What is Amazon Workspaces? A Complete Guide to Remote Work Cost Reduction and Implementation in 2025
- SmileShark Team
- Jul 1
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 2
What is Amazon Workspaces? A Complete Guide to Remote Work Cost Reduction and Implementation in 2025
Written by Hyojung Yoon
Hello, this is Hyojung Yoon, Brand Team Lead, returning with a long-awaited blog post.
The way we work has changed significantly since COVID-19 pandemic. According to Maeil Business News' analysis of the August 2024 Statistics Korea Economically Active Population Survey Supplementary Survey by Employment Type, telecommuters in Korea number approximately 683,000, representing 3.1% of all workers.
Additionally, Gartner predicted that 39% of global knowledge workers would work in a hybrid manner by the end of 2023, and this trend continues in 2025.
💭 Companies now face new challenges.
"How can we ensure employees work securely from anywhere?"
"How can we reduce the substantial costs of building remote work infrastructure?"
If these questions resonate with you, Amazon WorkSpaces could be the solution you're looking for.
Why Do We Need Amazon WorkSpaces Now?
Challenges in the Remote Work Era
More companies than ever are transitioning to remote work of allowing hybrid work arrangements.However, this change has simultaneously presented several challenges for companies:
First, security issues. Security threats have increased as employees access company data from personal devices.
Second, infrastructure costs. Providing laptops or computers to all employees and establishing VPNs requires enormous expenses.
Third, management complexity. Managing and updating distributed devices is a significant burden for IT staff (or teams).
The Solution Amazon WorkSpaces Offers
Cloud-based virtual desktop services have emerged to solve these problems. Among them, Amazon WorkSpaces provides the following benefits.
💡 Amazon Internal Case Study
Supporting 25,000 global contract and remote workers while saving $17 million annually
= $680 savings per employee per year
(*The $680 per person savings is based on simple calculation.)
This cost reduction was achieved not simply by reducing hardware purchase costs, but through improved operational efficiency and enhanced security.
What is Amazon Workspaces?
Amazon Workspaces is a fully managed desktop virtualization service (DaaS, Desktop-as-a-Services) delivered via the cloud. Users can remotely access their familiar desktop environment from anywhere, at any time, through various devices—all running on AWS's secure infrastructure. Whether you're at home, in a café, or traveling abroad for business, as long as you have an internet connection, you can work as if you were at your office PC.
VDI vs. DaaS: Differences
Many people confuse VDI and DaaS, so let me clarify the key differences.
VDI(Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is where companies build and manage virtual desktop infrastructure in their own data centers. Think of it like purchasing a car and handling all maintenance yourself.
In contrast, DaaS(Desktop-as-a-Services)is a model where cloud service providers host and manage the virtual desktop infrastructure, delivering it as a service. This is similar to leasing a car - the leasing company handles maintenance while you simply enjoy using it.
VDI | DaaS | |
|---|---|---|
Initial Investment | High initial hardware invest costs | Monthly subscription fee |
Management Burden | Managed directly by internal IT team | Managed by service provider |
Scalability | Limited | Faster and more flexible scaling |
Cost Structure | CapEx(Capital Expenditure) | OpEX(Operational Expenditure) |
💡 Note: The market uses 'VDI'in two different meanings:
• Narrow meaning: Refers only to on-premises virtual desktop
• Broad meaning: Refers to all virtual desktop technologies (VDI + SaaS)
Therefore, when referring to the VDI market size, it usually means the entire virtual desktop market including DaaS. While Amazon WorkSpaces is clearly a DaaS service, it is classified as part of the VDI market in the broader context.
Real Implementation Cases and Results
Let's examine the actual results companies have achieved with Amazon WorkSpaces rather than focusing on theory.
1) Ferrari Case Study
Challenge: Ferrari was working with over 500 external partners. They needed to protect important intellectual property like the latest automotive design drawings while collaborating efficiently.
Solution: Through Amazon WorkSpaces, they provided isolated virtual desktop environments to each partner. Data remained under Ferrari's control while partners could perform necessary work.
Results:
90% reduction in deployment time (from several days to 1 hour)
Eliminated risk of design data leakage through enhanced security
Simplified partner onboarding process
2) Kyowa Kirin Case Study
Challenge: Pharmaceutical companies must comply with strict regulations like HIPAA. At the same time, researchers needed to access data from anywhere.
Results:
Deployed over 1,600 WorkSpaces in Japan and the United States
30% cost reduction compared to on-premises VDI
Reduced audit response time through compliance automation
Improved employee satisfaction
3) Emergency Response Cases During the Pandemic
Amazon WorkSpaces' ability shone even brighter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fox Corporation: Established remote work environment for all 5,000 employees
MRS BPO: Transitioned 700 call center employees to remote work in just 2 days
This agility can be a significant competitive advantage in rapidly changing business environments.
