Summary: Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) vendor Workspot introduced Desktop-as-a-Service 2.0 (DaaS 2.0) on Microsoft Azure.
Details: Workspot has been in the VDI game for on-premise and cloud deployments for awhile with its VDI 2.0 platform. Now, as a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP), Workspot is enabling customers to roll out cloud-only, subscription-based DaaS environments on Azure through the company’s proprietary automation, orchestration and management engine, which in turn is managed by customers or through the company’s MSP partners. The platform also has built-in networking, image management, security, billing, usage monitoring and reporting, and power management features.
More details: DaaS 2.0 will run Windows 10 desktops, and even though Microsoft has announced that they will allow Windows 10 to run in multi-tenant environments, related licensing has not yet been determined. This means that DaaS 2.0 currently can only run in test environments so far, and only on Azure since Microsoft only allows Windows 10 to run on its cloud. If and when Microsoft allows Windows 10 to run on other clouds, Workspot plans to support DaaS on those, as well.
Company details: Cupertino, CA-based Workspot was founded in 2012 by veterans of both Citrix and VMware. Many of the other executives also held senior positions at Citrix. The company has received five rounds of funding totalling about $22 million. The latest $6.2 million series B round was led by Presidio Ventures with Western Technology Investments, Helion Venture Partners, Translink Capital and Follow[the]Seed participating. The company claims that it is in rapid growth mode, with 3Q16 outperforming the preceding quarter by five times. The company says that 20 percent of its sales are currently indirect, but that it expects that its service partner channel will grow going forward. Workspot has 45 employees and is hiring in sales, marketing and customer support.
Angle: The demand for DaaS is increasing, particularly in the SMB space in which companies don’t have the in-house resources to deploy and manage complex and expensive VDI. In fact, Workspot has stated that most of its new customers are looking to deploy cloud-hosted DaaS as opposed to on-premise VDI. While companies were already able to deploy the company’s flagship VDI 2.0 on Azure, they were required to create and manage the infrastructure themselves, and many SMBs – which are the target market for DaaS – don’t have the resources to do so. With DaaS 2.0, Workspot is essentially managing the Azure infrastructure and the entire DaaS environment. Workspot is already working with MSP partners that use its cloud technology platform in two ways. First, MSPs can use VDI 2.0 to deliver DaaS from their own data centres. Second, MSPs can use DaaS 2.0 and deliver additional services on top of it, including desktop management, vertical applications and localized level 1 and Level 2 support.