FAQ
EUC & VDI Questions, Answered.
Straight, vendor-neutral answers to the questions we hear most about virtual desktops, migrations, and end-user computing. 20+ years and 500,000+ seats deployed.
How long does a Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop migration take?
A typical Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop migration takes 8 to 16 weeks, driven mainly by user count, application complexity, and how much profile and policy cleanup the existing environment needs. A focused single-site migration of a few hundred users can complete in about 8 weeks, while multi-site deployments with thousands of seats and legacy applications run longer. We start with an assessment, design the AVD landing zone (networking, FSLogix profiles, image management), pilot with a representative user group, then cut over in waves so people keep working throughout. Application discovery and testing, not the AVD build itself, are usually what set the timeline.
How much does a VDI deployment cost?
VDI cost is driven by four things: the number of seats, where it runs (on-premises, cloud, or hybrid), the platform you choose, and the applications you need to deliver. As a planning guide, on-premises VDI carries a larger upfront capital cost for servers and storage but a lower monthly run rate, while cloud VDI such as Azure Virtual Desktop shifts cost to predictable monthly consumption with little upfront spend. We size the real number during the assessment rather than quoting a per-seat figure blind, because a 100-seat single-site deployment and a multi-thousand-seat multi-region one have very different economics. We have planned deployments from 100 to 30,000 seats and will tell you honestly where the money goes.
Citrix vs Omnissa vs Azure Virtual Desktop vs Parallels: which is right for me?
There is no single best platform; the right choice depends on your applications, scale, budget, and in-house skills. Citrix is the strongest fit for complex, large-scale environments that need granular policy control, advanced application delivery, and mature management tooling, and it runs on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid. Azure Virtual Desktop is usually the most cost-effective option for organizations already invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure, especially with Windows multi-session. Omnissa, formerly VMware Horizon, suits organizations with an existing Horizon or vSphere footprint that want to stay on a familiar stack. Parallels offers a simpler, lower-cost approach that works well for small and mid-sized deployments without heavy infrastructure. We are vendor-neutral, so we recommend what fits your environment, not the loudest vendor.
What is end-user computing (EUC) and VDI?
End-user computing (EUC) is the set of technologies that deliver applications and desktops to people wherever they work, on whatever device they use. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is one part of EUC: instead of running Windows and applications locally on each PC, the desktop runs in a data center or the cloud and streams to the user screen. That centralizes management, improves security because data stays in the data center, and lets people work from almost any device. EUC also covers application delivery, profile management, endpoint operating systems, and the networking that ties it all together.
How do I migrate VDI with zero downtime?
Zero-downtime VDI migration works by running the old and new environments in parallel and moving users in waves rather than switching everyone at once. We build and test the new platform alongside the existing one, pilot it with a small representative group, validate every business-critical application, then migrate users group by group with the ability to roll back at each step. Profile and data continuity is handled so users keep their settings and files through the move. We have run this approach on deployments up to 30,000 seats, including a 2,500-seat Citrix migration cut over in a single weekend with no unplanned downtime.
VMware Horizon is now Omnissa: what does that mean for me?
Omnissa is the standalone company that now owns and develops the product line formerly called VMware Horizon, following the Broadcom acquisition of VMware and the carve-out of the end-user computing business in 2024. For existing Horizon customers the product continues under the Omnissa name and your environment keeps working. The practical questions are about licensing terms, support contracts, and the product roadmap, which all moved to Omnissa. We help Horizon and Omnissa customers review their licensing position, plan upgrades, and decide whether staying on Omnissa or moving to another platform is the better long-term fit.
Should I run VDI on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid?
The right location depends on your existing infrastructure, cost model, data residency needs, and how predictable your workloads are. On-premises VDI gives you the most control and a lower long-term run rate when usage is steady and you already own data-center capacity. Cloud VDI such as Azure Virtual Desktop is better when you need to scale up and down quickly, want minimal upfront cost, or support a distributed remote workforce. Hybrid keeps steady baseline workloads on-premises while using the cloud for bursts, disaster recovery, or specific user groups. We assess your usage patterns and costs before recommending a model, because the cheapest option on paper is not always the cheapest in practice.
What is the difference between Nutanix and Scale Computing for VDI?
Both are hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) platforms that combine compute, storage, and virtualization into a single system, but they target different needs. Nutanix scales to large, multi-site enterprise environments and offers a broad feature set, its own hypervisor (AHV), and deep integration with major VDI platforms, which suits organizations running thousands of desktops. Scale Computing focuses on simplicity and low total cost of ownership, which makes it a strong fit for small and mid-sized organizations, edge sites, and lean IT teams that want VDI infrastructure that is easy to run. We deploy both and recommend based on your scale, budget, and how much in-house infrastructure expertise you have.
Can I extend the life of old PCs instead of buying new ones?
Yes. Converting aging PCs into centrally managed thin clients with IGEL OS lets you keep using existing hardware instead of replacing it, often deferring a hardware refresh by several years. IGEL OS replaces the local Windows install with a lightweight, secure operating system that connects to your virtual desktops, which removes most local attack surface and cuts endpoint support effort. In one deployment we converted 1,200 existing endpoints to IGEL OS, deferred the hardware refresh by four years, and reduced endpoint support tickets by 80 percent. It is one of the fastest ways to lower endpoint cost and improve security at the same time.
How do I choose an independent EUC consultant?
Look for vendor neutrality, real deployment depth, and senior engineers who stay on your project. An independent consultant should recommend the platform that fits your environment rather than one they are paid to sell, and should be able to show real deployments at your scale across multiple vendors. Ask who actually does the work, because some firms hand projects to junior staff after the sale. Interfusion has been independent since 2002, has deployed more than 500,000 seats across Citrix, Omnissa, Azure Virtual Desktop, Parallels, and HCI platforms, and assigns senior engineers from day one. Our process is assessment first: we assess your environment, recommend what fits, then design and deploy it.
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