Key Features of Amazon WorkSpaces
Supported Environments
Amazon WorkSpaces supports a wide range of environments. You can access it from virtually any device.
Operating System Support:
Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022
Windows 10, Windows 11
Amazon Linux 2
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Rocky Linux 8
Client Device Support:
Windows PC, Mac, Linux computers
Chromebook
iPad, Fire, Android tablets
Web browsers (accessible without separate installation)
Strengths of WorkSpaces
Cloud-native architecture: Designed for the cloud from the beginning, enabling rapid deployment
Transparent and predictable cost structure: Predictable pricing (pay-as-you-go)
Tight integration with AWS ecosystem: Seamless integration with EC2, Lambda, S3, etc.
Global infrastructure: Reliable service anywhere in the world
⚠️ However, like all services, Amazon WorkSpaces has some limitations
• Lack of multi-session functionality prevents multiple users from using one WorkSpace simultaneously
• Microsoft-focused organizations should compare with Azure Virtual Desktop to determine which is better
• Large organizations with 5,000+ employees need to calculate and compare TCO with on-premises VDI
WorkSpacesTypes
Amazon WorkSpaces offers two types. Each has different purposes, so choose the one that fits your business.
💡 Pro Tip
For first-time deployments, I recommend using a mix of Personal and Pools. Running full-time employees on Personal and interns or project staff on Pools maximizes cost efficiency.
WorkSpaces Personal | WorkSpaces Pools | |
|---|---|---|
Description | Dedicated virtual desktop for individual users | Virtual desktop pool shared by multiple users |
Data Retention | User settings and data persist | Resets to initial state upon logout |
Suitable For | General office workers, developers | Call centers, training rooms, temporary staff |
User Experience | Similar to using your own PC | Like a PC cafe where anyone can use and it resets after |
Performance Bundle Options
Amazon WorkSpaces offers various performance options tailored to different work requirements. It's like choosing between a compact car and a luxury sedan—there's an option for every need.
*The tables below are not official AWS categories but are organized by GPU memory usage for easier understanding.
1) General Purpose Bundles (Non-GPU)
General purpose bundles are designed for various tasks including office work, business applications, and development. These bundles do not include GPU memory and are optimized for CPU and memory-intensive workloads such as office productivity, development, and data analysis.
vCPU | Memory | Root Volume | User Volume | Recommended use case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Value | 1 | 2GB | 80GB ~ 100GB | 10GB ~ 100GB | Basic tasks, email |
Standard | 2 | 4GB | 80GB ~ 175GB | 10GB ~ 100GB | General business tasks |
Performance | 2 | 8GB | 80GB ~ 175GB | 10GB ~ 100GB | Large file processing |
Power | 4 | 16GB | 80GB ~ 175GB | 10GB ~ 100GB | Data analysis, development |
PowerPro | 8 | 32GB | 80GB ~ 175GB | 10GB ~ 100GB | High-performance computing |
GeneralPurpose.4xlarge | 16 | 64GB | 175GB | 100GB | Large0scale compilation |
GeneralPurpose.8xlarge | 32 | 128GB | 175GB | 100GB | High performance |
2) GPU-Enabled Bundles
GPU-enabled bundles leverage NVDIA GPUs and are optimized for high-performance graphics and computational workloads such as graphics work, 3D rendering, and media production.
vCPU | Memory | GPU Memory | Local Storage (NVMe) | Recommended use case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Graphics.g4dn | 4 | 16GB | 16GB | 125GB NVMe | CAD, design, architecture |
GraphicsPro.g4dn | 16 | 64GB | 16GB | 225GB NVMe | Media production, 3D rendering, ML |
Management Features
1) Self-Service Features
Users can perform certain tasks independently without IT assistance, including WorkSpace restarts, volume expansions, and compute type changes. These self-service capabilities significantly reduce IT workload..
2) Integration and Connectivity
Amazon WorkSpaces seamlessly integrates with existing IT infrastructure:
Active Directory integration (use existing user accounts as-is)
Microsoft 365 application support
Smooth integration with AWS services (S3, EC2, etc)
Recent Feature Updates
Amazon WorkSpaces continuously rolls out new features to enhance its platform
1) Amazon WorkSpaces Core
WorkSpaces Core provides EC2-based Windows desktops using your own Microsoft Windows licenses (BYOL - Bring Your Own License), without AWS Directory Services. This approach significantly improves cost efficiency and operational simplicity for organizations with existing Microsoft licensing agreements.WorkSpaces Core also integrates with various VDI partner solutions, enabling seamless connectivity with your existing infrastructure.
2) Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client
Introduced in 2023, the Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client is a cost-effective dedicated terminal offering rapid deployment, centralized management, and robust security features. With no local data storage or app installation capabilities, it provides enhanced security and is particularly well-suited for remote work and call center environments.
Amazon WorkSpaces Implementation Guide
Now let's walk through the step-by-step process of implementing Amazon WorkSpaces.
