seamless remote work and fostering collaboration across dispersed teams globally.

Business Focus and Innovation: By outsourcing infrastructure management, companies can concentrate on core business innovations while benefiting from the latest technology updates provided by cloud vendors.

Current Examples as a service

Today, the “as a Service” model touches nearly every facet of IT.  Some current examples include: 

• Software as a Service (SaaS): Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and Zoom
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Service
• Security as a Service (SECaaS): McAfee, Cisco Umbrella, and Okta
• Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIaaS): IBM Watson, Google AI, and AWS AI
• Database as a Service (DBaaS): Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, and MongoDB Atlas 

What’s Next? Virtual Desktop As a Service (DaaS)

As we’ve seen with the rise of electricity, computing, and software services, the “as a Service” model is transforming industries. Virtual Desktops (VDI) are poised to follow in the footsteps of these innovations, with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) at the forefront.

VDI, much like early utilities and IT infrastructure, has traditionally required significant capital investment in on-premise hardware and maintenance. However, with the advancements in cloud technology and its scalability, flexibility, and security, AVD presents a modern, efficient alternative. By transitioning VDI to the cloud, businesses can enjoy the same cost efficiency, accessibility, and focus on innovation that has driven the success of SaaS, IaaS, and other service models.

The Potential to Move Workloads to Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop allows companies to scale their desktop environments as needed, reducing the burden of managing on-premise systems while ensuring secure, remote access for a distributed workforce. This shift to Desktop as a Service (DaaS) opens the door to cost savings, operational efficiency, and enhanced collaboration.

Now is the time to consider moving your VDI workloads to the cloud. AVD allows for seamless integration into the Azure ecosystem, and partners like NUDGEIT are here to guide you through this transition with expertise and tailored support. If you are interested in reading more, this article, VDI Ready for the Cloud, is a good start. Alternatively, contact us to discuss the option. We can help you either move to the cloud or take on your Virtual Desktop as a service with Azure Virtual Desktop.