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VDI vs VPN: Which one is better & main differences

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

If you’re not exactly new with using PCs and, most importantly, networking techniques, you might’ve heard aboutVPNand VDI. Granted, VDI is not as popular as aVPN, but it’s still pretty well-known, especially for teleworkers.

In our guide, we’ll help you understand the main differences between theseremote accesstechnologies, as well as decide which one is better for your current needs.

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What is a VPN?

AVPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is a technology that helps you connect to a specific networkremotelyif you have Internet access. MostVPNsenforce security measures, so as to prevent unauthorized connections to the network.

Once you’ve established a connection, you’re basically inside the physical network without actually being there.

You can access various network resources, such as files, and even devices by using aVPNconnection.

VPNcould also refer to the popular anonymization tool, which is used to keep your connection secure and identity private while you’re online.

You just run theVPNclient, connect to a server, and that’s it. TheVPN encrypts your trafficand routes it through its secure network of servers.

There’s a common confusion betweencorporate VPNsand consumer-gradeVPNs(such asPrivate Internet Access), but in this article, we’re only going to focus on the former.

What is VDI?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a technology that can grant you access to a virtual desktop through a centralized server. VDI users are granted access to identical applications, managed by a system administrator.

Therefore, using a VDI is like having a dedicated server that hosts severalvirtual machines. Each hosted machine can be configurated separately by its owner (who reserved the machine).

It’s widely different than aVPN, which only grants you access to the network it’s configured on. A VDI also allocates resources to you, aside from the fact that you can access the corporate network through the virtual desktop you’ve been assigned.

How are VPNs and VDIs different?

While using aVPN, you establish a secure connection through a pre-configured server. Depending on the system you’re using, you may or may not need additional software to establish the secureVPNtunnel.Windows 10 has built-in VPN support, for instance.

VDI, on the other hand, provides you with a customizable virtual station that runs independently from othervirtual machineson the same server. Having dedicated resources for each machine can greatly boost security and performance, but it also costs more.

Is VDI better than VPN?

Depending on your needs, you may consider one service or the other. However, you can’t really compare the two on a fair basis, since they’re different types of service (apples and oranges).

While VDI excels, aVPNmight not do so good, and the other way around. For instance, setting up a VDI may take a long time, whereas deploying and configuring a corporateVPNserver can be done in less than a day.

Furthermore, setting up and maintaining a VDI is significantly more expensive than aVPN.

As far as security goes, a VDI can be more secure than aVPNif configured properly. You can restrict VDIs from allowing data leaks outside the corporate network, whereasVPNscan only protect tunneled data.

Employees can copy company data (depending on permissions and privileges) on their local PC. Thus, it’s easy to see how a careless (or rogue) employee, can easily leak this sensitive information (with or without will) long after disconnecting from theVPN.

Performance-wise,VPNsare somewhat limited, since they highly depend on the client device and connection quality. If you’re using an old device and your connection is not exactly fast, yourVPNconnection might be awful to work with.

VDIs, on the other hand, are allocated separate resources, and only depend on bandwidth usage. As far as processing power goes, VDIs clearly have the upper hand.

To put it shortly:

Final thoughts on VDI vs VPN

All things considered, VDIs andVPNsare both great technologies that can come in handy especially if you’re a remote worker, or if you have remote-working employees.

Each service type has its strength and weaknesses, so it’s crucial to understand what sets them apart before making your choice.

However, VDIs are generally more fit for big companies that can afford the investment, whereasVPNscater more to the needs of small enterprises.

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VDI vs VPN: Which one is better & main differences#

What is a VPN?#

What is VDI?#

How are VPNs and VDIs different?#

Is VDI better than VPN?#

Final thoughts on VDI vs VPN#