V2 Cloud
V2 CloudAmazon WorkSpaces Alternative: Deliver Fully Managed Windows Applications and Desktops to Any Device
Move to V2 Cloud to streamline the deployment and management of virtual desktops. Our fully integrated Desktop-as-a-Service solution is a great Amazon WorkSpaces alternative that accelerates time-to-value, reduces implementation efforts and lowers costs.
Why You Should Move from Amazon WorkSpaces to V2 Cloud
Up and running out-of-the-box
V2 Cloud’s all-in-one Desktop-as-a-Service solution includes built-in security, virtual private networks and remote working features without need for complex plugins and long learning curves that is so often required by Amazon WorkSpaces competitors.
Seamless scalability
Regardless of how small your initial deployment is, V2 Cloud can help you scale up and down as your requirements change without unfeasible one-time charges. Most Amazon WorkSpaces alternatives have expensive setup fees, making them unsuitable for small deployments, and cannot easily scale down.
Fully managed, fully supported
V2 Cloud takes on all of the responsibility for designing, deploying, and running your VDI environment. Rather than investing in extensive training for your staff, hireing expensive Amazon WorkSpaces consultants or even full time employees, V2 Cloud’s solution is delivered as-a-service. Extensive 24/7 technical support via multiple channels combined with proactive monitoring ensures at least 99.95% uptime.
Features Comparison
| Feature | V2 Cloud | Amazon Amazon WorkSpaces |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Remote Administration | Yes Easily manage users and associated permissions from a simple dashboard | Limited Manage users and permissions without the ability to have multiple users per VM. Cannot control application access |
| Easy Installation and Setup | Yes Setup and deploy a VM in minutes using templates and simplified setup processes without complex training and documentation | No Complex processes and setup will require time to train and understand documentation for a large enterprise-focused product, difficult network configuration |
| Comprehensive Security | Yes Effective and maintainable security with built-in encryption, strong data policies, automated firewalls and AV implementations alongside off-site backups | Yes Comprehensive security infrastructure with adequate encryption, controls and policies suitable for large customers |
| High Performance | Yes Persistent desktops, device-independent GUIs and 24-hour availability on VM’s provides high performance to users | Limited High performance is achievable with ease, providing device-independent GUIs and desktop persistence. However, VMs are not accessible 24 hours a day |
| Simple App and Desktop Delivery | Yes Pre-configured RDP clients, includes app virtualization and remote VM access, all available without the need for a complex plugin | Limited Requires plugins, does not provide application virtualization out-of-the-box and does not support the conversion of desktop apps to the Cloud |
| Appropriate Desktop and App Management | Yes Easily manage, deploy, monitor and maintain desktops and applications whilst having access to comprehensive monitoring | Yes Applications and desktops can be managed, deployed and maintained with ease, allowing a comprehensive array of different services to be accessible |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go and Fixed pricing models. No minimum order, no up-front costs and no hidden fees. | Pay-as-you-go and Fixed pricing models. However, initial quotes may seem lower compared to deployed solutions which require additional plugins |
| Access to Managed Services | Yes Fully-managed setup, backup management, software and hardware upgrades are included in the base offering | Limited Service is fully managed. However, the platform does not offer live monitoring |
| Wide Array of Pre-Installed Software | Yes Access to Microsoft Windows, Office, anti-virus and more is included | Yes Operating system, antivirus and Microsoft Office included |
| Reliable Customer Support | Yes Free online chat, phone and email support is included as standard with a response times within minutes | Limited Email support is available during business hours to aid with any queries IT administrators may have |
| Appropriate Scalability | Yes Scale up or down as and when required | Limited Easy to scale up the deployment, difficult to scale down |
| Unlimited Networking | Yes Unlimited bandwidth and unmetered internet is provided, allowing users to get on with their work uninterrupted | No Unlimited bandwidth and unmetered internet is not included, requiring IT administrators to monitor and manage usage |
Download Technical Benchmark to Discover How
V2 Cloud Compares to Amazon WorkSpaces
Factors for Deciding on an Amazon WorkSpaces Alternative
Number of Users
Number of UsersThis is the key factor to consider when evaluating an Amazon Workspaces deployment. The number of users is representative of the total amount of workload you require and is the main price-driving force.
