2025-06-18 Clientless multi-monitor VDI, like Thinfinity Workspace, empowers MSPs to boost revenue by offering high-productivity solutions. It simplifies access, enhances security, and meets demands for advanced multi-display setups in professional environments.
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In Part 1, we examined why traditional security models are no longer sufficient for today’s hybrid and multi-cloud enterprises. We explored the critical shortcomings of legacy VPNs and firewalls, highlighted the rise of Zero Trust Architecture, and demonstrated how Thinfinity Workspace provides a secure, streamlined alternative for remote access and application delivery. The key message is clear: end-to-end security, built on continuous verification and granular control, is now an operational imperative.
But understanding the need for Zero Trust is only the beginning. In this section, we shift from principles to practice—unpacking the advanced features and concrete outcomes that make Thinfinity Workspace a standout solution for security-conscious organizations.
Whether you’re a CIO, CISO, IT manager, sysadmin, or business owner, Part 2 will show you exactly how Thinfinity Workspace turns Zero Trust theory into secure, practical results for your organization.
Even the best network architecture fails if an attacker can easily steal or guess a user’s password. That’s why multi-factor authentication (MFA) and passwordless login options are critical components of Thinfinity Workspace’s end-to-end security. Right out of the box, Thinfinity supports a range of MFA methods to ensure that only legitimate users gain access. Administrators can integrate Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) apps like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Mobile, or Okta Verify, adding a second verification step that changes every login. This means even if a password is compromised, an attacker cannot login without the one-time code from the user’s device.
Thinfinity Workspace also integrates with enterprise Identity Providers (IdPs) via SAML 2.0 or OAuth2, including popular services like Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Okta, Ping Identity, and Google Workspace. This allows companies to leverage single sign-on (SSO) and centralized identity management. Users can log in with their existing corporate credentials, and Thinfinity will honor group memberships or attributes from the IdP to determine access rights. This integration not only improves security (through centralized policy and maybe conditional access rules in the IdP), but also enhances user convenience – fewer passwords to remember and a seamless login experience.
In line with modern authentication trends, Thinfinity Workspace 8 introduced passwordless authentication via Passkeys. This feature supports FIDO2 security keys and biometrics (e.g. fingerprint or facial recognition) as login methods. Users can authenticate with a hardware key like YubiKey or with their device’s built-in biometric (Windows Hello) instead of a password, drastically reducing phishing risks. Under the hood, these methods use public-key cryptography and store credentials in secure hardware (such as the device’s TPM for Windows Hello). For organizations with high security requirements, Thinfinity even supports smart card authentication and PKI certificates for login – ensuring compliance with regulations that mandate certificate-based auth.
Another innovative capability is One-Time URL Authentication, which Thinfinity offers to streamline certain workflows. An admin or helpdesk agent can generate a time-limited, unique access link that a user can click to be automatically logged into a specific remote app or desktop. Each One-Time URL is valid for only one session and expires after use, preventing reuse or sharing. This is particularly useful for scenarios like support sessions or third-party vendor access: you can embed these one-click links in a portal or ticket, and the user gets in without needing a permanent username/password at all. It’s a controlled, ephemeral access method that enhances security by eliminating shared credentials and tightly limiting the access scope and duration.
By combining MFA, SSO integration, passwordless tech, and one-time links, Thinfinity Workspace addresses the identity side of security thoroughly. These measures significantly lower the risk of account compromise. According to industry studies, implementing MFA can block over 99% of automated attacks on accounts, and passwordless methods further neutralize phishing. Thinfinity’s approach ensures that identity is the new perimeter – only verified users can even begin to access the system.
Once a user’s identity is verified, the next question is: what resources should they have access to? Thinfinity Workspace tackles this with robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and granular permission management. Administrators can define roles (such as Regular Employee, Contractor, IT Administrator, etc.) and assign permissions to those roles regarding which desktops, applications, or data the role can access. Every user session is governed by these assigned roles, enforcing a least-privilege model. For example, a finance department user might only see accounting applications and not be allowed to launch engineering or HR systems. This containment dramatically limits the damage that can be done if an account is compromised – the attacker would only see a narrow slice of the environment.
Thinfinity makes RBAC easier to manage by integrating with external directory and identity systems. It supports mapping users and groups from Active Directory or SAML/OAuth2 IdPs (like Azure AD, Okta, etc.) to internal Thinfinity roles. This means you can tie Thinfinity’s access control to your existing organizational structure. If a user is part of the “Contractors” group in Okta, for instance, Thinfinity can automatically map them to a Contractor role which has restricted access. The platform even provides flexible rule-based mappings, where you can automatically assign roles based on user attributes (department, group membership, email domain, and so on).
