The 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service (DaaS): A Comprehensive Review of Result

Today I am going to do a comprehensive review of the result of the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service (DaaS). The report was published on 16^th of Sept. 2024.

As the shift to remote and hybrid work becomes permanent, the DaaS market continues to expand. Gartner’s 2024 Magic Quadrant for DaaS assesses 14 vendors based on their ability to execute and completeness of vision, classifying them into Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries, and Niche Players.

Leaders in the 2024 Magic Quadrant

1. Microsoft: A longstanding leader, Microsoft remains dominant with its Windows 365 Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop. Both platforms offer extensive integrations with the Microsoft ecosystem, providing powerful, scalable solutions for virtual desktop delivery. Azure Virtual Desktop allows more customization, while Windows 365 delivers a simplified, fully managed service. The seamless integration with tools like Microsoft 365, Teams, and OneDrive continues to make Microsoft a top choice for businesses looking for robust DaaS solutions. Windows 11 Multisession is a disrupter in the market.

2. Amazon Web Services (AWS): Moving from the Challengers to the Leaders quadrant in 2024, AWS solidifies its position with Amazon WorkSpaces, a flexible, cloud-native DaaS offering. It supports both Windows and Linux desktops, providing flexibility for businesses with diverse operational needs. AWS also excels with its pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing organizations to scale up or down depending on their workforce demands. This cost-effective approach makes AWS a top player for companies looking for scalable, secure virtual desktop solutions.

3. Omnissa: Recognized for its AI-driven innovations, Omnissa moves into the Leaders quadrant this year. Omnissa’s strength lies in its ability to leverage automation to simplify desktop management. Its solutions allow organizations to optimize performance and security with minimal manual intervention, reducing administrative overhead and boosting operational efficiency. Omnissa’s AI-driven capabilities make it a strong contender for enterprises looking to modernize their virtual desktop infrastructure.

4. Citrix: A longstanding player in virtual desktop services, Citrix DaaS(formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops) maintains its leadership position. Citrix’s HDX technology provides optimized performance, particularly for bandwidth-constrained environments, making it ideal for industries requiring high-performance computing. Citrix DaaS also integrates seamlessly with on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures, allowing organizations to manage complex desktop environments with ease. Citrix’s focus on security and high-end performance cements its status as a leader in the DaaS space.

Challengers in the 2024 Magic Quadrant

ATSG: Positioned in the Challengers quadrant, ATSG provides reliable DaaS offerings for businesses with specific use cases but lacks the broader vision to move into leadership. ATSG’s solutions are more tailored to industries requiring strong compliance and governance controls.

Visionaries in the 2024 Magic Quadrant

1. Dizzion: Dizzion has moved from Niche Players to Visionaries in 2024, primarily due to its focus on specialized solutions that offer secure, high-performance DaaS environments. Dizzion caters to industries requiring enhanced security, such as healthcare and financial services.

2. Parallels: A new entrant in the Visionaries quadrant, Parallels is known for its cross-platform compatibility, allowing businesses to provide virtual desktops across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments. This flexibility appeals to companies needing multi-OS support.

Niche Players in the 2024 Magic Quadrant

1. Anunta: Known for providing end-to-end DaaS solutions, Anunta focuses on delivering secure, managed virtual desktops tailored to specific industries like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance).

2. Alibaba Cloud: Offering a competitive DaaS solution in Asia, Alibaba Cloud is a key player in regions with stricter data privacy and sovereignty regulations.

3. Apporto: Specializing in cloud-hosted virtual desktops, Apporto provides scalable and affordable solutions, particularly for educational institutions.

4. IronOrbit: IronOrbit is recognized for its cloud desktop infrastructure that supports high-performance computing, making it an attractive option for graphics-intensive industries.

5. Workspot, Inc: Workspot focuses on delivering enterprise-grade DaaS solutions that offer seamless integration with public cloud providers.

6. Flexxible: Offering modular DaaS solutions, Flexxible caters to businesses that require flexibility in managing both cloud and on-premise desktop infrastructures.

7. Oneclick Group AG: Oneclick offers secure remote desktop access solutions, primarily targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that require easy-to-use virtual desktops.

Key Trends in the 2024 DaaS Market

The shift towards hybrid work is the primary driving force behind the growth of the DaaS market. Organizations are increasingly prioritizing scalability, security, and flexibility in their virtual desktop solutions. DaaS platforms offer several advantages over traditional desktops, including:

1. Scalability: Organizations can scale resources up or down quickly, depending on their workforce needs.

2. Cost-efficiency: Pay-as-you-go pricing models allow companies to optimize costs, ensuring they only pay for what they use.

3. Security: DaaS platforms offer enhanced security features like encryption, access control, and identity management, making them ideal for companies handling sensitive data.

4. Flexibility: Employees can access virtual desktops from any device, increasing productivity and enabling remote work.

Final Thoughts

The 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DaaS highlights the rapidly growing importance of virtual desktop solutions in today’s hybrid work environment. Microsoft, AWS, Omnissa, and Citrix lead the way with comprehensive, scalable offerings that meet the needs of modern enterprises. Visionary players like Dizzion and Parallels continue to innovate, while Niche Players such as Anunta and IronOrbit provide specialized solutions for industries with unique requirements.

With more businesses adopting DaaS, the market will continue to evolve, offering enhanced security, better integration with other cloud services, and AI-driven innovations to streamline operations. Organizations looking to adopt DaaS can use Gartner’s Magic Quadrant as a valuable tool for evaluating vendors and making informed decisions about which solution best fits their needs.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service, Stuart Downes, Eri Hariu, 16 September 2024

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.