| Factors | V2 Cloud | Amazon Workspaces |
|---|---|---|
Small-to-mid sized deploymentsAmazon solutions see good return on investment with large deployments. So if your number of users is anywhere under 250, V2 Cloud is the suitable alternative to Amazon WorkSpaces for you. It enables you to scale up and down without friction, manage your users and platform from a centralized dashboard, reduce costs and provide better long-term stability. |  |  |
Large deploymentsSolutions over 250 end-users come hand-in-hand with more complex cloud infrastructure that can be suited with the help of V2 Cloud’s product experts. However, if you have the required expertise and experience in-house, solutions provided by vendors such as Amazon and Amazon WorkSpaces competitors like VMWare may give you better technical flexibility to suit your use cases. | | |
Existing Cloud Environments
Existing Cloud EnvironmentsYour existing cloud or on-premise estate are key considerations when choosing a Amazon WorkSpaces alternatives. Some solutions are fully vendor and cloud-agnostic, while other work better when you already have an estate with a specific vendor.
| Factors | V2 Cloud | Amazon Workspaces |
|---|---|---|
Existing Amazon cloud environmentAmazon WorkSpaces may be a natural choice for customers with an already established Amazon estate. WorkSpaces may be a convenient choice compared to other VDI solutions. It is also worth considering that Amazon WorkSpaces requires specialized setup and operational knowledge despite similarities with other Amazon products. | | |
Different cloud providers, on-premise or hybrid deploymentsSmaller teams can provide value more quickly with a less-complex and more modern product using features such as VM templates and simplified configuration. V2 Cloud’s DaaS offering is tailored for businesses with limited IT resources and would be a great alternative to Amazon WorkSpaces. | | |
Vendor-Specific Technical Expertise
Vendor-Specific Technical Expertise| Factors | V2 Cloud | Amazon Workspaces |
|---|---|---|
| Deploying and managing VDI platforms such as Amazon Workspaces requires in-depth technical expertise, often specific to that one product. Most traditional VDI solutions and and Amazon WorkSpaces competitors now have engineers that specialize in a single product or suite of products such as WorkSpaces due to the complex management and configuration required. V2 Cloud is intuitive and easy to use, with a simplified network setup, templates for deployments and easy application and desktop management. The features and setup processes available through V2 Cloud reduce the technical expertise required, ensuring IT staff can spend as little time as possible learning complex configuration rules and integrations. | | |
Budget and Pricing Models
Budget and Pricing ModelsPricing models will determine whether a solution can be financially suitable or not. Amazon WorkSpaces alternative solutions should offer proportionate pricing with respect to your budget and usage.
V2 Cloud Pricing | Amazon WorkSpaces Pricing |
|---|
V2 Cloud Differentiating Features
Integrated Security
V2 Cloud’s offering includes endpoint protection, firewalls and off-site backups.
Unlimited Technical Support
We provide free of charge, round-the-clock support for your IT team via multiple channels, including online chat, email and phone.
Quick and easy deployment
V2 Cloud runs in the browser, no installation required, no complex VPN setups. Get set up and running in as little as 20 minutes
Performance
We maintain high performance using SSDs, device-independent GUIs and 24x7 availability.
Try the Best Amazon WorkSpaces Alternative for 7 Days.
Get started with V2 Cloud to move your workspaces to the Cloud in as little as 20 minutes!
Our risk-free 7-day trial gives you full access to the V2 Cloud platform so you can test our solution in a live environment. Cancel at any time within the first 7 days for a guaranteed refund.
Other Amazon WorkSpaces Alternatives and Competitors
Fierce competition in the VDI and DaaS space empower customers to choose the solution which best fits their budget and requirements. Here are some vendors which V2 Cloud consider to be reputable alternatives to Amazon WorkSpaces.
Citrix XenApp
One of the largest Amazon WorkSpaces competitor by market share, specializing in enterprise deployments
Read more...
VMWare Horizon
A well-known name in the VDI Space, VMware Horizon offers comprehensive features and multiple deployment models
Windows Virtual Desktops
Azure’s VDI platform is a good Amazon WorkSpaces alternative and can be tightly integrated with the wider Microsoft portfolio
Read more...Learn How V2 Cloud Can Help You Replace Amazon WorkSpaces
FAQ
Why is AWS WorkSpaces so expensive?
Despite being one of the most popular virtual desktop solutions for years, AWS Workspaces is no longer the absolute best choice for cloud services and cloud computing due to its complex (and expensive) billing system.
Many Amazon WorkSpaces users have complained that Amazon’s initial quotes are much lower compared to the actual costs for the deployed solutions. AWS WorkSpaces applies a “pay-as-you-go” pricing model, which would charge you extra based on usage.
This pricing model can hinder cost-effectiveness in various use cases. For example, many users are running their desktop environment instances, but they forget these instances have been running for several hours. In this fact, users have to pay extra without AWS’s alarms or auto-off features.
Another issue is the fact that Amazon WorkSpaces has a rather complex deployment process and difficult network configuration compared to other alternative solutions. Thus, deploying and managing the WorkSpaces platform would require in-depth technical expertise and training, which may translate into additional unexpected training and education costs.