A particularly powerful feature is Just-In-Time account provisioning and auto-deprovisioning. When Thinfinity is linked to an IdP, it can be configured such that if an authenticated user logs in and no local Thinfinity account exists yet, the system will auto-create an account on the fly and assign the appropriate role. This auto-provisioning means new employees or partners get access immediately based on their directory status, with no manual admin setup required. It also implies that if someone is removed from the corporate directory (e.g. upon leaving the company), they lose Thinfinity access too, maintaining a single source of truth. Thinfinity’s documentation highlights that this seamless onboarding/offboarding aligns with dynamic workforce needs and Zero Trust, by ensuring users only have access when they should, and get the right permissions at first login.
All these mappings and automatic role assignments feed into centralized policy management. Administrators can adjust a role’s permissions or the mapping rules in one place, and it instantly affects all users in that role. This makes it much simpler to enforce organizational changes (like a reorg or merger) without touching individual accounts.
The net effect is strong governance: every action through Thinfinity is tied back to an identity and a role, and no user can step outside their permitted boundaries. This greatly aids in implementing the principle of least privilege and separation of duties. If auditors ask “who can access Server X or sensitive App Y?”, Thinfinity’s RBAC makes it easy to answer and shows that only the appropriate role can, with all actions logged.
Understand Our RBAC Implementation →
For sensitive operations and compliance requirements, being able to monitor and review what happens during a remote session is essential. Thinfinity Workspace includes a secure session recording capability for remote desktop sessions. Administrators can enable full video recording of user sessions on published desktops or applications. Every mouse movement, screen update, and keystroke can be captured in the recording, creating a comprehensive audit trail of user activity. This is invaluable for forensic analysis in case of an incident, or simply for routine compliance auditing in industries like finance and healthcare.
Thinfinity allows granular control over which sessions get recorded. You might not need to record every user’s activity (and indeed, privacy considerations mean you should only record what’s necessary). With Thinfinity, you could choose to record sessions for specific high-privilege roles or groups – for example, record all sessions of contractors, or IT administrators, or any user accessing a particularly sensitive system. This role-based activation ensures you capture the most critical interactions without overwhelming storage or invading privacy for regular tasks. The recordings themselves can be stored securely and accessed by authorized personnel for review.
From a business standpoint, session recording serves multiple purposes. It helps with compliance – many standards (PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, etc.) require monitoring of administrative access or critical transactions, and having video logs meets those controls. It also acts as a deterrent against misuse: users aware that their session is being recorded are less likely to attempt malicious or unauthorized actions. In the event something does go wrong, the recorded footage provides an exact replay of events, which can speed up incident response and root cause analysis.
Thinfinity’s session recording is part of its broader auditing and logging framework. In addition to video, the system logs user logins, resource launches, file transfers, etc. This ties into the concept of end-to-end security by ensuring visibility and accountability at the final stage of the chain – after a user has been authenticated and authorized, their actions are not invisible. Everything is trackable if needed. Such capabilities usually require separate tools in a traditional RDP or VPN setup, but Thinfinity builds it into the platform for a one-stop solution.
Discover Security & Monitoring Features →
A dynamic aspect of security that Thinfinity Workspace handles adeptly is time-based access control and Remote Privileged Access Management (RPAM). Not all users should have 24×7 access to resources, especially highly sensitive ones. Thinfinity lets administrators put very fine-grained schedules on when and for how long access is allowed. For example, you can define allowed access windows (say, weekdays 9am–6pm) for specific users, groups, or resources. If someone tries to connect outside their allowed hours, Thinfinity will block it. This is a simple but powerful mitigator of risk – even if an attacker obtained credentials, they cannot use them at an odd hour if policy disallows it. Thinfinity can even auto-terminate active sessions that run past the approved time window, preventing after-hours persistence.
For third-party vendors or support engineers, Thinfinity supports temporary access provisioning. You might only want to let an outside contractor onto a server during a scheduled maintenance window. With time-based rules, you can set that vendor’s account to be valid only during a specified period (e.g., access opens at 10:00 and closes at 14:00 on a certain day). After that, the access is automatically disabled. This significantly reduces the risk of forgetting to turn off a vendor account – a common oversight that can lead to unintended backdoors.
