At a Glance
Businesses often wonder if they should invest in more desktop PCs or sign up for remote desktop services (RDS). Explore what’s right for your business in this head-to-head comparison between RDS and Desktop PCs based on performance, scalability, and security.
Meeting the modern demands of remote working while ensuring your data and IT assets are secure requires a fine balance that most organisations struggle to achieve. As if this wasn’t challenging enough, you also need to find a way to meet all these requirements within your IT budget.
Some organisations see scaling up, that is, adding more desktop PCs on premises as the more achievable option. But what SMEs may not realise is the many advantages of RDS over desktop PCs.
If you’re wondering whether to invest in more desktop PCs or move to Remote Desktop Services (RDS), let’s start by understanding what remote desktop services are used for, how they work, and how they compare to traditional desktop PCs.
In this guide, we’ll explore the key differences between desktop PCs and remote desktop solutions, helping you decide whether BlackBox Hosting’s RDS is the right solution for your business.
Understanding Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services, or RDS, is a Microsoft-developed solution that lets users access a Windows environment without relying on a dedicated desktop PC. Instead of each employee using their own machine, they connect via the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to a centralised server, hosted either on your premises or in the cloud.
The key features of RDS include:
- Uses the secure RDP protocol to access remote desktops and apps through laptops, thin clients, or tablets.
- Applications and data run on the server, not on the user’s device.
- One powerful server supports many users simultaneously, each with a separate virtual desktop experience.
In contrast, a traditional desktop PC setup means each user has their own dedicated machine to process, store, and access local applications.
RDS vs Desktop PC
Here’s how your traditional desktop PCs and RDS compare in terms of performance, scalability, and security.
Performance
RDS
- In RDS, users access a shared or virtual desktop hosted on a central server via RDP. All applications and processing take place on the server side.
- Latency in RDS is around <50ms, minimising delays and providing smooth, responsive performance ideal for office tasks.
- RDS supports multi-session functionality, allowing multiple users to run sessions on the same server for optimised resource usage.
- Consistent user experiences are delivered for apps like Microsoft 365, ERP platforms, CRM systems, and accounting tools — essential for SMEs.
- Tasks with intensive graphics may experience minor lag since video rendering is processed remotely.
Desktop PC
- Application performance depends on the machine’s hardware, including CPU, RAM, SSD, and GPU specifications.
- Better suited for graphics-heavy applications such as CAD, design, or audio-visual editing.
Scalability
RDS
- The centralised model allows new users to be added quickly by creating virtual sessions or profiles on the server.
- No need for new hardware, simply scale up server CPU, RAM, and storage to optimise overall costs.
- Licensing flexibility via Microsoft’s RDS CALs adapts as your organisation grows.
- Example: a call centre can scale from 20 to 50 users without purchasing 30 new desktops.
Desktop PC
- Each new employee requires a full desktop machine with setup time and licensing.
- More employees mean higher hardware investments, complicating asset management and IT maintenance.
- Inefficient for hybrid or multi-site teams.
Security
RDS
- Provides enterprise-level security with user permissions and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Centralised server control reduces data loss risks.
- If a device is stolen or lost, data remains safe since everything is stored and processed on the server.
- BlackBox Hosting’s RDS ensures uncompromised security for SMEs.
Desktop PC
- Files, including sensitive ones, are stored locally, increasing risks of loss, theft, and cyberattacks.
- Each machine requires manual maintenance unless automated policies (e.g., Microsoft Intune) are in place.
- Greater risk of human error, such as downloading malware or missing security updates.
What is Remote Desktop Services Used For? Use Case Scenarios
You’ll reap all the advantages of RDS over traditional desktop PCs if your business is one of the following:
- Multi-location businesses that need consistent IT across offices.
- Hybrid and remote teams that require secure access to systems from anywhere.
- Call centres and customer service teams where users perform identical tasks and share apps.
- Consultancies and agencies managing short-term contractors and flexible workers.
- SMEs looking to extend IT without hiring a full-time support team.
RDS will outperform desktop PCs where flexibility, scale, and control are top priorities.
How BlackBox Hosting’s RDS Solutions Are Ideal for Your Business
BlackBox Hosting delivers Remote Desktop Solutions with a difference. We’re the UK’s largest managed RDS provider with over 10,000 RDP users. Our platform combines high performance, low latency, and best-in-class security to improve your remote productivity and allow you to access your business applications and desktops from anywhere, at any time.
When you partner with us for our RDS services, you’ll receive:
- Fully managed UK data centre infrastructure
- Daily backups, patching, antivirus, and 2FA
- Support from our UK-based team
- Flexible licensing and predictable monthly pricing
- Support for Microsoft 365, Sage, customised CRMs, and industry-specific apps
Get Ready to Transition
Move away from traditional desktops and open up new possibilities with
BlackBox Hosting’s RDS. Contact us today to build the right RDS environment for your business.
