Amazon WorkSpaces Reviews

Name: Amazon WorkSpaces
Brand: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Rating: 4.1 (16 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

16 reviews
93% willing to recommend

What is Amazon WorkSpaces?

Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) solution provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows users to access a virtual desktop environment in the cloud from various devices, including laptops, tablets, and thin clients.

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Amazon WorkSpaces is the #2 ranked solution in top Desktop as a Service vendors and #8 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions. PeerSpot users give Amazon WorkSpaces an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 16 most recent Amazon WorkSpaces reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.5. (Among the highest in the category). Amazon WorkSpaces is most commonly compared to Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service): Amazon WorkSpaces vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service). Amazon WorkSpaces is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 64% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

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Featured reviews

Bhaskar Rao

Network manager admin at Yamaha

It's very stable. There is a big difference between traditional physical servers and cloud servers. With physical servers, we need to plan for purchasing, procurement, capacity, storage, get quotations, and then procure them. That took some time. Maybe it would take more than one month or maybe two months to procure and then install. With AWS, it is readily available. Just pay and immediately create the VPC, network, and everything. It is very easy. Within two or three hours, we can implement any server or launch any application. Within five minutes, we can just spin up and publish our servers on the Internet.

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Saswata Mondal

Director Data Science at a media company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Making it more self-service friendly would be the implement I'd be looking for. When we have to add new applications, we have to go through the IT to do that, and they need to do some configuration changes. I believe they have to reevaluate the computation and storage and the memory. So this is this is something that as an unrequired and should be changed. Also, the initial start time takes couple of minutes and it is easy for get distracted during the time. So if it can reduce the start time to a reasonable start of time to a reasonable time of five to ten seconds. That will be great.

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Rostyslav Khomyk

Product Owner IT Services at Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)

The tool has low latency and multimedia support. For instance, running Zoom calls on Amazon WorkSpaces seamlessly supports local microphones, speakers, and web cameras. This feature is transparent for applications, allowing me to use the Zoom application without requiring exceptional support for remote web cameras or microphones. Amazon WorkSpaces provides this functionality at the operating system level, enabling effortless video conferencing. To my knowledge, Microsoft Remote Desktop does not offer the same support.

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Amazon WorkSpaces mindshare

Product category:

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Amazon WorkSpaces in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) category stands at 0.7%, down from 1.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 21, 2024

Valuable Features

Amazon WorkSpaces offers mobility, allowing access from any location. Security and seamless streaming provide reliable data protection. Users appreciate the flexibility and easy provisioning. Its cost-effectiveness, fast performance, and scalability enhance user experience. The ease of deployment, low latency, and multimedia support enable efficient video conferencing. Remote work is effortless through browser access. Users from different regions can deploy virtual desktops quickly. Stability, quick implementation, and Active Directory integration are also highlighted features.

"The initial setup is simple."
"The infrastructure is readily available, with minimal latency, which each user can benefit from."
"Performance and scalability are valuable features."

Room for Improvement

Amazon WorkSpaces requires enhancements in speed and performance, especially during video and audio conferencing. Users encounter issues installing third-party applications and configuring external software. Pricing and support services need revision, including their base plan and assistance options. Features such as concurrent usage, shadow mode, and USB connectivity are necessary. Improvements in corporate identity management, single sign-on, and user-friendly controls are desired. Stability, VPN functionality, and start times could also be optimized.

"The agent sometimes has connectivity issues, but otherwise, it's good."
"There is always scope of improvement in the stability."
"Configuration was a bit complicated at first but manageable."

ROI

Amazon WorkSpaces provides a significant return on investment, rated between seven and eight out of ten. Users appreciate the readily available infrastructure, allowing for quick database setups in a shared environment. The ease of launching and setting up enhances productivity and simplifies connectivity. Troubleshooting is straightforward, making it favorable compared to traditional on-premises configurations. Organizations report noticeable improvements in efficiency, valuing the platform's benefits for faster implementation of solutions.

Pricing

Amazon WorkSpaces pricing can range from $85 to $150 per month per machine, based on capacity and resources. Additional charges apply for network connectivity and storage. Licensing costs can vary depending on company turnover and Amazon relationships. Users can choose between hourly and monthly pricing. The pricing model is generally perceived as reasonable, with pay-as-you-go options available. External costs, such as support and additional services, can add to the overall expense.

