As the deadline for Windows 10’s end of support (EOS) looms in October 2025, businesses are faced with the challenge of navigating this transition. While upgrading to Windows 11 is an option for some, surveys reveal that a significant number of devices—tens of millions—fall short of the compatibility requirements. In response, many organizations are turning to a more efficient alternative: leveraging desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) solutions like Amazon WorkSpaces. This strategy alleviates the burdens associated with upgrading existing hardware or investing in new devices.
Two pressing questions arise from this scenario: How will employees securely connect to their DaaS desktops, and what will become of the countless devices rendered obsolete? The answer lies in repurposing these devices as clients for DaaS desktops. This not only curtails the financial strain of acquiring new hardware but also contributes to environmental sustainability by keeping functional devices out of landfills.
Why AWS Workspaces
In our previous discussions, we delved into how Amazon WorkSpaces effectively addresses the challenges faced by corporate desktops. DaaS, which allows users to access virtual desktops hosted in secure data centers, has emerged as a compelling solution for many organizations. It offers rapid deployment of virtual desktops while enhancing security, ensuring business continuity, and providing location flexibility—all while easing the burden on IT support.
By centralizing user data and applications in secure data centers managed by experts, DaaS minimizes data leakage risks and implements robust security measures, including encryption and multi-factor authentication. Its cloud-based infrastructure guarantees resilience against disruptions, such as hardware failures or cyberattacks, through automated backups and redundant systems. Additionally, DaaS facilitates remote and hybrid work by enabling employees to access their desktops from any internet-connected device, thus promoting productivity and expanding hiring possibilities. Centralized management streamlines IT operations, making updates and troubleshooting more efficient, particularly during periods of limited staffing.
Our evaluation of Amazon WorkSpaces revealed that it stands out among DaaS providers. It offers comprehensive cloud-based management, support for various operating systems and hardware profiles, compatibility with standard devices, and flexible desktop options, including GPU-enabled and non-persistent setups. Gartner’s assessment of DaaS offerings further solidified our view, placing WorkSpaces in the leader’s quadrant.
Building a Remote Desktop
Setting up a WorkSpaces environment proved to be a swift process, taking less than 15 minutes. Utilizing the onboarding wizard, we selected the appropriate AWS instance type for testing client connectivity with a repurposed device. A Windows Performance instance featuring two vCPUs, 8GB of RAM, and a 100GB user volume was recommended for our initial testing.
Using An “Obsolete” Laptop
For our test, we repurposed a Dell E7440 laptop, a device too old to support Windows 11 locally, to connect to a Windows 11 WorkSpaces desktop. With an Intel Core i5-4310U processor and 16GB of RAM, this decade-old laptop exemplifies how older devices can still be valuable assets in a modern workspace.
Repurpose Devices with ChromeOS Flex
In March 2025, AWS announced that Amazon WorkSpaces and Amazon AppStream 2.0 received the Chrome Enterprise Recommended (CER) designation, confirming their compatibility with ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex. We identified ChromeOS Flex as an ideal operating system for repurposing our laptop.
Many organizations, particularly in education, favor ChromeOS devices for their lightweight design, cost-effectiveness, and ease of management. The platform’s secure, cloud-based infrastructure simplifies IT tasks such as updates and troubleshooting while supporting connections to remote desktops. ChromeOS Flex extends compatibility to Intel and AMD CPUs, requiring minimal hardware specifications: an Intel or AMD CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage.
Hands-on with ChromeOS Flex and WorkSpaces Desktop
ChromeOS Flex is available in both free and paid versions. We anticipate that most organizations will opt for the paid version, which grants access to the Google Admin console for streamlined IT management. This console allows IT teams to onboard employees, enforce policies, remotely wipe devices, and access 24/7 support from ChromeOS experts. For our testing, we utilized the free version.
After downloading ChromeOS Flex and creating installation media on a USB drive, we installed the operating system on the laptop in under five minutes. Following a brief Wi-Fi connection setup, we logged in with a Google account, which prompted the installation of the latest software updates.
The desktop environment came preloaded with standard Google applications, including Chrome and Google Meet. To test connectivity, we launched Web Access to access our WorkSpaces desktop. After registering the device and entering our credentials, we were greeted by a fully functional Windows desktop within the web browser. Although the desktop included Amazon’s suite of office tools, we opted to use our own Microsoft 365 subscription, which performed seamlessly on the WorkSpaces Desktop.
A Remote Desktop and Device for Every User
Recognizing that remote users have diverse needs, we categorized them into three groups: task workers, knowledge workers, and power users. Each group requires varying levels of computing power and resources.
Task Worker
Task workers typically engage in routine back-office tasks that do not demand advanced computing resources. Our tests confirmed that the repurposed ChromeOS Flex laptop effectively supported these users with a Windows Performance instance featuring two vCPUs and 8GB of RAM.
Knowledge Worker
Knowledge workers require medium-to-high-powered desktops for tasks like content creation and data analysis. We tested a Windows Power instance with four vCPUs and 16GB of RAM, finding that a repurposed PC running ChromeOS Flex could meet their needs, though hardware limitations may arise.
Power User
Power users, who demand high-powered desktops for resource-intensive tasks, may find a repurposed PC lacking. For these users, we evaluated a Windows PowerPro instance with eight vCPUs and 32GB of RAM, concluding that a dedicated high-end device would be more suitable.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise Enabled on WorkSpaces
In August 2023, AWS announced the integration of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Amazon WorkSpaces, allowing users to leverage their existing Microsoft 365 licenses at no additional cost, provided they meet licensing requirements. This development enhances the value of WorkSpaces, enabling access to a comprehensive suite of office tools.
GPU-Enabled Desktop
After testing ChromeOS for task user workloads, we explored GPU-enabled desktops for power users. The Graphics.g4dn instance, equipped with NVIDIA T4 GPUs, proved capable of handling demanding applications, although we noted that the small screen of the repurposed device limited the experience.
A Cost-Saving, Sustainable Solution for Users to Access Remote Desktops
Amazon WorkSpaces operates on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing organizations to reduce capital expenditures while repurposing older devices. This approach not only supports sustainability by preventing functional devices from being discarded but also ensures users can access essential tools through a virtual desktop environment. The combination of ChromeOS Flex’s built-in security and WorkSpaces’ secure remote access creates a protected operational environment. For those without access to older devices, the Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client presents a viable, cost-effective alternative.