Thinfinity’s approach to Remote Privileged Access Management (RPAM) extends this concept specifically to privileged users (like admins). It enables Just-In-Time (JIT) privileged access, meaning administrators or high-privilege accounts do not have standing access by default; instead, they are granted elevated access only for the specific duration and task needed. For example, an IT admin might “check out” access to a production server for a 2-hour window to perform updates, after which that access automatically expires. This ties into a broader security best practice of eliminating permanent privileged accounts – you have zero standing privilege until it’s approved for a short time. Thinfinity facilitates this by allowing users to “book” access to sensitive resources for a pre-approved timeframe. Outside of that reservation, the system will not allow the connection, and once the window ends, access is deprovisioned immediately.
Crucially, Thinfinity includes approval workflows for such privileged access requests. An administrator’s request to access a critical server could be made to require a manager’s or security officer’s approval through the platform before it activates. This ensures oversight and that at least two people are aware of any highly privileged activity (a key component in mitigating insider threats).
Additionally, you can enforce per-resource access schedules. For instance, a particularly sensitive database server might only be made available via Thinfinity during business hours, regardless of who’s trying to access it. Thinfinity will enforce those resource-specific schedules automatically. It also supports a degree of self-service for users, where a user can request or schedule their own access within policy bounds, possibly getting automated approval if criteria are met. This reduces the administrative burden while still keeping tight control.
By implementing time-based restrictions and just-in-time access, Thinfinity Workspace ensures that even if credentials are stolen or misused, the window of opportunity for attackers is drastically narrowed. It also addresses compliance requirements found in standards like ISO 27001 or NIST guidelines, which recommend limiting the time frame of privileged access. Overall, these features add a temporal dimension to Zero Trust – not only do you verify who and what is accessing, but also when, making sure the timing aligns with expected patterns.
Learn more about the Resource Reservation module →
Thinfinity Workspace is a browser-based solution, which means users interact with their remote desktops or applications through an HTML5 web interface. This approach has security benefits on its own (no heavy client to keep patched, no direct network connectivity from the endpoint to the server), but Thinfinity goes further by giving administrators detailed controls over the in-session behavior and device integration. Essentially, it allows companies to fine-tune the balance between security and user convenience within the remote session.
Granular Session Policies: Admins can enable or disable various features like clipboard, file transfer, printing, audio, and USB device redirection on a per-user or per-resource basis. For example, you might disable clipboard copy-paste and file transfers for a highly sensitive finance application, preventing users from easily exfiltrating data. Alternatively, you could allow file transfers but then restrict specific file types (e.g., block .exe or .bat files to prevent moving executables). Thinfinity even offers an Intermediate Virtual Disk (“ThinDisk”) that can be toggled on, which serves as a controlled buffer for file exchange between the remote session and the local device. Policies can dictate whether files placed in this virtual disk auto-download to the user’s machine or not. By adjusting these knobs, organizations can enforce data loss prevention policies—like “no downloads from system X”—while still allowing legitimate use (e.g., maybe allow download of only PDF reports but not raw data files).
Device Redirection: In many remote desktop scenarios, users want to print documents or play audio from the remote system on their local device. Thinfinity supports these needs with control. Printer redirection can be enabled, which allows the remote application to print to the user’s local printer seamlessly. If allowed, Thinfinity’s virtual printer ensures an easy print experience without actually transferring raw print spool files insecurely. Similarly, audio redirection can be enabled or disabled depending on the use case. For instance, in a call center application you might enable two-way audio, while in a sensitive environment you might mute all remote audio to avoid someone using the channel to send out data via text-to-speech or audio cues. Even USB device or peripheral redirection can be managed – Thinfinity can block or permit certain device types if needed (for example, you might block USB storage devices but allow smart card readers).
These browser-based session controls are crucial for compliance and productivity. They ensure that even once a user is connected to an application, the organization still has guardrails on what the user can do with the data. If regulations demand that no data leaves a secure enclave, Thinfinity can enforce that by disabling downloads or clipboard copying from that session. On the other hand, for day-to-day work, you might allow most features to give users a near-local experience. Thinfinity essentially provides the same kinds of controls that traditional enterprise virtual desktop solutions (like Citrix) offer, but through an easier web-based interface.
From a security standpoint, this means browser-based access does not equate to unrestrained access. Every channel (clipboard, disk, print, audio) is a potential data egress or ingress path that Thinfinity lets you manage. And because these policies can be set per user/group or per application, they can be aligned with Zero Trust principles (for example, stricter controls for higher risk scenarios). The end result is a remote session environment that is tailored to your security needs without completely hampering user productivity. In summary, Thinfinity Workspace’s device redirection and session controls give organizations confidence that remote users can’t easily violate data handling policies, whether inadvertently or maliciously.
