The document outlines a workshop on Amazon Workspaces, a cloud-based desktop-as-a-service offering from AWS, detailing its advantages over traditional desktop setups. It explains the steps for using Workspaces, including creating an AWS account, configuring workspaces, and connecting to them. Additionally, it highlights key features such as security, backup options, and integration with Microsoft Active Directory.

1. 04 April 2020
Cloud Manthan Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
Virtual Desktops in Cloud

2. Your Hosts today
● 100+ Workshops for Fortune 500
companies
● 150+ AWS Implementations with team
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amodkadam-aws-certified-consultant-trainer/
● AWS ,DevOps, Automatio , Terraform
● Active user of WorkSpaces for over a
1 year
https://www.linkedin.com/in/devopstechie/

3. Agenda
● Basics of AWS
○ Just enough to understand and use WorkSpaces
● What & Why of WorkSpaces ?
● How to use WorkSpaces ?
● Demo
● Pricing
● Q & A

4. What is AWS
(Amazon Web Services)?

5. What is AWS ?
● AWS - Amazon subsidiary
● First mover as as Cloud Service Provider (CSP)
● Started its operations in 2006
● Leader in IaaS Space as well Cloud AI Developer service
● Public Cloud
○ Anyone can use it - Individual, Small to Medium Businesses, Large Enterprise, …
● Offers various services - compute , storage , database..
● Services available across the globe
● Amazon WorkSpaces is one of the service offerings from AWS

6. AWS Product Range

7. AWS Global Footprint
● 22 Regions
● 5+ Upcoming
● Each region
contains multiple
data centers
grouped as
Availability Zones
● All Services may
not be available in
all the regions
● Pricing is different
in each Region
Source : aws.amazon.com

8. Amazon WorkSpaces

9. What is Amazon WorkSpaces ?
Service which provides Virtual Desktop in the Cloud a.k.a.
Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)

10. Flash !

11. Flash !

12. Important points related to Offer
● Offer is valid if you have not used WorkSpaces in your AWS account
● As of now this offer is from 1st April until 30th June 2020
● Eligible for Standard , Value, Professional pack
● Eligible for 50 users

13. Why do you need Amazon
WorkSpaces like Service ?

14. Why you would need it ?

15. New Ways of Working
Work Life
Balance

16. Why can’t we just provide users
with laptops or desktops ?

17. Comparison : Traditional vs WorkSpaces
Parameter Traditional WorkSpaces
How many ? Challenging to predict the exact demand Scale as per demand (1..100…)
Configuration
(CPU / Memory /
Disk)
Plan well ahead
● Flexible
● Configuration can be changed if
needed
Softwares &
Licences
Plan ahead and Purchase Licences ● Available in Bundle
● Marketplace
● Bring Your Own Licence (BYOL)
Duration ● 30 days / 1 month / 3 months..
● Challenging to determine the exact tenure
Few hours to ongoing …
Security Third party software for encryption and Antivirus Enable Encryption or use third party
software

18. Comparison : Traditional vs WorkSpaces
Parameter Traditional WorkSpaces
Management Needs to be managed AWS Platform
Cost Quotes/ Negotiation Published Rate - Hourly or Monthly
Rent vs Buy Capex vs Opex Rent ( pay as you go)
Time to provision Delivery Cycle Quick / Immediate
Terms & Conditions Negotiate Standard AWS terms

19. What are the steps to use
WorkSpaces ?

20. Getting Started with WorkSpaces
1. Get an AWS Account
○ Existing account or
○ New account (12 months Free tier )
2. Create WorkSpace
○ Choose the region closer to you
3. Connect to WorkSpace using WorkSpace Client
○ Start using it
○ Install any additional softwares if required

21. Step 1 - Setup new AWS Account or
use existing Account

22. Open AWS account
(Required only if you don’t have an AWS account )
1) To open AWS account you would need
a. Email Id
b. Phone Number
c. Credit or Debit Card (only for Authorization)
2) Go to https://aws.amazon.com/free/ and follow the instructions
● This process typically takes around 5 minutes

