Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a means of hosting a desktop operating system within a virtual machine that runs on a centralised server, which presents an alternative to server-based computing. VDI provides users the ability to access their desktop remotely, often even from a handheld device because the entire process of executing the interface is done at the central server.

The primary use for VDIs is to provide global access to desktop systems, but they are also used in designing disaster recovery and backup solutions as they can routinely update the desktop’s data on a remote server and enable the interface for users in case of a system failure.