Learn more about Device and Peripheral Integration →
Deploying a secure end-to-end solution like Thinfinity Workspace isn’t just about checking technical boxes – it also brings tangible business benefits. One major advantage is simplified compliance. Many regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc.) require strict control of data access, strong authentication, audit logs, and data protection in transit. Thinfinity’s integrated security features help fulfill these requirements out of the box. For instance, enforcing MFA and passwordless login helps meet compliance for secure authentication, session recording provides audit trails for regulators, and TLS encryption with no legacy protocols helps satisfy standards like PCI DSS which forbid outdated encryption. As noted in Thinfinity’s guidance, organizations across industries – from finance to healthcare – can use the platform to ensure regulatory compliance while still enabling secure remote access. Having these capabilities built into a single solution means less reliance on multiple point products and easier evidence gathering during audits.
Another key benefit is operational efficiency and cost savings. Traditional VPNs and remote desktop setups come with significant overhead: maintaining VPN hardware/appliances, managing client software on every endpoint, dealing with support tickets for VPN issues, and manually provisioning user accounts or access rules across systems. Thinfinity’s ZTNA model removes the need for VPN appliances and uses cloud-native gateways, often reducing infrastructure costs and complexity. In fact, a comparison of ZTNA vs legacy VPN showed that Thinfinity’s approach lowers infrastructure costs, minimizes maintenance, and reduces the burden on IT. Because it’s clientless, IT staff don’t have to troubleshoot installation on every user’s device – access is through the browser. Features like automatic account provisioning and user self-service for access requests further save administrative time. One could onboard a new remote employee in minutes instead of days, as the Zero Trust access policies and SSO integration handle the heavy lifting. A real-world outcome observed is up to 50% reduction in onboarding time when moving to a modern ZTNA model for remote access.
Risk reduction is, of course, the ultimate goal of these security enhancements, and it carries business value by preventing costly breaches and downtime. By eliminating open ports and reducing the exposed network surface, Thinfinity dramatically lowers the risk of common attacks like RDP brute-force intrusion or malware spread through VPN. Granular RBAC and time-based access mean that even if an account is compromised, the blast radius is limited – attackers cannot roam freely. All these factors contribute to reducing the likelihood and impact of security incidents, which protects the company’s finances and reputation. As an added bonus, a well-implemented Zero Trust remote access solution can actually improve user productivity and satisfaction (fast, seamless access from anywhere) while keeping security tight. This alignment of security and usability is a strategic win for the business: IT isn’t perceived as a roadblock, and users have the freedom to work remotely on any device without endangering the company.
In summary, Thinfinity Workspace’s end-to-end security doesn’t just guard IT assets – it also helps the organization be more agile, cost-effective, and compliant. It reduces the need for multiple disjointed tools (VPN, separate MFA tool, separate session recorder, etc.) by combining functions, which in turn streamlines operations. Enterprises can securely enable remote work while actually lowering IT complexity and overhead. This synergy of security and efficiency is a key reason many organizations are now looking beyond traditional solutions and embracing Zero Trust platforms like Thinfinity.