23. Step 2 - Create WorkSpaces

24. 2.1 Choose Region Closer to you
https://clients.amazonworkspaces.com/Health.html

25. 2. Configure WorkSpaces
2.1 Use Existing Directory or Create Directory in chosen region
● List of users and groups
2.2 Launch Workspace
2.2.1 Choose Bundle ( OS, CPU / Memory ,Storage + additional applications)
2.2.2. Choose Pricing Option ( Monthly or Hourly)
2.2.3 Additional Settings (Encryption) - Optional

26. 2.2.1 (a) Bundle
Linux and Windows Variants are available

27. 2.2.1(b) - Additional Applications
● Default set of application - IE , FireFox
● Additional application bundle can be setup with additional fees
○ MS Office Professional
○ Trend Micro Business Security

28. 2.2.2 Pricing Model
● Monthly Billing
○ Pay fixed monthly fee with unlimited usage
○ Ideal for folks who are using on daily basis as their primary desktop
● Hourly Billing
○ Pay small fixed amount/month + hourly charge
○ Ideal for on-off kind of usage
■ Road -warriors , training , education purpose
● Switching between Monthly and Hourly is possible to reduce the overall cost
● AWS Cost Optimizer (tool within AWS) automatically does switching between
pricing model

29. E.g Linux & Windows Pricing
Windows
Linux

30. Step 3 - Connect to WorkSpace

31. 3.1 Invitation Email for WorkSpaces
Registration Code
User name
URL to complete profile

32. 3.2 Complete Use Profile
● Note the
username
● Set the password
Actual Email Id

33. 3.3 Download the WorkSpace Client

34. 3.4 Register User & Login
Registration Code

35. 3.5. Inside WorkSpaces

36. Operations with WorkSpaces

37. Start/Stop/Reboot..
● Start
● Stop
● Reboot
● Rebuild
○ In case of any system issues
● Change Configuration….
● ...

38. WorkSpace - Stopped State
After 1 hour of Idle state WorkSpace will be in STOPPED state

39. Starting , Available State

40. ● Types of Changes...
○ Disk Size
○ Compute Type
■ e.g. Value (1vCPU , 2GiB) , Standard (2vCPU , 4 GiB) , (PowerPro 8 vCPU / 32 GB) ,...
○ Running Mode
■ AlwaysOn
■ AutoStop
● Changes can be done using
○ AWS Console
○ WorkSpaces Client UI
○ Application Programming Interface (API)
Change Configuration

41. Additional Features

42. Key Features
● Backup
○ User Data (EBS volumes) are backed up every 12 hours
○ In case WorkSpaces fails it can restore from earlier backup
○ Automatically setup and managed
● Security
○ Disks (Data Volumes ) can be encrypted within AWS
○ Decide which IPs are allowed to connect to WorkSpace
● WorkSpaces Application Manager (WAM)
○ Tool to accelerates deployment of curated applications
○ Enables to build and curate a selection of desktop applications for your users and control access
to those applications

43. Key Features
● Integration with Microsoft Active Directory
○ Hosted in AWS - Microsoft Managed AD
○ Integrate with On-Premise Active Directory - Using AD Connector

44. Useful References
● AWS
○ Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Cloud Computing Services
○ Open an AWS Account AWS Free Tier
● Amazon WorkSpaces
○ Amazon WorkSpaces
○ Amazon WorkSpaces - FAQs – Amazon Web Services
○ Get Started with Amazon WorkSpaces Quick Setup - Amazon WorkSpaces
○ Amazon WorkSpaces - Pricing
● WorkSpaces Videos
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vansN5WHHTY

45. Cloud Manthan Software Solutions Pvt Ltd.
connect@cloudmanthan.com | www.cloudmanthan.com | +91 98923 00901