As desktop virtualization becomes foundational to hybrid work strategies, many enterprises turn to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) with Nerdio for its Microsoft-native capabilities. But beneath the surface, named-user licensing, layered infrastructure costs, and limited automation often result in higher-than-expected total cost of ownership (TCO).
Thinfinity VDI on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) offers a smarter, more flexible alternative: a platform that leverages concurrent user licensing, aggressive automation, and lower cloud infrastructure pricing to reduce costs by up to 40–50% — all without sacrificing enterprise features.
Licensing Models: Nerdio vs Thinfinity — Key Differences
Nerdio Licensing Explained
Nerdio adds automation and management tools on top of Azure Virtual Desktop. Its licensing model includes:
- Microsoft AVD access rights – typically included via Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or RDS CALs.
- Nerdio Manager licensing – priced per named user or active user per month, typically:
- $10–$14 per user/month
- Each user who logs in that month triggers a charge, even if used once
- No concurrency discount — licenses required for all users, all month
This model becomes expensive for organizations with:
- Shift-based usage (e.g. call centers)
- Occasional access roles (e.g. executives, QA/testers)
- Unpredictable user patterns
Thinfinity Licensing Explained
Thinfinity Workspace licenses by concurrent user:
- $10 per concurrent user/month (starting price)
- Unlimited named users
- Licenses required only for the peak number of simultaneous sessions
This is significantly more efficient for most organizations, especially those with fluctuating usage or low concurrency patterns.
In typical VDI deployments, peak concurrency is only 50–60% of the total user base. That translates to 40–50% fewer licenses — and less waste.
Infrastructure: Azure vs Oracle Cloud (OCI)
Beyond licensing, the underlying cloud infrastructure cost is another TCO driver. Here’s a direct comparison:
| Resource | Azure | Oracle Cloud (OCI) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 vCPU / 16 GB VM | ~$140/month (D4_v5) | ~$77/month (E4.Flex) / $38 (Ampere A1) | Up to 70% cheaper |
| 100 GB Premium Disk | ~$8.10/month | ~$4.25/month | ~47% cheaper |
| Egress Traffic | First 100 GB free, then ~$90/TB | 10 TB/month free, then ~$8.50/TB | Over 90% cheaper |
OCI’s pricing is more transparent and offers greater flexibility, including burstable and ARM-based instances — ideal for bursty VDI workloads like QA or developers.
Why Automation Matters for Cloud VDI Cost Control
Automation isn’t just a productivity booster — it’s essential for controlling costs.
Without automation:
- Idle VMs may run for hours or days
- Powered-off VMs still accrue storage and network costs (e.g., in Azure)
- IT teams overprovision for peak usage “just in case”
💡 According to cloud optimization studies, idle VMs can inflate costs by 30–50%.
Automation helps by:
- Starting/stopping VMs based on schedule or usage
- Automatically deallocating or destroying idle machines
- Scaling resources up/down in real-time
Automation Comparison
| Feature | AVD (Native) | AVD + Nerdio | Thinfinity on OCI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Start/Stop | Basic | Enhanced via UI | Native & role-aware |
| Autoscaling by Concurrency | Limited | Session-host based | Session-aware, real-time |
| Destroy Idle Machines | ❌ No | ⚠️ Only stops VMs | ✅ Full destroy & rebuild |
| Idle Session Timeout | ❌ Manual policy | ✅ Configurable | ✅ Built-in & enforced |
| Cost Optimization Feedback | ❌ None | ✅ Estimator | ✅ Telemetry + policy-based |
| Cloud Compatibility | Azure only | Azure only | OCI, hybrid, multi-cloud |
Thinfinity enables automated full-cycle VM lifecycle control, cutting cloud spend and operational overhead with every idle desktop it shuts down or destroys.
Case Study: 1,500-User Bank Deployment
Profile:
- Industry: Financial Services
- User Count: 1,500
- User Segments:
- Call Center – 600 users (60% concurrency)
- Developers – 300 users (60%)
- QA – 300 users (60%)
- Management – 300 users (30%)
Licensing Cost Comparison
| Team | Named Users | Peak Concurrent | AVD + Nerdio (@$10/user) | Thinfinity (@$10/user) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center | 600 | 360 | $6,000/month | $3,600/month |
| Developers | 300 | 180 | $3,000/month | $1,800/month |
| QA | 300 | 180 | $3,000/month | $1,800/month |
| Management | 300 | 90 | $3,000/month | $900/month |
| Total | 1,500 | 810 | $15,000/month | $8,100/month |
| Annual | — | — | $180,000 | $97,200 |
Licensing savings = $82,800/year
Cloud Infrastructure Comparison (810 concurrent VMs)
| Category | AVD on Azure | Thinfinity on OCI |
|---|---|---|
| Compute | ~$110,000/year | ~$66,000/year |
| Storage (1 TB) | ~$8,000/year | ~$4,250/year |
| Egress (10 TB) | ~$8,000/year | ~$1,000/year |
| Total Infra | $126,000/year | $71,250/year |
Infra savings = $54,750/year
Total TCO Comparison
| Category | AVD + Nerdio | Thinfinity + OCI | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing | $180,000 | $97,200 | $82,800 |
| Infrastructure | $126,000 | $71,250 | $54,750 |
| Total TCO | $306,000 | $168,450 | $137,550/year (~45%) ✅ |
Why Enterprises Choose Thinfinity on OCI
- 💰 40–50% lower TCO by combining concurrent user licensing with Oracle Cloud’s lower infrastructure costs
- ⚙️ Automation-first architecture eliminates idle resources and cloud overspend through policy-driven VM lifecycle management
- 🖥️ Purpose-built for virtual desktops and applications — supports session-based, 1-to-1 dedicated, persistent or non-persistent desktops, and even GPU-accelerated workloads
- 🌐 Fully browser-based access with no client install required, enabling fast, secure access from any device
- 🔐 ZTNA-Native with integrated support for MFA, SSO (SAML/OAuth), RBAC, and hybrid or multi-cloud deployments
Take the Next Step
If you’re currently running AVD + Nerdio or planning a VDI deployment, it’s time to explore a more cost-effective model.
About Cybele Software Inc.
We help organizations extend the life and value of their software. Whether they are looking to improve and empower remote work or turn their business-critical legacy apps into modern SaaS, our software enables customers to focus on what’s most important: expanding and evolving their business.
About Version 2 Digital
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