It’s useful to compare how Thinfinity Workspace stacks up against the older paradigms of remote access – namely traditional VPN combined with RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) or other remote desktop tools. The differences are significant:
| Dimension | Thinfinity Workspace (ZTNA, App Virtualization) | Traditional VPN + RDP Solutions | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Model | Granular, Application-Level Access: Users are granted access only to specific apps or desktops for which they are authorized—nothing else. | Network Tunnel, Broad Access: Once connected, the device joins the entire corporate network, exposing all resources the user has network rights to. | VPNs expose the entire network to a single compromised device. Thinfinity grants access only to verified apps and users. |
| Zero Trust Posture | Continuous Zero Trust: Every session and action is authenticated and evaluated (user, device, time, role). No implicit trust is granted. | Implicit Trust on Connection: Access is granted simply by being “on the network,” and all traffic is assumed legitimate. | Thinfinity enforces “never trust, always verify.” VPNs assume trust after login. |
| Client Software Requirement | No Client Needed: 100% clientless browser access from any device. No installs, updates, or VPN key distribution. | Client Software Required: VPN and RDP clients must be installed and patched on every endpoint, increasing friction and IT workload. | Thinfinity lowers support costs and eliminates software distribution headaches. |
| Attack Surface | Reduced Surface: No inbound ports, RDP, or VPN appliances exposed; all connectivity is outbound. Uses HTTPS/WebSockets, obfuscates internal protocols. | High Surface: VPN gateways and RDP servers are frequent attack targets; open ports are exposed to the internet and susceptible to automated attacks. | Thinfinity removes obvious attack vectors. VPN/RDP are routinely exploited. |
| Integrated Security Features | Unified Security Stack: Built-in MFA, SSO, RBAC, session recording, device control, IP restrictions—all managed centrally for consistent policy enforcement. | Fragmented Security: Requires combining separate tools for MFA, PAM, monitoring, etc.; policies are siloed and hard to coordinate. | Thinfinity simplifies compliance and ensures all controls work together. |
| Performance & Scalability | Optimized for Cloud and Hybrid: Scales across cloud regions, supports load balancing, and uses modern protocols (WebSocket, compression) for efficient access. | Legacy Bottlenecks: VPNs can choke under load, force all traffic through a central point, and struggle to support distributed workforces. | Thinfinity ensures low-latency, high-performance access—reducing user frustration and shadow IT. |
| Monitoring & Visibility | Comprehensive Visibility: Centralized audit logs, real-time monitoring, session recording; see who accessed what and when. | Limited Monitoring: Requires additional tools for audit trails; once inside the network, activity may be invisible without extra agents. | Thinfinity accelerates detection and response; VPN/RDP visibility is often incomplete. |
| User Experience | Frictionless Access: Single sign-on, consistent experience via browser, supports BYOD securely. | Cumbersome Process: Multiple logins, inconsistent experiences across devices, risk of version mismatches. | Thinfinity provides modern, seamless access—no more juggling VPN/RDP clients. |
In essence, Thinfinity Workspace can replace traditional VPNs for remote access, providing a more secure and more controlled solution. Legacy VPN/RDP was suitable for an earlier era of IT, but today’s environment demands the kind of fine-grained, identity-centric security that Thinfinity offers. Organizations adopting Thinfinity have found they can decommission legacy remote access infrastructure, reducing costs and closing security gaps. Perhaps most importantly, by limiting access and removing implicit trust, Thinfinity significantly lowers the risk of a catastrophic breach originating from a single compromised remote user – which is a key advantage over the old way of doing things.
The shift to hybrid work and multi-cloud IT has made end-to-end security a top priority. Thinfinity Workspace exemplifies how a modern platform can address this need by weaving together Zero Trust principles, strong authentication, fine-grained access control, and session security into one solution. We’ve seen how Thinfinity’s features – from ZTNA architecture (no open ports, outbound-only connections) to MFA and passwordless logins, from RBAC and just-in-time privileged access to session recording and device control – collectively provide a 360-degree security blanket over remote access operations. This not only protects against external threats and insider misuse, but also helps businesses meet compliance requirements and operate more efficiently.
In comparison to traditional VPN and RDP setups, Thinfinity Workspace offers a clear strategic upgrade: more security, more control, and often less complexity in the long run. It enables companies to embrace cloud VDI and remote work with confidence that security won’t be sacrificed. By implementing an end-to-end security approach using Thinfinity Workspace, organizations in the US, Europe, and beyond can support their modern workforce and cloud-first initiatives while significantly reducing risk and maintaining an upper hand against cyber threats. In today’s threat landscape, that comprehensive, Zero Trust-driven defense is not just an IT improvement – it’s a business imperative for success and resilience.
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.
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.
A multi-layered security shield concept symbolizes the “Zero Trust” approach of assembling end-to-end defenses. Modern enterprises require such comprehensive protection for remote and cloud access.
The rise of hybrid work and multi-cloud infrastructure has stretched traditional IT security models to a breaking point. Employees now access corporate applications from anywhere, often outside the corporate network, and data resides across on-premises data centers and multiple clouds. In this environment, perimeter-based defenses (like VPNs and classic firewalls) are insufficient. In fact, traditional VPN and firewall-centric models are struggling to protect today’s distributed workforce and hybrid IT environments. Attackers exploit VPN vulnerabilities and stolen credentials to move laterally within corporate networks, and unsecured home or public networks pose new risks. Organizations face a critical need for end-to-end security – ensuring that from the user’s device all the way to corporate applications and data, every layer is secured and verified.
