Virtual office comparison: criteria for making the right choice
The virtual office or DaaS (Desktop as a Service) is a computer desktop available from any workstation, at any time. Very useful for working on the move, it is highly prized by companies as a work tool for their employees. But how do you choose between the many software vendors available? Find out more about our virtual office comparisons.
What criteria should you use to choose your Virtual Office?
How do you compare the software on the market? Price is one thing, but how do you gauge quality and reliability? Here are a few points to check:
| Classification | Criteria | Example with Virtuel Bureau |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storage space | 25 GB |
| 2 | Data redundancy | Double redundancy (2vCPU) |
| 3 | Data availability | 99,95% |
| 4 | Insurance | 100k€ in favor of the customer |
| 5 | Liability | Global liability |
| 6 | Hosting location | Storage in France |
| 7 | Security | Equipped with BitDefender |
| 8 | Outsourcing | Supported |
Storage space
This is the amount of memory you have available for online storage of your documents and all your applications. OVH's recently launched Cloud Desktop offer starts at 10 GB of storage, compared with 25 GB at Virtuel Bureau.
Data redundancy
These are vCPUs: virtual Central Processing Units. These are virtual processors. In general, a virtual machine runs on a single processor. But when it has two, its performance increases, as does its total capacity, and the risk of breakdown decreases. OVH starts with 1cPU on its introductory offer. While Virtuel Bureau, published by Avenir Numérique, which owns 100% of its hardware chain, offers double redundancy from the outset, for higher performance at all times.
Data availability
This is a criterion that needs to be closely monitored. If your data and applications are stored in the cloud, who's to say they'll be easily accessible? You don't want your data to be temporarily inaccessible if, for example, the hosting company is over-subscribed at peak times. This would be detrimental to your productivity and that of your staff, and would lead to definite operational problems. Not all SaaS providers display this information, but it's important to look for it, or to ask. At Virtuel Bureau, availability is 99.95%. And each customer operates on a network isolated from the others, so there's no risk of a domino effect.
Insurance
A SaaS software publisher is an ASP: Application Service Provider. In French: fournisseur d'applications hébergées. Their role is to provide you with access to applications, infrastructure and maintenance on a subscription basis. Since you're putting a lot in their hands, it's common practice to include a Service Level Agreement( SLA ) in the service contract you sign with them. In other words: a service level agreement. This is a form of agreement that is often appended to the contract, and which commits the ASP. Not all service providers include it. But it is a mark of seriousness and a guarantee of credibility. Some, confident in their abilities, go so far as to set the amount of loss insurance inherent in their offer. At Virtuel Bureau, €100k has been set aside for the customer in the event of service failure.
Responsibility
The ASP you choose subcontracts a number of tasks to other players: infrastructure providers, network services or system integrators. That's why it's so important for them to assume overall responsibility for the service they provide. After all, he's your only contact. In the event of a problem, if he were to pass the buck and pass responsibility on to a subcontractor, you'd be faced with a service interruption and real complications in asserting your rights.
Hosting location
The Cloud is global, and when you entrust your data to someone, the question is always where it goes. Many ISPs outsource to low-cost countries, but the guarantees and means of action are not the same in the event of a problem. Others make a point of storing everything in France. This is the case with Virtuel Bureau, where the argument is clearly put forward. It's a bad sign when it's harder to find information on the location of the hosting.
Security
The ASP takes care of your system, but it's not immune to malicious attacks on its own network. That's why some ASPs equip themselves with powerful antivirus software. Such is the case with Virtuel Bureau, which has chosen BitDefender, a leader in cybersecurity. By equipping itself with the best solution on the market, the remote office publisher is demonstrating the importance it attaches to securing its customers' data. Encrypted access and firewalls are also part of this approach. Particularly with the emergence of BYOD ( Bring Your Own Device), it's crucial to protect even your employees' personal devices used for business purposes. Being able to do this remotely is a real plus.
Outsourcing
If you're going to put your offices online, you might as well delegate management to your service provider. Whether it's application updates, support or server management, your SaaS provider can take care of everything for you. Delegating these technical aspects to a specialist takes the operational burden off your organization. So you can concentrate on your core business. Not all ASPs offer this. But for a small structure that doesn't have, or doesn't wish to set up, an IT department, the opportunity is real.
Conclusion
DaaS is a growing trend. Originating in the United States, it is increasingly gaining ground in France. In response to this trend, new service providers are appearing to offer online office solutions. To make the right choice, a number of criteria need to be met.
Article translated from French