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Amazon WorkSpaces

Score7.6 out of 10

37 Reviews and Ratings

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What is Amazon WorkSpaces?

Amazon WorkSpaces is a managed, secure cloud desktop service. Amazon WorkSpaces removes the complexity in managing hardware inventory, OS versions and patches, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

Categories & Use Cases

Reviews

What users are saying about Amazon WorkSpaces.
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An effective tool for specific tasks

Incentivized
Verified User
Administrator in Engineering (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Amazon WorkSpaces saves a lot of time as it provides a isolated virtual desktop. Our main challenge was testing applications on on different java, cmd, powershell etc. and upgrading/degrading to its particular required version was like a nightmare, it created conflicts and broke the normal use of local machine earlier. Amazon WorkSpaces completely solve this, we can now freely configure our WorkSpace as per our requirement.

Pros

  • It gives us a virtual desktop machine which is completely configurable.
  • We can launch and terminate those machines as per our requirements
  • It eliminates software conflicts as we get clean system every time on launch

Cons

  • Idle Timeout should be configurable. If I forgot to switch off the WorkSpace, it continuously running and charging for that as well.
  • As an admin, there is no way to simply push the updates to all available WorkSpaces simultaneously. To achieve that we need to create golden image with patches and recreate workspaces for all the users which is time consuming.
  • WorkSpace of performance tier can't handle even light video editing. Slow rendering and significant lag can be seen all the time.

Return on Investment

  • Before Amazon WorkSpaces, a developer was losing almost 1-2 hrs every time they had to switch projects that required a different environment like installing a particular version of JDK, changing powershell/cmd version, cleaning up conflicting libraries.
  • Our testing cycle of Applications with specific environmental dependencies has been reduced by 20%, which helps us deliver the project sooner.
  • WorkSpace is not a zero maintenance solution. We have to dedicate approximately 8-10 hours in a month to patch the WorkSpaces and handle the user administration.

Usability

Other Software Used

AWS Lambda, LambdaTest, Zoho Desk, Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS)

Purple Squirrels utilize Amazon WorkSpaces (VDI) to find the right tool for remote production

Incentivized
🐿 Matthew KarstenView profile
Purple Squirrel Media in Corporate at Purple Squirrel Media (1-10 employees employees)

Pros

  • Configurable to meet any project need, terminate when not in use
  • Substantial free tier
  • Much improved UI
  • Rapidly deploying new offerings

Cons

  • Ease of use, but a bit of set up
  • Could use UI simplification
  • More Mac offerings

Most Important Features

  • Integrating with other AWS solutions is essential
  • Scalable for any project
  • Robust educational offering on most OS

Return on Investment

  • Positive ROI with superior control over usage
  • Large selection of relevant packages
  • Easily scale 1 to 1000

Alternatives Considered

Parallels Desktop, Oracle VM VirtualBox and Azure Windows Virtual Desktop

Other Software Used

Parallels Desktop, Azure Windows Virtual Desktop, Oracle VM VirtualBox

Amazon WorkSpaces (VDI) Pilot Review

Incentivized
Joe ForanView profile
Director Of Information Technology and HIPAA Privacy Officer in Information Technology at Continuum of Care (501-1000 employees employees)

Pros

  • Quick, clean access to the VDI images.
  • Easy provisioning of images to use based on multiple criteria.
  • Integrating with our other products (AV/AM, productivity, etc.).

Cons

  • Streaming of media to the endpoint.

Most Important Features

  • Fast provisioning.
  • Integration with existing apps and procedures.
  • Security of the session and the authentication.

Return on Investment

  • Positive: Easy access to Windows virtual desktops.
  • Negative: Somewhat cantankerous media playback.

Alternatives Considered

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop)

Other Software Used

Avast Business Antivirus, Datto, Synology DiskStation

Fully optimised, reliable and secure way to connect to virtual machines

Incentivized
Shanaya DesaiView profile
Process Executive in Information Technology at Patra Corporation (1001-5000 employees employees)

Pros

  • Minimalistic UI
  • Multi factor authentication is enabled for better security
  • Secure and reliable
  • Less vulnerable to virus attacks
  • Has application for every major Operating system

Cons

  • Restarting workspaces takes lot of time
  • MFA can be done only via email. Text or dedicated app would be a great choice.

Most Important Features

  • Multi factor authentication
  • Simple and clean UI
  • Ability access from any device.
  • Doesn't need VPN

Return on Investment

  • Easy to connect to our virtual machines
  • Multi factor authentication has ensured of no unwanted logins
  • Trouble shooting is easy
  • Regular updates for better security and optimized usage.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco AnyConnect

Other Software Used

Cisco Jabber, Prezly, Join.me

Start innovating in AWS Today

Incentivized
Verified User
Project Manager (10,001+ employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

AWS is a well documented web service which allows users to accessible freely without any capacity issues at low cost. It provides security and helps to protect privacy of any data being stored. As there are many users of AWS, VDS Lagging is the main issue many of the users are facing. It helps me in privacy protection of project data and easily accessible for the files which are being stored. It's flexibility lets us to use any operating system, programming languages and web application platforms.

Pros

  • In flexibility and security of database
  • Stability of services
  • Continuous manchine learning and focuses on cost reduction of their services
  • No capacity limits

Cons

  • Lagging issues sometimes
  • Paid support packages should be avoided in urgency cases
  • Backup protection is needed
  • Only few professionals are skilled in AWS

Most Important Features

  • Storage and database security
  • Easier to deploy programs
  • Unlimited server capacity
  • Can choose required Operating systems, web based applications

Return on Investment

  • Faster project deliverables
  • Security of our database
  • Have complete control over virtual networking
  • Vds Lagging issues at times due to heavy usage

Alternatives Considered

Google Cloud IoT, Dynamicweb and SAP Core HR and Payroll

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365, SAP Core HR and Payroll, Dynamicweb