Modern security frameworks emphasize a “never trust, always verify” mentality, known as Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). Instead of implicitly trusting devices or network locations, Zero Trust requires continuous authentication, authorization, and validation of context for each user and session. This approach aligns well with hybrid and multi-cloud realities, where resources are spread out and traditional network boundaries are blurred. End-to-end security built on Zero Trust principles means every access request is treated as potentially hostile until proven otherwise. The challenge for businesses is implementing these principles in a practical, user-friendly way that doesn’t hinder productivity.
Achieving end-to-end security in a modern IT environment involves several core principles. First is comprehensive identity and access management – verifying that the person or system requesting access is who they claim to be, through strong authentication and strict access controls. Second is least privilege access, ensuring users only get the minimum level of access required to perform their job (for example, an employee might access a specific application but nothing else on the server). Third is encryption and session security, protecting data in transit and preventing eavesdropping or tampering on remote sessions. Finally, continuous monitoring and auditing of sessions is key, so that any suspicious activity can be detected and recorded for forensic analysis.
These principles are embodied in the Zero Trust model, which has rapidly become the preferred strategy for end-to-end cybersecurity. Under Zero Trust, the network is treated as hostile by default; no user or device is inherently trusted, and strict verification is enforced at every step. For example, even if a user is inside the corporate network, they must still authenticate and be authorized for each resource they access. Likewise, simply connecting via a VPN is no longer enough – the system should continuously ensure the user’s legitimacy and enforce policies such as device security posture or time-of-day restrictions.
Thinfinity Workspace is a remote access platform designed with these exact principles in mind. It provides a secure, cloud-ready Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and application delivery solution that implements Zero Trust end-to-end. In the following sections, we will explore how Thinfinity Workspace addresses each layer of security – from network access, to identity verification, to session protection and audit – to meet the challenges of hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Thinfinity Workspace is an advanced remote workspace and virtualization solution that enables users to access Windows, Linux, and web applications through a browser, without needing traditional VPN clients or desktop RDP setups. It was built by Cybele Software with a “Zero Trust Network Access” (ZTNA) philosophy at its core. In practice, this means Thinfinity enforces strict identity verification and granular access controls for every session, rather than granting broad network privileges. The platform is clientless (accessed via standard web browsers) and uses an agent/gateway architecture to broker secure connections. This modern design contrasts with legacy remote access, which often required opening network ports or installing heavyweight clients.
By embracing a Zero Trust architecture, Thinfinity Workspace ensures that no one can connect to a resource without passing multiple security checkpoints. For example, an administrator can publish a set of cloud-hosted applications or desktops through Thinfinity, and users must authenticate (with possible multi-factor methods) to the Thinfinity portal. Only after verification can they launch the specific app or desktop, and even then, the internal server hosting that resource remains hidden from direct access on the internet. This approach dramatically reduces the attack surface while providing a smooth user experience. As Cybele Software notes, Thinfinity Workspace offers secure remote access with granular policy enforcement and seamless identity management – all “without the complexity of legacy VPNs”. In essence, it delivers the convenience of cloud VDI with security built in from the ground up.
Below, we delve into the key cybersecurity capabilities of Thinfinity Workspace and how each contributes to an end-to-end secure remote access solution.
A cornerstone of Thinfinity’s security model is its implementation of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). Traditional VPNs connect a user’s device into a corporate network, potentially exposing large segments of the network if that device is compromised. Thinfinity takes a far more granular and safer approach. No direct network access is ever granted to end-users – instead, Thinfinity acts as a broker that only allows authenticated users to reach the specific applications or desktops they are authorized for.
Agent-Based Connectivity: Thinfinity Workspace uses a clever agent-based architecture to avoid exposing any internal network ports. A small agent on the target network (where the application or desktop resides) will only initiate outbound connections to the Thinfinity gateway or broker. This means from the outside, there are no open inbound ports and no public IP addresses pointing directly to internal resources. Corporate firewalls do not need to be opened up for inbound traffic – the Thinfinity agent reaches out to the cloud gateway using an outbound TLS connection, and all user sessions are tunneled through that secure channel. The result is zero public exposure of RDP, SSH, VNC or other protocol ports, eliminating the risk of port scanning, brute-force attacks, and exploits like the infamous BlueKeep RDP vulnerability. All communication is encrypted with strong TLS, and the protocol details are encapsulated so attackers cannot even detect what protocols might be in use.
This ZTNA approach inherently minimizes the attack surface for remote access. An unauthorized person scanning the company’s network from outside would find no indication that remote desktop services even exist, because Thinfinity presents no obvious openings. Meanwhile, legitimate users who authenticate through Thinfinity’s web portal are dynamically granted access to their specific resources and nothing more. This aligns perfectly with Zero Trust principles: only authenticated, authorized users can initiate sessions, and everything is verified on a per-session basis. If a user’s account is revoked or their session time window expires, the access disappears automatically.
