It is now formal. Amazon WorkSpaces, which was given a limited preview at last year’s AWS re:Invent conference, is now available to all-comers.
This provides a desktop computing environment in the cloud. It gives enterprise IT the power to meet the needs of a diverse user base by providing them with the ability to work wherever and whenever they want, while using the desktop or mobile device of their choice.
To some extent this is a similar approach to that offered by Microsoft’s Office 365 or Google Apps, except that Amazon does not have an applications suite `axe’ of its own to grind. WorkSpaces can, therefore, be used for applications that range from corporate desktops to engineering workstations.
The service is available to all AWS account holders, and all they will need is a PC or Mac to run the WorkSpaces client, plus Internet connectivity (TCP on port 443 plus TCP and UDP on port 4172). There are also mobile versions of the WorkSpaces client on iPad, Kindle Fire HDX, and Android tablets. Though it is interesting to see that Amazon suggests that an IT professional will be required for provisioning WorkSpaces for each user.
Once up and running, users will have access to a complete Windows 7 experience in the cloud, with persistent storage, bundled utilities and productivity applications, and access to files and other resources on the corporate intranet.
If there is an existing Active Directory domain, WorkSpaces can use it for user authentication and WorkSpace management. It is also possible to create a directory managed by WorkSpaces when starting to use the service.
As part of this launch Amazon is also rolling out WorkSpace Sync. This continuously, automatically, and securely backs up to Amazon S3 any documents created or edited in a WorkSpace. It is also possible to install the Sync client on existing client computers (PC or Mac) in order to have access to data regardless of the environment being used.