Step 1: Current State Analysis and Requirements Definition
First, you need to review your current IT infrastructure and analyze the number of users and work patterns. Create a list of necessary applications and understand requirements by department. In this phase, you need to answer questions like:
"How many employees will work remotely?"
"What applications are primarily used?"
"What are the data security requirements?"
Step 2: PoC (Proof of Concept) Execution
Select a pilot group of 10-20 people and conduct test operations for 2 weeks. During this period, test performance in actual work environments and collect user feedback to derive improvements. It's important to test various bundle types in the PoC phase to find the optimal configuration for each department.
Step 3: Full-Scale Implementation
Create an AWS account and set up the WorkSpaces directory. Determine appropriate bundle types for each user and configure security policies and networks. This phase involves intensive technical work such as Active Directory integration, VPN setup, and security group configuration.
Step 4: User Training and Deployment
Guide users on how to install client apps for each device and train them on initial login and setup processes. Create and distribute user manuals, and operate a help desk to respond to initial inquiries.
Step 5: Operations and Optimization
Set up monitoring through CloudWatch and establish backup policies. Regularly analyze usage patterns to optimize costs and make continuous improvements based on user feedback.
Pricing and Cost Optimization
Amazon WorkSpaces Pricing Plans
Amazon WorkSpaces offers two running modes with corresponding billing methods.
1) AlwaysOn (Monthly Subscription)
Fixed monthly charges regardless of usage
Suitable for full-time users; AlwaysOn option is advantageous if used more than 4 hours per day
Predictable monthly costs
$44 per month for the Standard Ubuntu (2vCPU 4, 4GB RAM, 80GB Root volume, 10GB user volume) when using WorkSpaces Personal (July 2025, Asia Pacific Seoul region)
2) AutoStop (Hourly Billing)
Charged hourly only when WorkSpace is running
Automatically stops after a period of inactivity, preventing compute costs
Storage costs are charged monthly regardless of WorkSpace state
Suitable for part-time users; recommended for interns or short-term project personnel
Generally more economical when monthly usage is less than 80 hours * This 80-hour threshold is commonly referenced in AWS official blogs as a typical break-even point, but the actual value may vary by usage pattern. For the most accurate calculation, please use the AWS pricing calculator.
Amazon WorkSpaces Cost Optimization Strategies
1) Utilize Cost Optimizer Tool
Automatic analysis of user patterns
Recommendations for optimal pricing plans
Average 20-30% cost savings possible
2) Right-sizing Strategy
Monitor actual resource usage by user
Adjust over-specified bundles to appropriate levels
Regular review and optimization
Implementation Considerations
Stable network connectivity is essential for smooth Amazon WorkSpaces usage. AWS recommends the following minimum requirements:
Minimum bandwidth: 1Mbps (basic tasks)
Recommended bandwidth: 2-5Mbps (general work)
Graphics-intensive work: 10Mbps or higher recommended
Round-trip time (RTT): Less than 100ms recommended
Compliance and Data Sovereignty
In certain industries or regions, the physical location where data is stored can be important. Since Amazon WorkSpaces provides services in multiple regions worldwide, you need to select an appropriate region that meets data sovereignty requirements.
Security is one of the biggest obstacles and concerns in remote work. Amazon WorkSpaces provides the following security features to address these concerns:
Storage data encryption through AWS Key Management Service (KMS)
Encryption in transit using TLS 1.2
Network isolation through VPC security groups
Various security standards and compliance certifications (SOC, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)
It can be used with confidence even in industries that must comply with strict security regulations, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies.
Change Management and User Training
The greatest challenge when implementing a new system often isn't technical—it's user resistance. Here's our recommended approach:
Phased implementation: Start with a pilot group and gradually expand
Sufficient training: Provide user manuals and conduct training sessions
Ongoing support: Operate a help desk after initial implementation
Conclusion
Amazon WorkSpaces is a robust solution for adapting to evolving work environments. It enables rapid deployment without significant upfront investment, delivers enterprise-grade security with flexible scalability, and provides access from virtually any device.
We've seen how global enterprises like Ferrari and Kyowa Kirin have achieved cost savings and improved operational efficiency with Amazon WorkSpaces. Your organization can also leverage Amazon WorkSpaces to maintain productivity while offering employees a flexible work environment.
The 2025 releases of WorkSpaces Core further expand options for diverse work environments and requirements.
🚀 Are you considering implementing Amazon WorkSpaces?
We will review your remote work infrastructure and build the optimal WorkSpaces environment for your company.
Amazon WorkSpaces implementation goes beyond technical deployment—it's a transformation of how your organization works. This project requires expertise spanning technical evaluation, deployment, and operational optimization. Partnering with SmileShark, an official AWS Partner, helps minimize trial and error while establishing a stable remote work environment more efficiently.