In practice, Thinfinity’s ZTNA means companies can retire risky VPN endpoints. There’s no need to place servers in a DMZ or assign them public IPs accessible from the internet. The internal architecture remains shielded, and Thinfinity handles the secure bridging of sessions from outside to inside. This not only improves security but also simplifies network configuration (no complex VPN client setups or network routing issues). According to Thinfinity’s documentation, it’s a “secure architecture that enables SSL web access without any open ports,” embodying Zero Trust security for cloud VDI.
Today’s hybrid and multi-cloud realities require more than legacy VPNs and firewalls. Thinfinity Workspace answers this challenge with a Zero Trust model—verifying every user, locking down access, and securing every session. The result? Stronger security, smoother compliance, and a seamless remote experience.
In Chapter 2, we’ll cover:
If you are a CIO, CISO, IT manager, system administrator, or business owner looking to secure remote access and modernize your infrastructure—don’t miss Part 2. We’ll show you how Thinfinity Workspace delivers real-world value for every role.
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.
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.
Managed service providers (MSPs) are staring at a perfect storm of opportunity: the remote‑desktop software market will more than double from $2.75 billion in 2024 to $6.13 billion by 2029 (18.3 % CAGR). Clients need friction‑free access for hybrid workforces, but they also demand airtight protection against the surge in RDP and VNC attacks. Delivering a secure remote desktop service has become the fastest path to new monthly recurring revenue—if you have the right platform. Thinfinity Workspace gives MSPs that edge with built‑in Zero Trust, clientless HTML5 delivery, and multitenant management.
Thinfinity Workspace enforces “never trust, always verify” for every session—no external add‑ons required. Granular policies authenticate and authorize each user, device, and context before a connection is allowed.
RDP, VNC, and SSH sessions travel through a reverse gateway in an SSL/TLS tunnel, so you never open inbound ports on customer firewalls. End users launch desktops or RemoteApps from any modern browser—no client installs, no version drift, fewer tickets.
Thinfinity Workspace features →
Manage on‑prem clusters and any major public cloud—Azure, AWS, OCI, or GCP—from one secure dashboard. Spin up, brand, update, and monitor unlimited customer tenants while built‑in load balancing and autoscaling keep performance steady and costs predictable.
Thinfinity Workspace ships with out‑of‑the‑box APIs and Terraform modules that hook directly into your clients’ cloud accounts. Automate VM creation, gateway deployment, scaling policies, and identity bindings so new secure‑remote‑desktop environments come online in minutes—not days.
Plug into Active Directory, Azure AD, Okta, or any SAML/OAuth provider to deliver single sign‑on and MFA that satisfy even the strictest audit teams.
Thinfinity Workspace packages remote application delivery, VDI, and secure gateway functions in one license—no complex editions or third‑party brokers—making it an easy upsell against Citrix or legacy VPN solutions.
| Phase | What You Do | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select Your Deployment Model | Choose Fully‑Hosted Cloud (Azure, AWS, OCI) for zero infrastructure, or On‑Prem/Hybrid if clients need local data residency. Thinfinity brokers and gateways are containerized, so switching models later is drag‑and‑drop simple. | Right‑sized costs, compliance alignment, and faster time‑to‑value for every client. |
| 2. Trial & Sandbox | Activate your 15‑day MSP trial, spin up a dedicated tenant, and import a pilot client (10–25 users). Leverage Thinfinity’s “one‑click” reverse gateway to avoid opening inbound ports. | Hardware‑free proof‑of‑concept that showcases secure remote desktop performance and Zero Trust workflow. |
| 3. Policy Templating & Automation | Create global templates for MFA, ZTNA zones, and micro‑segmentation. Tag them to security profiles (e.g., Finance, Dev, Guest) and set them to auto‑inherit when you add new tenants. | Consistent, audit‑ready security with near‑zero manual effort—every client starts compliant. |
| 4. Partner Program Onboarding | Enroll in the Thinfinity MSP Partner Program (Silver, Gold, Platinum). Gain co‑branding assets, deal‑registration protection, and tier‑based margin boosts. | Marketing muscle and higher ARPU, plus priority roadmap input as you climb tiers. |
| 5. Go‑Live & Upsell | Publish branded HTML5 portals, enable real‑time usage analytics in the multitenant console, and bundle add‑ons—backup, DRaaS, SOC monitoring—into premium plans. | New high‑margin recurring revenue and a “single pane” view that slashes support tickets by up to 40 %. |
| 6. Continuous Co‑Sell & Support | Tap Thinfinity’s technical SE team for pre‑sales demos, architecture reviews, and POC guidance; lean on the channel desk for joint campaigns and MDF funds. | Faster deal cycles, expert coverage on every opportunity, and happier, stickier customers. |
Quick Tip: Whether you deploy fully hosted or on‑prem, every tenant lives in its own micro‑segmented enclave—so scaling from one SMB to a hundred never compromises security or performance.
