Cost optimization: How to get the most out of your DaaS investment

The advantages of cloud computing come with notable challenges that frustrate enterprises, particularly managing costs and optimizing resources. Desktop as a service (DaaS) is one notable cloud service that can be complex and requires careful planning and monitoring to avoid overspending and underutilization, leading many to turn to managed platforms that can ease those burdens.

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) stands out as a leading enterprise VDI solution, offering unparalleled scalability, security, and flexibility for organizations of all sizes. The virtual desktop operating system is used to securely host desktops and applications in the cloud. It is highly scalable and flexible, renowned for robust security features, and it offers a cost-effective, consumption-based pricing model.

Many organizations, though, face a steep learning curve in implementing and managing AVD, especially if the IT team lacks experience with cloud-based virtual desktop environments. Configuring AVD’s extensive customization options and optimizing it for specific organizational requirements takes planning and expertise. That’s led some to augment AVD with Nerdio Manager for efficient applications management, streamlining support for hybrid workforces, and providing a single pane of glass for overseeing AVD, Windows 365, physical devices, and Windows applications.

AVD with Nerdio enables organizations to modernize their IT infrastructure and enhance user productivity. Nerdio significantly reduces the learning curve associated with AVD by offering intuitive management interfaces and step-by-step guidance tailored for IT administrators.

Avoiding cloud utilization headaches

Unoptimized cloud computing costs can create major headaches for IT and finance teams. But Nerdio’s patented Auto-Scaling feature can reduce Azure compute and storage costs by as much as 80%. Nerdio Manager for Enterprise automatically swaps out OS disks from SSD to HHD when VMs are not running, and it automatically expands and reduces the Azure Files IOPS and sizes to meet storage needs based on usage.

Nerdio’s Auto-Scaling and automation enabled the IT organization at Canada’s Equitable Bank to turn virtual machine schedules on and off as AVD usage and demand fluctuated. This resulted in 74% savings on compute per month compared to the previous environment. The bank now manages approximately 1,900 end users with Nerdio, seamlessly connecting employees across Canada with a cloud-based solution.

With Nerdio’s storage optimization of Azure Files and Azure NetApp Files, Log Analytics, OS disk swapping, Advanced Predictive Drain Mode, and multiple scaling triggers, organizations can closely match the Azure infrastructure to user demand in real time. This ensures maximum efficiency in utilizing AVD’s consumption-based pricing.

Nerdio can fully manage desktop images, utilizing Scripted Actions to easily enable the creation of images in less than 30 minutes and install the software that is needed without having to log onto the VM. This avoids manual image creation or utilizing DevOps, Packer, or some other complicated method.

An automated approach to provisioning AVD with Nerdio ensures consistency and reliability across deployments, mitigating the risk of errors and ensuring a seamless user experience.

In 2021, the University of North Florida (UNF) undertook a major strategic initiative to digitally transform and migrate to the cloud to better serve the student body, faculty, and staff. When beginning the transition to Azure Virtual Desktop, they found that it was more agile and improved performance—but the native capabilities were limited, making it challenging to manage and automate, so it turned to Nerdio Manager for Enterprise to improve the AVD environment.

“Unlike with our previous virtualization solution, I no longer have to sit around to see if machines are being over-utilized,” said Michael Holmes, Assistant Director of Endpoint Management at UNF. “I don’t need to move users around or re-image my hosts in the middle of the day. Nerdio handles it all gracefully, ensuring a seamless user experience.”

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop ensures a uniform and efficient user experience for employees and contractors alike, whether they’re working remotely, on the move, or within offices. But if you don’t have the resources or the desire to master how to optimize AVD performance and utilization, learn more about how Nerdio can provide the expertise and support services needed to ensure a seamless experience for end users and maximize the value of your investment.