IT Management Faces Urgent Shift to VDI, SaaS, and DaaS

UPDATE: A new report from Parallels reveals a critical shift in IT management strategies, as organizations increasingly adopt Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). This urgent update comes as 80% of businesses now deliver at least a quarter of their applications through SaaS, highlighting the necessity for IT leaders to adapt quickly.

Organizations are navigating a complex landscape where applications and data delivery methods are evolving rapidly. The need for centralized control, security, and flexibility is pushing many to consider hybrid approaches. According to the latest data, 85% of organizations utilize SaaS, but only 2% rely exclusively on it, indicating a growing trend towards combining these models.

Why This Matters NOW: As hybrid work becomes the norm, IT departments must rethink their strategies to ensure security, compliance, and operational efficiency. The stakes are high; organizations that fail to adapt risk falling behind in a competitive landscape. IT leaders are urged to weigh multiple factors, including security needs and operational expertise, when deciding how to structure their application delivery.

VDI offers centralized delivery and secure remote access, allowing applications to be managed from a secure environment. However, it requires constant connectivity, which can be a barrier for some organizations. In contrast, SaaS simplifies software delivery through subscriptions, automatically updating applications without user intervention. Yet, this model comes with its challenges, including data security and vendor lock-in.

The DaaS model provides the best of both worlds, delivering virtual desktops without the complexity of managing infrastructure. This approach allows organizations to scale quickly, supporting workforce changes without compromising on performance or security.

As organizations evaluate these delivery models, key considerations include security and compliance demands, the expertise required for management, and the geographical distribution of users. The Parallels Cloud Survey 2025 emphasizes that 86% of IT leaders are actively planning to shift workloads away from public cloud solutions, underscoring the urgency of these decisions.

Next Steps: IT leaders must act decisively to align their application delivery strategies with organizational needs. By leveraging a mix of local applications, VDI, SaaS, and DaaS, businesses can optimize for security and performance while embracing the flexibility required for the future.

This report serves as a wake-up call for IT management teams worldwide: adapt or risk being left behind. The time to act is now; organizations must build for flexibility to secure reliable access today while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.