Amazon WorkSpaces: Transforming Traditional IT Environments

The year 2020 has been challenging due to the prolonged period of the pandemic. This has created a significant change in the IT industry, which maintains continuous delivery through the work from home option. Although this was introduced in 2013, the use cases of Amazon workspaces have played a vital role in business continuity in the face of the global pandemic.

Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed, persistent desktop virtualization service that enables users to access the data, applications, and resources they need, anywhere, anytime, from any supported device.

It enables you to provision virtual, cloud-based Windows or Linux desktops for your workers/employees. Amazon WorkSpaces eliminates the need to procure and deploy hardware or install complex software. One can quickly add or remove users as and when required while giving its end users the provision to access their virtual desktops from multiple devices or any web browser.

Top features of Amazon WorkSpaces:

Easy provisioning:

Amazon WorkSpaces has made the provisioning of Desktops easy. Multiple WorkSpaces can be launched at the same time by choosing bundles that easily meet the user’s needs. Deleting Amazon WorkSpace is easy once it is no longer needed.
Fewer resources from the user end:

Amazon WorkSpaces provides each user with access to varying amounts of persistent storage (SSD Volumes) in the AWS cloud based on the bundle selected. Users can also use Amazon WorkDocs Drive. All content on Amazon WorkDocs Drive is automatically synced to Amazon WorkDocs over an encrypted connection and available on their other devices.
Security and Encryption:

Amazon WorkSpaces integrates with the AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to provide you with the ability to encrypt the storage volumes of WorkSpaces using KMS customer master keys(CMK). As no data is stored on the local device, data flows through enterprise-level encryption, sensitive information is safe even if it is accessed from public Wi-fi networks like airports or Starbucks.
Integrate with Active Directory:

AWS Workspace works with AWS Directory service and Microsoft Active Directory. The users can also use the On-premises directory service with AWS AD to support existing users with AWS Workspace. This can greatly benefit SMBs and enable them to run their applications while running the EC2 and AWS RDS application servers.
It can be connected to any device:

You can manage access for iOS, Android, Chrome OS, and zero clients, as well as the WorkSpaces web access client. For macOS and Microsoft Windows PCs, you can use your digital certificates to limit WorkSpaces access to trusted devices. Define trusted IP addresses that may access your WorkSpaces by using IP address-based Control Groups.

Benefits of using Amazon WorkSpaces:

Cost reduction:

WorkSpaces offer pay-as-you-go pricing options to adapt to the changing business needs. Over-buy of desktops, laptops and other hardware resources are majorly cut down with Amazon WorkSpaces. Long-term commitments, monthly fee structure, and upfront license charges are not needed, leading to a significant reduction in cost.
Provide easy maintenance:

Amazon WorkSpaces is designed for easy accessibility, managing various WorkDocs and easy deleting options.
Data security:

With provision for each end-user access to persistent, encrypted storage volumes in the AWS Cloud, and is integrated with AWS Key Management Service (KMS), Amazon WorkSpaces avoid data leaking. No user’s data is stored on the local device thus removing the possibility of data breach and improving data security.
No licensing hassles:

Users can bring their own, existing Windows 10 Desktop licenses to Amazon WorkSpaces and run them on the physically dedicated hardware. Organizations must meet the licensing requirements set by Microsoft to be eligible with a minimum of 200 Amazon WorkSpaces running in the AWS region in a given month.
Work with various desktop devices

WorkSpaces run in AWS Regions and AWS Availability Zones around the globe. With changing business environments, getting the job done by the workforce is paramount. End users can connect with any device from anywhere and get the job done on priority.

AWS WorkSpaces Workflow:

The above diagram describes how to set up AWS workspace and configure it with an active directory. You can associate WorkSpace with VPC for both Windows and Linux and one can use the directory for storing and managing their information for their workspaces and the users. It uses Active Directory, AD connector/ Microsoft AD to authenticate users so that the users can access their workspace by using a client application from the supported devices.

Conclusion:

Amazon WorkSpace works with end-user computing where an organization adapts with an agile methodology for better performance, data security and to improve the productivity of the workers. By moving the Windows and the Linux desktops to the Amazon WorkSpace, the organization can easily scale up by adding additional users to the group, improving the security of the device, and providing a portable desktop through which the workers can access the desktop from anywhere by using any devices of their choice.

In June 2016, AWS announced, Asia Pacific (Mumbai) Region as the 13th AWS Region. Now, AWS provides 35 AZs across 13 regions globally. Are you an Indian AWS (Amazon Web Services) Cloud Customer? Do you want to adopt AWS Mumbai Region for your production? For AWS (Amazon Web Services) Cloud Customers in India, check out the blog.

The time is right for small and medium businesses to adopt Amazon Workspaces to scale effectively and effortlessly, and progress through cloud innovation seamlessly.