VDI vs RDP vs RDS Server: How to Choose the Best Remote Desktop Solution for Your Business

As companies move toward hybrid and fully remote operations, choosing the right remote desktop technology is becoming a critical decision. Many teams rely on centralized access for applications, remote desktops, and shared work environments. Among the most popular options are VDI, RDP, and RDS Server solutions—each offering different levels of scalability, cost efficiency, and user experience.

This tutorial breaks down how all three technologies work, how they differ, and how to choose the best option for your organization in 2025.

What Is VDI?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) provides users with individual virtual desktops hosted on a central server. Each user receives a fully isolated virtual environment.

How VDI Works

• A dedicated virtual machine is assigned to each user.
• All desktops are run and managed centrally.
• Users connect through a thin client or remote desktop application.

Advantages of VDI

• Full user isolation
• Strong security and centralized control
• Flexible resource allocation
• Supports graphics-heavy or specialized workloads

Drawbacks of VDI

• Higher upfront cost
• Requires strong server and storage infrastructure
• More complex deployment and ongoing maintenance

Best Use Cases

• Large enterprises
• Teams with strict compliance/security needs
• GPU-accelerated tasks (design, engineering, rendering)
• Developer or research environments

What Is RDP?

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is Microsoft’s built-in protocol for accessing a remote Windows system.

How RDP Works

• A user connects directly to a single remote PC or server.
• Keyboard, mouse, video, and audio signals are transmitted over the network.
• Works best for one-to-one connections.

Advantages of RDP

• Easy to configure
• Low cost—native to Windows
• Perfect for IT remote administration
• Very lightweight and fast for simple tasks

Drawbacks of RDP

• Not designed for many users on the same machine
• Dependent on the performance of the target PC
• Requires security hardening when exposed to the internet

Best Use Cases

• Individual users accessing personal work PCs
• Small remote teams
• IT engineers managing servers
• Low-resource tasks

What Is an RDS Server?

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is Microsoft’s multi-user platform that allows multiple users to log in to a centralized RDS server and run applications or desktop sessions.

How RDS Works

• Multiple users share the same Windows Server environment.
• Applications are installed once and delivered to everyone.
• Licensing uses RDS CALs for each connected user.

Advantages of RDS

• Supports large numbers of concurrent users
• Extremely cost-effective per user
• Centralized application management
• Ideal for distributed teams and customer support centers

Drawbacks of RDS

• Lower isolation—users share the same OS
• Some apps do not support multi-session environments
• Requires server resource planning and performance tuning

Best Use Cases

• BPO industries
• Call centers and customer support teams
• Shared office application environments
• Organizations needing centralized app delivery

Comparison: VDI vs RDP vs RDS Server

Feature	VDI	RDP	RDS Server
User Isolation	Very High	Medium	Low–Medium
Cost per User	High	Very Low	Low
Scalability	High	Limited	High
Setup Complexity	Complex	Simple	Moderate
Best For	Full desktops per user	Single-user access	Large multi-user environments
Hardware Requirements	Heavy	Light	Medium

Short Insight:

• VDI is ideal for teams requiring dedicated desktops.
• RDP is the simplest remote access method.
• RDS Server is the best balance for multi-user access and shared workloads.

Choosing Between VDI, RDP, and RDS Server

When VDI Is the Better Option

Choose VDI if:

• You need full control over each user’s environment
• Your workloads are resource-intensive
• Compliance standards demand strict isolation
• You use GPU-accelerated applications

When RDP Makes More Sense

Choose RDP if:

• You need quick access to a personal PC or server
• You work alone or with a small team
• You want a simple, cost-free solution

When an RDS Server Is the Ideal Fit

Choose RDS if:

• You need shared access for many users
• You want centralized management
• Your applications support multi-session mode
• Budget is a primary factor

Best Practices for Deploying an RDS Server

1. Right-size Your Hardware

A typical guideline:

• 2–4GB RAM per user
• NVMe SSDs to minimize latency
• Balanced CPU allocation for predictable workloads

2. Secure Your Environment

• Restrict access via firewall rules
• Use strong passwords and MFA
• Enable TLS encryption
• Consider deploying an RD Gateway

3. Optimize Session Performance

• Use FSLogix for user profiles
• Enable GPU acceleration where possible
• Apply Windows Server performance tuning

4. Monitor and Scale

• Watch CPU, RAM, disk I/O, and session counts
• Add more hosts when user load increases
• Implement load balancing for large deployments

FAQ: RDS Server, VDI, and RDP

1. What is the main difference between RDP and RDS?

RDP is the protocol used to connect remotely, while RDS is the multi-user platform built on top of RDP. RDS allows many users to share one server, whereas RDP usually connects to a single machine.

2. Does an RDS server require special licensing?

Yes. Each user or device connecting to an RDS environment needs an RDS CAL (Client Access License).

3. How many users can one RDS server support?

It depends on hardware, but common ranges include:

• 4 vCPU + 16GB RAM → around 10–20 users
• 8 vCPU + 32GB RAM → around 25–40 users

4. Is VDI more secure than RDS?

VDI provides strong isolation because each user has their own VM. RDS relies on shared sessions, which is less isolated but more cost-efficient.

5. Can RDP be exposed directly to the internet?

It is not recommended. Always use VPN, RD Gateway, or IP restrictions to protect against brute-force attacks.