The most fundamental question to consider is whether a certain type of user needs a stateful desktop image or a stateless desktop image. Whether you use persistent or non-persistent desktops depends on the specific type of worker.

Persistent Desktop
Persistent desktops have data in the operating system image itself that must be preserved, maintained, and backed up. For example, users who need to install some of their own applications or have data that cannot be saved outside of the virtual machine itself (such as on a file server or in an application database) require a persistent desktop.

There are several ways to create persistent desktops in VMware Horizon 8:

You can create automated pools of full-clone virtual machines.

If you already have virtual desktops or physical desktops created (vCenter virtual machines, non-vCenter virtual machines, or physical PCs), you can import them into VMware Horizon 8 as persistent desktops using the manual desktop pool with a dedicated-assignment.

Persistent desktops give users the highest degree of flexibility and control over their own desktops. However, they consume more compute resources and are more difficult to manage by IT. These desktops might require traditional image management techniques. Persistent desktops can have low storage costs in conjunction with certain storage system technologies. Since each persistent desktop is unique and must be preserved, backup and recovery technologies are important when considering strategies for business continuity.

Non-persistent Desktop
Non-persistent desktops are stateless images that are identical to one another. They are primarily used by users who do not need to install or preserve their own applications. Non-persistent desktops have many advantages, such as being easier to support and having lower storage costs. Other benefits include a limited need to back up the virtual machines and easier, less expensive disaster recovery and business continuity options. The virtual desktops themselves do not need to be protected as there is no unique user data stored. In the event that the virtual desktops are destroyed, you can simply re-create them from the golden image. Folder redirection and various profile technologies can optionally be used to storage user profile and user data.

In VMware Horizon 8, you can create non-persistent desktops by leveraging instant clones. For more information on instant clones, see the Windows Desktops and Applications in Horizon 8 document.

Desktops for Task Workers
Since task workers perform repetitive tasks within a small set of applications, you can utilize non-persistent desktops, which saves on storage an compute costs and make desktop management easier.
Desktops for Knowledge Workers and Power Users
Knowledge workers are usually required to create complex documents and have them persist. Power users often need to install their own applications and have them persist. Depending on the nature and amount of personal data that must be retained, they require either a non-persistent desktop or a persistent desktop.

For workers who must install their own applications, which adds data to the operating system disk, the best option is to create a persistent desktop using full clone virtual machines.

Desktops for Kiosk Users
Kiosk users might include customers at airline check-in stations, students in classrooms or libraries, medical personnel at medical data entry workstations, or customers at self-service points. Accounts associated with client devices rather than users are entitled to use these desktop pools because users do not need to log in to use the client device or the remote desktop. Users can still be required to provide authentication credentials for some applications.

Virtual machine desktops that are set to run in kiosk mode use non-persistent desktops because user data does not need to be preserved in the operating system disk. Kiosk mode desktops are used with thin client devices or locked-down PCs. You must ensure that the desktop application implements authentication mechanisms for secure transactions, that the physical network is secure against tampering and snooping, and that all devices connected to the network are trusted.

To set up kiosk mode, you must use the vdmadmin command-line interface and perform several procedures documented in the topics about kiosk mode in the Horizon 8 Administration document.

For more information creating desktop pools for specific types of workers, see the Windows Desktops and Applications in Horizon 8 document.