The two DaaS': Data as a Service and Desktop as a Service

In the world of IT, there are lots of acronyms. They've usually been created to shorten a long, complicated name of a service, solution or software. But there are so many that it can be very confusing - especially when the same one can mean two different things!

Like DaaS. DaaS can refer to Data as a Service and Desktop as a Service.

Here, we look at the two DaaS's and the differences between them.

What is Data as a Service?

Data as a Service is a model whereby organisations access data through a cloud-based platform provided by a third-party. DaaS lets organisations offload the burden and risks associated with managing their own data.  Data can be delivered to users irrespective of their location or organisational barriers. Common business applications which use DaaS are CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

What are the benefits of Data as a Service?

There are lots of benefits for organisations using Data as a Service. The main ones are agility, cost-effectiveness and quality of data.

• Easy collaboration and co-authoring on documents
• Compatibility with a diverse range of platforms
• Automatic updates to keep you on the most current version of software
• Secure access control measures, such as passwords and encryption
• Able to move data easily between platforms

How do I pay for Data as a Service?

There are two main payment models for accessing Desktop as a Service. They are volume-based pricing and a data type-based payment model.

The volume-based model can be separated further into quantity-based pricing and a pay per call payment model. As the name suggests, quantity-based pricing charges the customer depending on the amount of data they want to use. This is the simplest pricing model for both vendors and customers. Customers can also sign up to unlimited data if they choose.

In the pay per call model, customers are charged for each call they make to the API.

Data type pricing sees customers charged according to the type of data they need. The cost might be based on whether the company needs geographical, financial or historical data, for example.

What is Desktop as a Service?

Desktop as a Service is a subscription-style IT service where an organisation’s desktop and apps are provided by a third-party IT company, who host it in the cloud.

Because the desktop is cloud-hosted, it can be accessed on any device, in any location. It’s also totally secure, so even if an employee loses their laptop, the desktop is secure. DaaS is the ideal solution for keeping companies mobile, agile and productive, under any circumstances.

You can learn more about Desktop as a Service, here.

What are the benefits of Desktop as a Service?

The benefits of Desktop as a Service include:

• Better accessibility – DaaS lets people access their full desktop and apps from anywhere, on any device and at any time.
• Less operating costs – Internal resource can be streamlined as a result of using DaaS. You also save space on-site and have lower power costs.
• Less capital expenditure – because DaaS is supplied on a subscription basis, you don’t need to spend money on hardware, servers and licenses.
• Predictable spend – A fixed monthly price for DaaS means that your spend is always predictable.
• Better security – Using Desktop as a Service means your data is stored in a secure datacentre with the highest security measures in place, instead of on a device which could be lost, stolen or vulnerable to attack. Your data is also backed up and encrypted.
• Improved business continuity - Being able to access your desktop on any device means business can continue as normal in the event of a disaster or worst-case scenario. Staff can also continue working even if they can’t make it to the office or can’t access their usual device.
• Better productivity – Some research has found that employee productivity can be increased by as much as 20% by using Cloud services. This is mainly down to the better level of uptime, easier collaboration between colleagues and the fact staff can work from anywhere.

How do I pay for Desktop as a Service?

Most of the time Desktop as a Service is paid for on a per user per month cost. This makes it really cost-effective for most businesses because there is no waste; you only ever pay for what you are using.

There are some Desktop as a Service solutions online which claim to be ‘free’, but they rarely are, and the service is offered in vastly inferior to any legitimate DaaS. It is always better to pay for a genuine service, which can be budget-friendly anyway. For more information on why ‘free’ Desktop as a Service is a myth, read our blog.

Fore more information about Desktop as a Service, speak to Core today.