Not to mention, although Amazon WorkSpaces is pretty decent when it comes to upward scalability (it’s relatively easy for businesses and organizations to scale up their WorkSpaces deployments), downscaling is pretty difficult, resulting in the continuous increase cost of using Amazon workspaces.
As an Amazon WorkSpaces Alternative, V2 Cloud delivers fully managed and integrated Desktop-as-a-Service to any device, with cost-efficiency features like accelerated time-to values and reduced implementation efforts, among others.
What is the difference between V2 Cloud and Amazon Workspaces?
Both Amazon WorkSpaces and V2 Cloud offer cloud-based virtual DaaS (Desktop as a Service) solutions, allowing users to remotely access desktop environments from anywhere and with any device. <Yet, there are also key differences between the two platforms:
- Deployment Difficulty. AWS WorkSpaces offers a more complex deployment process and difficult network configuration. Deploying and managing its platform requires in-depth technical expertise and training. AWS requires engineers specializing in a single product, which may translate into additional training costs. V2 Cloud, as a great Amazon Workspaces alternative, is intuitive with a simple network setup and easy desktop management. The ease of deployment reduces the technical expertise required to deploy V2 Cloud’s virtual desktops, allowing organizations to spend more time on their core tasks rather than learning configurations and integration rules.
- Customer Support. Amazon WordSpaces only offers Email support during business hours, while many Amazon WorkSpace alternatives like V2 Cloud offer free 24/7 support via online chat, phone, and email.
- Pricing. Amazon WorkSpaces has more complex pricing arrangements. Pricing will vary depending on the user’s usage, data center location, additional plug-ins, and services. Comparatively speaking, V2 Cloud ensures costs are transparent and fair by having no hidden costs, no minimum order, and up-front fees.
- Use Case. Despite its downsides, Amazon WorkSpaces offers a good return on investment with large deployments, and it is very versatile when it comes to upscaling. You can easily add more virtual desktops to follow the growth of your business’s needs. However, Amazon Workspaces would not be suitable for some enterprises with under 250 end-users due to the high costs. Even for a small deployment, AWS WorkSpaces deployment is quite complex and may require personnel with in-depth training and experience in using Amazon Workspaces. Thus, Amazon Workspaces is not suitable for small businesses.
As an Amazon WorkSpaces alternative, V2 Cloud enables businesses or organizations to scale up and down without friction to provide better long-term stability for businesses of all sizes.
Is Amazon WorkSpaces a DaaS?
Yes, Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed cloud-based virtual Desktop-as-a-Service(Daas) solution that can perform as a replacement for a traditional physical computer desktop. It enables you to create and use Linux and Windows desktops that are accessible from anywhere and supported devices.
Amazon WorkSpaces host your entire virtual desktop environment, including operating system, application, data, computing, and storage that allow you to perform day-to-day tasks and would behave just like your traditional physical desktop and applications.
It helps your business or organization transition to facilitate a remote workforce with a cost-effective and fully-functional desktop with advanced features like enterprise-level security and end-to-end management.
Is Amazon WorkSpaces a server?
An Amazon WorkSpaces is a Windows Server instance that is allocated to the end-user, but it will not give you the hassle of maintaining, patching and monitoring the server at the same time.
Amazon WorkSpaces offers a Windows Server instance that is very similar to a physical desktop experience but powered by the cloud.
In simpler terms, Amazon WordSpaces leverages a virtual server to power the desktop as a service solution to enable remote work and collaboration for IT infrastructure. It delivers a powerful remote desktop experience, allowing your employees to securely access your business applications and data—from any device and at any location.
What are the advantages of using V2 Cloud?
The following are some most important benefits of the Amazon WorkSpaces Alternative provided by V2 Cloud:
- Seamless scalability. V2 Cloud’s virtual desktop solution is highly scalable. No matter how small your initial deployment is, V2 Cloud enables businesses or organizations to scale up and down as needed. No unfeasible one-time charges and hidden costs to ensure long-term stability.
- Fully managed and supported. V2 Cloud’s solution is intuitive with a simple network setup and easy desktop management. You can deploy V2 Cloud’s virtual desktop in 20 minutes without any in-depth training or certifications. This simplicity reduces the technical expertise required to ensure organizations can spend as little time as possible learning configurations and integrations rules. V2 Cloud also offers 24/7 online chat, phone, and email support.
- Competitive price. Unlike Amazon WorkSpace and its competitors, V2 Cloud applies pay-as-you-go and fixed pricing models which ensures costs are fair by having no hidden costs, no minimum order, and up-front fees.