Application Virtualization vs. Desktop Virtualization: What’s the difference?

Organizations may wonder whether application virtualization or desktop virtualization is the way to go. While application virtualization allows companies to easily deliver apps on any device, desktop virtualization is often a better option for organizations that need to emulate entire workstations. Let’s explore the differences and benefits of both technologies — and how they can work together.

What is application virtualization?

Application virtualization is the process that enables apps to run without dependencies through another operating system or browser. This technology allows end users to access and use an application from a different device than the one on which the application is installed.

How does application virtualization work?

Executing application virtualization requires virtualization software to be inserted between the app and operating system that allows the application to run virtually without affecting the OS under it. The application itself lives in the datacenter or cloud and not on devices. However, the user perceives the application as native to the device. This flexibility is what allows virtual applications to operate on any device.

One common method for application virtualization is via a server-based approach. With this method, administrators implement remote applications on the datacenter’s server, and the virtualization software delivers the applications to the user’s connected device.

App virtualization on-premises vs. in the cloud

App virtualization is a trusted technology to deliver applications to users worldwide while maintaining security and easing management. However, deploying virtual applications on-premises still requires hands-on maintenance, where cloud offers a way to ease the burden on IT. Let’s take a closer look:

On-Premises App Virtualization

• On-premises deployments are often used by organizations that need to stay in the datacenter for regulatory or compliance reasons.
• Virtualization enables admins to create a simulated environment from hardware. The resulting virtualized application can connect to any device without the need for installation.
• On-premises deployment means the virtualization software is located in the company’s datacenter and is protected by its internal security measures.
• However, this model can be difficult to scale — especially when it comes to keeping pace with the rapid growth of remote work.

Cloud-Based App Virtualization

• With cloud deployments, IT departments provision applications to users from the cloud.
• Virtual applications are hosted in the cloud, reducing the need for physical infrastructure and routine manual maintenance.
• Cloud-based servers offer greater portability and scalability, with many services offered in the pay-as-you-go model.
• Deploying from the cloud gives you more agility, since it’s easy to spin up and down as needed.

Which is best? While the answer will depend largely on your organization’s specific needs, in general, the cloud offers many benefits for application deployments. It increases agility, reduces the need to invest in extra infrastructure, and enables business continuity in case of an unplanned event.

When should you use application virtualization?

Common use cases for application virtualization include:

• Streamline hardware: Large companies with many employees can eliminate the need to provide desktop devices for everyone by delivering applications to any connected device.
• Application mobility: Enterprise applications are accessible from anywhere and any device, including tablets and smartphones.
• Secure remote access capabilities: Users can securely access the applications needed to complete tasks on any network. This makes app virtualization an ideal solution for remote workforces.
• Critical applications: For instance, a hospital using ERP software can deploy the app to shared devices without having to invest in additional infrastructure.
• Deploying in-house applications: App virtualization makes it easy for developers to deliver and update in-house applications.

Pros and cons of app virtualization

There are many benefits of application virtualization. Specifically, virtualized applications are:

• Easy to deploy and install: Application virtualization eliminates the risk of human error when installing applications on thousands of devices.
• Simple to remove: Similarly, eliminating an app from your network is as easy as removing it from the central server.
• Flexible: You can virtualize applications made by your in-house IT and deliver them to your organization. For example, a Linux virtual infrastructure can be a solution for organizations that need to provide access to business-critical Linux apps.
• Mitigators of registry bloat: When you install many applications on a device, the computer gets slower, overwhelmed by the number of applications. Application virtualization eliminates this effect.
• Secure by design: Because virtual apps are not stored on the endpoints themselves, there’s nothing to exfiltrate if a device is lost or stolen.
• Straightforward: If you have to deploy a new operating system on your network, you can do it without affecting your applications.

However, there are some potential drawbacks. For example:

• Virtualization is not for every app. For example, some graphics-intensive applications can suffer latency during rendering unless they’re powered by specialized optimization technologies.
• The app needs to work well offline. In addition, some security applications need to integrate with the local OS to retrieve local data.
• If the app requires a device driver, it won’t work well in a virtual environment.
• If the app accesses personal information, developing it can be more complicated.

Application virtualization vs. desktop virtualization

What is desktop virtualization?

Desktop virtualization emulates a user workstation to enable remote access by a user or device.  Organizations use desktop virtualization to help end users work virtually anywhere from a connected device.

How does desktop virtualization work?

Desktop virtualization enables hosting of virtual desktops on on-premises or cloud-based servers. It’s typically based on a client/server model.

Types of desktop virtualization

The most common desktop virtualization offerings include:

• Virtual desktop infrastructure: VDI replicates a computer desktop by running virtual desktop sessions on virtual machines (VMs) in an on-premises datacenter or in the cloud. The virtualization server is managed like an on-premises application.
• Remote desktop services: These are better used when you need to virtualize a few applications. The applications are virtualized to the user’s device.
• Desktop as a service: DaaS solutions host, manage, and grant access to virtual desktops through the cloud. Some solutions offer management via hosted workloads, while others are fully hosted.

Pros and cons of desktop virtualization

Desktop virtualization:

• Provides efficient resource utilization: Desktop virtualization is more efficient because it concentrates the resources in a datacenter and deploys them to user devices. Users no longer need to go to the operating system to run applications since they run from the virtualized desktop.
• Empowers remote workforces: You can onboard new users’ desktops in minutes so they’re ready to start working. Users can access applications from anywhere and from any connected device, and can pull applications to their desktops according to their needs.
• Enhances security: Since it isolates applications from the OS layer, desktop virtualization eliminates the security risks associated with unauthorized access.
• Feels like a full desktop workstation: Users can connect and experience a full desktop environment from any authorized device.
• Improves application performance: Applications with heavy CPU usage may benefit from desktop virtualization since the heavy-duty servers process them instead of a simple desktop server.
• Speeds up onboarding: Desktop virtualization lets you give users a full desktop experience from the start, with all the data and apps they need to be incorporated, regardless of the device.
• Expands options: Companies that need to have shared devices, such as contact centers, can benefit from desktop virtualization. Different users can access different desktops from the same machine.
• Supports local USB drives, local graphics acceleration, and other resources.
• Centralizes updates: Updates and migration can be done on schedule without disrupting the user experience.
• Integrates with corporate directories: Most desktop virtualization solutions integrate with directories like Azure Active Directory. That means you can apply access controls to all users based on criteria like location, type of device, role, and more.
• Provides quick recovery: Backups and user data recovery are accessible from centralized cloud hosting.

At the same time, there are a few considerations to take into account. For example:

• Desktop virtualization may be cap-ex intensive. Some offerings require you to buy the virtualization software license, servers, and storage infrastructure. You may also need to buy devices for each user.
• Connected devices need their own licensed operating systems.
• You may need to upgrade your system for extra bandwidth or some graphics mightnot display correctly.
• Some desktop virtualization only works with specific operating systems.

How Citrix Simplifies Virtualization

When it comes to app and desktop virtualization, there are a lot of options to consider. And different organizations will have different needs. That’s why Citrix provides a wide range of industry-leading virtualization solutions ranging from traditional VDI to fully managed DaaS. Users get secure access to the applications and data they need from any device and location, while IT manages everything from one central console.