4 Things to Consider When Choosing a DaaS Provider, Part 2: Cost

One of the key benefits of “as-a-service” consumption models is to shift capital expenses (CapEx) to operating expenses (OpEx) in order to decrease and plan for overall cost. DaaS is no different. The challenge, however, can come when comparing providers and the pricing they offer.Often times decision makers end up with an apples-to-oranges scenario based on various pricing models and the level of service that is actually provided. Here are three main things that can distinguish one DaaS provider from another when it comes to the cost of their service:

What are you paying for?

DaaS solutions are more than just login credentials and an operating system running on a provider’s server. Much more must be considered, including: antivirus/anti-malware, bandwidth, desktop setup and tuning, updates, patching, monitoring, and support. A low price on a provider’s website certainly seems attractive, but it may not be taking all these items into consideration. Low prices can also come with a “minimum desktops” caveat such as 200+.

What services are additional, if even optional?

Providers may be willing to offer the services mentioned above, but at an additional price or different cost model. This keeps the price on their webpage attractive, but increases the total cost of their solution. Some providers also price based upon utilization for certain components, such as bandwidth, which can negate the benefit of consistent, predictable operating costs. Additionally, services like desktop tuning, monitoring, and updating may not even be available, leaving the customer with the responsibility. Dizzion’s cloud delivered desktops include things like antivirus, tuning, platform updates, security stack management and monitoring, backups and 24x7x365 support in every solution so our customers remain secure and experience exceptional performance out of the gate.

Is support included or is it an additional cost?

Many organizations don’t take support costs into account when finding a DaaS provider, but will come find out that support is an important part of what DaaS is. Ask upfront if support is an added cost or if there are boundaries on the type of support provided. For example, will you be supported 24x7x365? Support is often considered a soft cost, so adding it as an unexpected line item in your analysis could come as a surprise.

Dizzion has evolved past what most DaaS providers offer in their base desktop solutions. A dedicated sales and support team works with every customer to make sure they are buying a holistic solution, rather than a single piece of the puzzle. Not only does this remove any sort of hidden costs that customers may face down the road, but it also helps them utilize Dizzion’s expertise to ensure a secure and high preforming desktop experience.

In our next post, we’ll dive further into support and how to determine if a provider’s level of support fits with what your team really needs to implement virtual desktop infrastructure successfully.

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Read Part 1: Infrastructure