Remote working, or the BYOD approach, is here to stay. And this is why organisations are looking for better ways to deliver desktops and applications to their remote or mobile workforce.
When searching for the best remote desktop software solutions in the UK, you’re likely considering one of the following options:
- Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
- Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
These four different types of virtualisation solutions come with their own benefits, drawbacks, and features.
In this article, we will help you evaluate and compare VPN, AVD, DaaS, and RDS solutions based on key criteria.
What Each RDS Solution Actually Means
Before we compare Remote Desktop Services, VPN, AVD and DaaS, let’s take a closer look at what each term means and how they work.
RDS (Remote Desktop Services)
RDS is Microsoft’s infrastructure that allows multiple users to connect to a shared Windows Server environment. With an RDS in your organisation, all your users can log in to a remote desktop hosted on the server. Users logging in from any machine experience almost the same experience. You connect to these servers via a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client from any device.
AVD (Azure Virtual Desktop)
Azure Virtual Desktop, previously known as Windows Virtual Desktop, is a Microsoft Azure-based VDI or virtual desktop infrastructure that allows multi-session Windows 10/11 experiences in the cloud.
DaaS (Desktop as a Service)
DaaS allows you to create and manage virtual desktops or applications in an off-premises location. You can call DaaS a cloud-based version of VDI, where a third-party host provides and manages VMs, or virtual machines, for you.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN is a traditional way of connecting users to a company’s internal network and resources, such as shared folders, printers, and applications. It’s a popular way to access on-premises applications or desktops. Your users can connect their desktops to a private office network through an encrypted internet connection. It allows your machine to run as if it were in the office, and all processing is done on the client side.
Comparing Remote Desktop Services (RDS) vs VPN vs AVD vs DaaS
Whether RDS, VPN, AVD or DaaS, each solution has its pros and cons and can be compared based on scalability, security, performance, and cost:
Performance
RDS
With proper configuration, RDS offers stable and reliable performance. Any scope of low performance can be enhanced by scaling up the hardware. BlackBox Hosting’s RDS solution combines high performance, low latency, and robust security for businesses and helps them gain an edge through high performance.
AVD
Microsoft’s global Azure infrastructure offers a seamless user experience, but insufficient resources can lead to performance issues.
DaaS
The performance potential of a DaaS typically varies depending on the provider.
VPN
VPNs rely completely on the processing power of the user device and the internet connection. This limits your ability and potential to the infrastructure in use.
Scalability
RDS
It’s ideal for businesses that need stable, predictable workloads and are scalable with manual hardware or licensing upgrades. So whether you’re serving 10 or 10,000 users, BlackBox Hosting’s RDS platform is designed to scale instantly and reliably.
AVD
Microsoft manages the infrastructure, making this choice ideal for highly scalable businesses.
DaaS
Scale easily and add desktops as your workforce grows. However, it gives you little visibility and control over your desktop environment.
VPN
Scaling VPN is tricky for large workforces. It’s complex and often needs hardware upgrades and meticulous network design.
Security
RDS
High level of security with stringent measures like data encryption to safeguard your data from attacks. BlackBox Hosting stands out from other RDS providers due to our strong emphasis on security.
AVD
Secured by Azure’s compliance certifications (ISO, GDPR, UK Cyber Essentials).
DaaS
DaaS providers can handle security patches, access controls, and backups.
VPN
It secures the connection but may not secure the endpoint of the application. If one device is compromised, it could endanger the entire network.
Cost
RDS
This is where RDS shines. It’s among the lowest-cost options for businesses with existing infrastructure.
AVD
Pay-as-you-go pricing with flexibility, but you may face high costs if sessions or usage aren’t optimised.
DaaS
Predictable monthly per-user pricing, great for budgeting, but often higher per-user than RDS.
VPN
It can be a low-cost solution for startups as it needs minimal software add-ons or upgrades to continue operating.
Comparison Table Summary
Here’s a quick summary table comparing RDS vs VPN vs AVD vs DaaS
| Feature | RDS | AVD | DaaS | VPN |
| Host Type | On-prem / Private Cloud | Microsoft Azure | Cloud provider (fully managed) | On-prem / Hybrid |
| Performance | Good (config-dependent) | Excellent (cloud-native, scalable) | High (provider-optimised) | Variable (depends on network/device) |
| Scalability | Moderate (manual scaling) | Very High (elastic in Azure) | Very High (subscription-based) | Limited (infrastructure-bound) |
| Security | Strong with central control | Azure-grade security & compliance | Provider-managed with encryption, MFA | VPN tunnel only—endpoint dependent |
| Cost | Lower upfront; efficient for stable user bases | Pay-as-you-go; can be costly if not optimised | Predictable monthly pricing; higher per-user | Low setup cost if infrastructure exists, but limited ROI |
| Best For | Stable teams, centralised IT | Growing teams, Azure-native stacks | SMEs needing simplicity, no IT team | Temporary access to on-prem assets |
Key Questions B2B Buyers Should Ask Before Choosing
Before you make the right decision, consider the following questions:
- How large is your remote workforce today, and how about in 12 months?
- Do you need multi-session desktop access or full Windows 10/11 desktops?
- What is your in-house IT capacity to manage infrastructure?
- Do you have strict compliance requirements (e.g., data residency, GDPR)?
- Are your business apps cloud-ready or legacy/on-prem?
- What level of user performance do your teams require?
- How critical is 24/7 availability and support to your business?
Why BlackBox Hosting’s RDS Solution Is Ideal for Your Business
BlackBox Hosting offers a top-tier, UK-based Remote Desktop Services (RDS) platform optimised for performance, flexibility, and compliance. We are proudly the UK’s largest managed Remote Desktop Service provider, supporting over 10,000 daily RDP users.
We partner with industry-leading software companies and SMEs to meet their needs for secure, high-performance, and the best remote desktop software services in the UK.
Partner with us to gain:
- A UK-hosted RDS environment for low-latency access and GDPR assurance
- Fully managed infrastructure with patching, backups, and monitoring
- Additional dedicated backup and recovery services, including BaaS and DRaaS
- Custom RDS setup to match your application needs, whether you’re in finance, legal, education, or other industries
- Transparent and predictable monthly pricing
- Scalable user licensing
- Cutting-edge technology and secure access via multi-factor authentication and encrypted sessions
Our RDS services can help your B2B organisation meet all your needs in performance, security, cost, and scalability.
Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.