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.
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.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) has revolutionized remote work by delivering scalable, cloud-native Windows desktops on demand. Yet, beneath its promise of flexibility lies a web of AVD limitations—from unpredictable bills to complex administration—and a reliance on third-party tools like Nerdio, which adds $10–12 per user/month on top of base Azure costs. For organizations seeking simpler, more predictable virtual desktop solutions, understanding these hidden challenges is critical. In this guide, we’ll dissect AVD’s cost drivers and management overhead, quantify the Nerdio fee, and show why Thinfinity Workspace stands out as the cost-effective alternative to AVD + Nerdio. Whether you’re an IT leader in a large enterprise or managing desktops for an SMB, this article arms you with actionable insights and comparisons to make the best choice for your virtualization strategy.
Azure Virtual Desktop is Microsoft’s Desktop as a Service (DaaS) platform that delivers Windows 10/11 desktops and applications via Azure. Unlike traditional on-premises VDI, AVD shifts the infrastructure burden to Microsoft’s control plane, offering:
Despite its innovations, AVD is not a silver bullet. Let’s explore common AVD limitations that organizations encounter.cga
To bridge these gaps, organizations often adopt Nerdio Manager for AVD, which provides:
However, these features come at a price: $12 per user/month for the MSP edition or an effective $10 per user/month with enterprise licensing, significantly impacting the total cost of AVD deployments.
Nerdio Manager is a SaaS management layer that simplifies AVD operations. It streamlines provisioning, autoscaling, image optimization, and user session management via an intuitive web console.
| Edition | Pricing Model | Cost per User/Month |
|---|---|---|
| Nerdio for MSP | $12 /user mo (billed monthly) | $12 |
| Nerdio for Enterprise | $1,000 /mo covers 100 users (min.) | $10 |
Adding Nerdio effectively doubles or triples your per-user spend on top of base Azure costs, making AVD less appealing as a pure cost-effective alternative to AVD + Nerdio.
Pros:
Cons:
When balancing cost, complexity, and features, Thinfinity Workspace emerges as a superior AVD Alternative.
| Component | AVD Only | AVD + Nerdio | Thinfinity Workspace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Included in M365 | Included + $10–12 | Subscription (no add-ons) |
| VM Compute & Storage | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go or fixed |
| Management Tools | Custom scripts | Nerdio license | Included |
| Total Effective Cost | Moderate-High | High | Moderate-Low |
All three solutions can meet enterprise security requirements. Thinfinity’s integrated ZTNA, however, reduces architectural complexity by consolidating gateway, MFA, and RBAC in one platform.
When evaluating virtual desktop solutions, the limitations of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) quickly surface. While AVD boasts deep Azure integration and on-demand scaling, its variable consumption billing, fragmented management interfaces, and steep learning curve force many organizations to layer on Nerdio Manager—adding $10–12 per user/month on top of your Azure spend. This combination drives up your total cost of ownership, locks you into Azure’s ecosystem, and consumes precious IT hours in scripting, autoscaling rules, and custom dashboards.
By contrast, Thinfinity Workspace stands out as the truly cost-effective alternative to AVD + Nerdio. With built-in autoscaling, you avoid idle-VM charges; its Zero Trust gateway secures access without extra appliances; and a unified web console manages desktops, apps, and user sessions—across Azure, AWS, private datacenters, or any hybrid mix—without per-user management fees. Whether you’re a global enterprise seeking predictable multi-cloud workflows, a mid-market team needing simplified administration, or an SMB demanding transparent pricing, Thinfinity Workspace delivers:
In short, if AVD’s hidden costs and reliance on third-party tooling are holding your organization back, Thinfinity Workspace provides a seamless, affordable, and scalable path forward—so you can focus on productivity, not platform plumbing.
Ready to optimize your virtual desktop strategy? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below!
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.
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.
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