Amazon WorkSpaces Core is a set of VDI APIs for third-party software. WorkSpaces Core enables customers and partners to build customized VDI solutions using purpose-built compute instances optimized for virtual desktops. This means that vendors such as Citrix and VMware can offer VDI and DaaS products that will use AWS infrastructure rather than on-prem virtualized options such as VMware vSphere/ESXi hosts or XenServer.
Amazon WorkSpaces is an all-inclusive virtual desktop service. Amazon WorkSpaces Core does not include the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) software and management layer.
A full list of partners working with WorkSpaces Core is available. Vendors/Products include:
Amazon WorkSpaces Core does not support RDSH apps, for that particular use case vendor solutions can be deployed upon Amazon’s EC2 service, for example VMware Horizon can be deployed on Amazon EC2 machines.
This offers those using VMware and similar VDI solutions the option to move to AWS Infrastructure without needing to invest in staff skills around AWS, they can continue to use the VDI management tools, interfaces and protocols with which they are already familiar.
Amazon maintain a very useful FAQ covering common questions asked about WorkSpaces Core, see: Fully Managed VDI Infrastructure – Amazon WorkSpaces Core FAQs – Amazon Web Services.
