News & Events

November 30, 2009

The traditional way of architecting desktops is cumbersome and costly. To address these problems, a new strategy has evolved that taps into the successes of server virtualisation.

Before we look at the ‘cure’, it pays to examine the problems.

Traditional desktop management requires the one-by-one assembly and hard-coding of desktops, with ongoing maintenance, support, imaging and upgrades demanding that an IT staff member pay an onsite visit to each device. With applications hard-coded into the operating system, any kind of upgrade is extremely slow and expensive.

The traditional approach causes other headaches for IT and users alike:

• Users lack the flexibility to access what they need to from anywhere on the network
• Data is more vulnerable, especially on laptops, with growing security risks as users rely more on memory sticks, email and the like to store data
• Support is complex and expensive.

These issues caused a significant rethink in the way that desktops are managed.

The desktop goes virtual

Desktop virtualisation, or centralised desktop management from the data centre, eliminates all of the problems outlined above.

By implementing a tailored desktop virtualisation solution, organisations can reap the following benefits:

• Management is centralised, eliminating the need for IT staff to travel from endpoint to endpoint
• The storage of all desktop images in a single location improves data security and simplifies backup and recovery
• Users can access their complete desktop environment on-demand, and are freed from reliance on a specific machine
• Client-side complexity is reduced by moving the maintenance of operating systems and applications to the data centre – which improves end-point longevity.

Desktop virtualisation solutions based on single-image management make it possible for IT to support users and the business more effectively. When it comes to implementing new technologies, for example, instead of trekking throughout the organisation and installing on each device, all it takes is a single master image to be maintained.

Considering that Gartner estimates that the adoption of Windows 7 will cost organisations between $1,035 and $1,930 per user, single-image management represents a significant cost saving.

To get the most benefit from desktop virtualisation, organisations need to consider their workers’ specific needs and create a tailored solution to suit.

A range of choices are available, such as those offered within the Citrix XenDesktop virtualisation package. The key is to determine which options are required within the organisation and to tailor the solution accordingly.

To learn more about how desktop virtualisation will benefit your business, contact Frontline today at appdelivery@frontline.com.au

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Read “Desktop Virtualisation: one size does not fit all”