VDI vs RDP vs RDS: Choosing the Right Remote Desktop Solution for Modern Businesses

As remote work, distributed teams, and cloud-based applications become the norm, businesses must choose the right remote desktop technology to ensure security, performance, and scalability.

Among the most widely used solutions are VDI, RDP, and RDS. While they are often mentioned together, they serve very different purposes.

If you are planning to deploy a cloud RDS server, evaluating VDI alternatives, or simply deciding how to enable remote access for your team, this guide will help you make the right choice.

What Is VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)?

VDI delivers a complete virtual desktop experience to each user. Every user gets a dedicated virtual machine running on centralized infrastructure, either on-premises or in the cloud.

How VDI Works

• Each user is assigned a private Windows or Linux VM
• Desktops run on a hypervisor cluster or cloud platform
• Users connect using a remote client from anywhere

Advantages of VDI

• Full desktop isolation per user
• Strong security boundaries
• Highly customizable environments
• Ideal for GPU workloads, CAD, design, and development

Drawbacks of VDI

• High infrastructure and licensing costs
• Complex deployment and ongoing maintenance
• Requires fast storage and networking

Best Use Cases

• Enterprises with strict compliance needs
• Financial institutions
• Software development teams
• Graphics-intensive workloads

What Is RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)?

RDP is Microsoft’s remote access protocol that allows users to connect to a specific PC or server remotely.

How RDP Works

• A user connects to one physical or virtual machine
• The server sends screen data and receives input
• Designed primarily for one-to-one access

Benefits of RDP

• Built directly into Windows
• Extremely simple to set up
• Ideal for remote server management
• Very low cost

Limitations of RDP

• Not suitable for multi-user environments
• Performance depends entirely on a single machine
• Internet-facing RDP requires strong security controls

Best Use Cases

• Individual remote workers
• IT administrators
• Small teams
• Emergency troubleshooting

What Is RDS (Remote Desktop Services)?

RDS (Remote Desktop Services) is Microsoft’s multi-user remote desktop platform.
It is built on top of RDP but optimized for multiple concurrent users.

How RDS Works

• Multiple users log into a shared Windows Server
• Applications and desktops are hosted centrally
• Requires RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs)

Benefits of RDS

• Supports many users on a single server
• Much lower cost per user than VDI
• Centralized application management
• Easy to scale in cloud environments

Limitations of RDS

• Users share the same operating system
• Some applications are not multi-session friendly
• Requires proper capacity planning

Best Use Cases

• SMBs and growing companies
• Call centers and support teams
• Accounting, CRM, ERP, and office workloads
• Cost-efficient cloud remote desktops

VDI vs RDP vs RDS: Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	VDI	RDP	RDS
User Isolation	Very High	Medium	Low–Medium
Cost	Highest	Lowest	Medium
Scalability	High	Low	High
Setup Complexity	High	Low	Medium
Best For	Dedicated desktops, GPU	Single PC access	Multi-user desktops
Management	Per-VM	Individual machines	Centralized

Quick Takeaway

• VDI → Maximum security and isolation, highest cost
• RDP → Simple remote access to one machine
• RDS → Best balance of cost, scalability, and centralized management

For most businesses, RDS offers the best ROI when deployed on a reliable cloud platform.

Why Cloud-Hosted RDS Is the Smart Choice

Running RDS on cloud infrastructure removes many traditional bottlenecks:

• No hardware maintenance
• Easy vertical and horizontal scaling
• Global access with low latency
• Faster deployment

This is where SurferCloud stands out.

Why Choose SurferCloud for RDS Hosting?

• High-performance SSD / NVMe storage
• Optimized Windows Server environments
• Flexible CPU and RAM scaling
• Global data centers for GEO-optimized latency
• Ideal for RDS, application hosting, and remote offices

For businesses targeting users across regions, SurferCloud’s infrastructure makes RDS deployment faster, more stable, and more cost-effective.

How to Choose the Right Solution

Choose VDI If:

• You need full desktop isolation
• You run GPU-accelerated or heavy workloads
• Security requirements are extremely strict

Choose RDP If:

• You only need access to one PC or server
• Your team is very small
• You want the simplest setup

Choose RDS If:

• Multiple users share similar workflows
• You want centralized app delivery
• Cost efficiency matters
• You plan to deploy in the cloud

? For most SMBs and distributed teams, RDS on SurferCloud is the most practical option.

Best Practices for Deploying an RDS Server

1. Plan Capacity Carefully

Recommended baseline:

• 2–4 GB RAM per user
• Adequate vCPU allocation
• SSD or NVMe storage

2. Secure Your RDS Environment

• Enforce strong passwords
• Restrict access by IP
• Enable TLS encryption
• Use RD Gateway for public access

3. Optimize User Experience

• Use FSLogix for profiles
• Optimize session host performance
• Enable GPU acceleration if needed

4. Monitor and Scale

• Track CPU, RAM, disk, and session count
• Use load balancing for larger setups
• Cloud platforms like SurferCloud make scaling simple

FAQ

Is RDS the same as RDP?

No. RDP is a protocol, while RDS is a full multi-user platform built on RDP.

Can VDI replace RDS?

Yes, but at a much higher cost. Many companies use both depending on workload.

How many users can one RDS server support?

Typical estimates:

• 4 vCPU + 16GB RAM → 10–20 users
• 8 vCPU + 32GB RAM → 25–40 users
  Actual numbers depend on application usage.

Is RDP secure?

Only when properly protected using VPNs, RD Gateway, firewalls, and MFA.

What is the biggest advantage of RDS?

Lowest cost per user with centralized management and scalable performance.

Final Recommendation

If you are looking for a cost-efficient, scalable, and GEO-optimized remote desktop solution,
RDS hosted on SurferCloud is the best choice for most modern businesses.

It delivers the flexibility of the cloud, predictable performance, and simplified management—without the high cost of full VDI.