"The pricing is based on consumption. You pay for each process based on the transactions you make."
"It is very expensive."
"The tool's pricing depends on company turnover and the organization's relationship with Amazon. I rate it a six out of ten."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Amazon WorkSpaces as a virtual desktop for various tasks including everyday office activities, software development, and remote access to company networks. It provides a secure environment for users working from home, facilitates easy management of systems and applications, and eliminates the need for physical laptops by hosting data on the cloud. It supports applications across different OS platforms and simplifies user management.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for Amazon WorkSpaces earn high marks, often rated ten out of ten. Users mention helpful assistance from sales staff for minor issues. While most users don't experience major problems, some note that critical issue responses take 24 to 48 hours, with suggestions for faster replies. Contact typically occurs through IT teams or call centers. Some users mention necessary costs for priority support. The response time is good, although it could improve.

Deployment

Setup of Amazon WorkSpaces is generally easy and straightforward, with many finding it user-friendly. Most teams managed to complete it within a few days and rated the ease of setup highly. Some mentioned integration capabilities with other services like VPC, cloud, and S3. While most found the deployment process to be uncomplicated, a few needed additional domain configuration and testing time. Organizations usually accomplished deployment using minimal resources.

Scalability

Amazon WorkSpaces is seen as highly scalable, effectively supporting various organizations up to hundreds or thousands of users. Users have flexibility in scaling up or down and can adjust resources such as compute type and storage to manage costs. It efficiently meets the demands of entities ranging from small businesses to larger enterprises. Several users rate its scalability very positively, indicating it handles increasing user needs without issues. Scalability receives high ratings from multiple users.

Stability

Amazon WorkSpaces stability is consistently rated highly by users, often scoring nine out of ten. Users report few to no major issues, attributing minor disturbances to network latency concerns. Although some note the system locks when idle, stability effectively depends on reliable internet connectivity. While expressing overall satisfaction, they acknowledge potential improvement areas.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Amazon WorkSpaces Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Government

13%

Financial Services Firm

University

Educational Organization

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

Energy/Utilities Company

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Healthcare Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Retailer

Logistics Company

Transportation Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Non Profit

Consumer Goods Company

Legal Firm

Paper And Forest Products

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Learn more about Amazon WorkSpaces

With Amazon WorkSpaces, users can have a complete desktop experience with their familiar applications and data, while the underlying infrastructure and management tasks are handled by AWS. The virtual desktops provided by Amazon WorkSpaces are persistent, meaning that user data and settings are retained even when disconnected from the virtual desktop.

Amazon WorkSpaces Features:

Desktop Experience: Provides a complete Windows or Linux desktop experience for users.
Device Flexibility: Accessible from various devices such as computers, tablets, and thin clients.
Managed Service: AWS manages infrastructure, updates, patches, and backups.
Flexible Scaling: Easily scale the number of virtual desktops based on needs.
Security and Compliance: Built-in security features and compliance capabilities.
Cost-Effective: Pay-as-you-go pricing model for optimized cost management.
Integration with AWS Services: Seamlessly integrates with other AWS services.
User Profile Management: Supports saving and applying user-specific settings.
Application Compatibility: Supports a wide range of applications.

Amazon WorkSpaces Benefits:

Flexible Accessibility: Users can access their virtual desktops from various devices, providing flexibility and mobility.
Simplified Management: AWS manages the underlying infrastructure, reducing the burden of desktop management for organizations.
Scalability: Easily scale the number of virtual desktops up or down based on business needs, accommodating workforce changes.
Enhanced Security: Built-in security features and compliance capabilities ensure data protection and regulatory compliance.
Cost Savings: Pay-as-you-go pricing eliminates upfront infrastructure costs, allowing organizations to optimize their desktop infrastructure expenses.
Integration with AWS Services: Seamlessly integrate with other AWS services for enhanced functionality and capabilities.
User-Friendly Experience: Offers a familiar desktop environment with customizable settings and application compatibility.

Reviews from Real Users

Sachin Narvekar, IT-IS LEAD at Tata Consultancy, writes that "Amazon WorkSpaces is a virtual desktop platform. So, instead of having your laptops, and desktops, you can have your data on the cloud.”, he also adds, "Security, streaming, faster performance, scalability, and the fact that it is very much cost-effective, are some of the solution's valuable features."

Ravi-Bhardwaj, Manager at Ravi RITS Enterprice, states that “The solution has improved the organization because now any user who doesn't have a corporate laptop can connect to the system, security is still high, and it uses very low bandwidth.”

Amazon WorkSpaces was previously known as WorkSpaces.