One of the hardest IT assets for organizations to shop for are those that control employee access to software and other network applications. There are so many new technologies emerging all the time that it can be hard for enterprise IT decision-makers to pick which ones are ideal for their business. When choosing the solution that is best for a company, it's important to look at a few key factors: price, functionality and security being chief among them. No matter how fancy and new a technology may be, if it's too expensive, doesn't work the way it needs to all the time and doesn't keep information secure, there's no reason to invest in it. Luckily, the search is over, as desktop virtualization solutions offer businesses all of the access they need with the management and security options necessary to keep critical information protected.
Desktop virtualization solutions are technologies that separate traditional desktop environments from the application software associated with them from the physical device that is used to access them. For companies looking to centralize control over critical information and offer central access to desktop applications for employees working remotely or on the road, hosted desktops or desktops-as-a-service are the most reliable solution. When it comes to the deciding criteria of price, functionality and security, desktop virtualization meets all three.
Price
Desktop virtualization is a cost-effective solution for businesses in two different ways. First, using a virtual desktop infrastructure can save organizations money if they deploy thin client devices in place of desktops. Thin clients usually cost between $200 and $300, whereas fully equipped PCs can cost thousands of dollars.
"VDI technology could save companies more than $150 per desktop every year."
The other way desktop virtualization saves enterprises money is by reducing administrative and maintenance costs. Utilizing VDI technology can reduce costs between 30 and 50 percent for IT administrators by decreasing the need to manage, patch, upgrade and support employees' PCs in a traditional client/server environment. Some vendors have estimated that VDI technology could save companies more than $150 per desktop every year, Forbes reported.
"DaaS is continuing to grow steadily, primarily in the SMB space," observed Kevin Rhone, senior partnering consultant in the Channel Acceleration Practice of Enterprise Strategy Group. "It's all about a lower [total cost of ownership] and the view that managing desktops is not core; it's a 'relatively' low-value task [that] they can and should outsource."
Functionality
One of the main reasons many business turn to desktop virtualization is to provide improved access for employees that work outside of the office. VDI technology allows staff members to easily use the same programs and applications they would in the office from their personal devices while IT administrators are still able to manage and secure network activity from these remote locations. Utilizing DaaS allow companies to have their PC experience delivered and maintained by a third-party cloud provider. In such a scenario, cloud service providers are in charge of installing the necessary back-end infrastructure to support VDI technology as well as the maintenance and management that goes along with it.
"Another key advantage of DaaS solutions is their ability to provide a very fast desktop experience without the maintenance and cost of an on-site data center — these efficiencies comes through the availability of more reliable — and faster — network connections," said Matthew Hopkins, a research associate with VDC Research, in an interview with TechTarget.
Security
Desktop virtualization and DaaS solutions offer companies greater security by allowing employees a way to access critical enterprise information that can be managed and monitored by IT administrators. Where businesses once had to deal with the consequences of shadow IT that cropped up when impatient staff members wanted to access programs, hosted desktops enable workers to use the same applications and software remotely as they would in the office, cutting down dramatically on the number of unauthorized programs being used and the likelihood that a data breach will occur.
When businesses are looking to adopt new technology such as desktop virtualization, partnering with a trusted third-party service provider is one of the most reliable ways to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Organizations like ISG Technology offer decades of industry experience that allows them to create customized programs that will work for each individual business. ISG's knowledgeable staff enables companies to access the support necessary for a successful deployment.