Virtual desktop

Inside Track: Virtually there?

Longform
(Image: Stockfresh)

10 April 2015

Realistic opportunity
“A solution that can accommodate legacy hardware and software issues has been the single greatest obstacle to date for SMEs moving to a hosted environment” David Waldron, Channel Partner Manager, CloudStrong_webCloudStrong: David Waldron
With Windows Server 2003 coming EOS on 14 July 2015, SME’s with this legacy O/S have a decision to make over the next few months! Do I replace my existing on premise server with a newer version, or do I take advantage of avoiding that on premise server and everything that comes with it and utilise a Virtual Desktop environment?Regardless, with no Microsoft updates, no security patches and no more support after this date, a decision will have to be made one way or the other in the coming months. CloudStrong is very much aware that this is a growing concern as the EOS date looms. To accommodate the SME and enterprise marketplace, CloudStrong launched a Server Scrappage Scheme (www.sss.ie) campaign at the Tech Trade show in October 2014. This is an incentive where organisations can claim a rebate of up to €6,000 for their old server. Supported by Microsoft, this campaign is a Virtual Scrappage Scheme and will allow SMEs look more closely at Virtual Desktops as a viable alternative to on premise solution.An ever more present trend for SME’s and enterprises is all about working smarter. End-users demand more and do not want any headaches when it comes to their IT. CloudStrong has noticed within the last year the varying complexities out there for older legacy hardware/software, such as Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP with software applications that were built with these operating systems in mind. This has been one of the main reasons why DaaS growth was halted in previous years.CloudStrong has re-invented its DaaS offering to accommodate such users and organisations with the launch of the Chameleon Virtual Desktop. The most fool proof solution is whereby a LAN is mimicked within their new virtual desktop environment, exactly as it has done for years locally on premise. The Chameleon cDaaS does exactly this. It’s an enterprise grade Virtual Desktop solution that overcomes such challenges on 2003/XP systems. A solution that can accommodate legacy hardware and software issues has been the single greatest obstacle to date for Irish and UK SMEs moving to a hosted environment. Proof of concepts made easy are also key to continued growth for the Virtual Desktop marketplace. Overcome this and the challenge becomes a more realistic opportunity for Irish SMEs.Alternatively, if legacy software/hardware is not an issue, then an RDS hosted solution is perfectly fine. Where a hosted RDS solution is adequate, it can in certain instances bring about its own challenges when it comes to the more complex client, requiring a bit more flexibility.

Indeed we have seen organisations mix and match both Chameleon and RDS Virtual Desktops to accommodate their varying departmental needs. With Microsoft Windows Server 2003 going EOS on 14 July this year, CloudStrong has already seen a surge in recent months for SME’s moving to RDS and Chameleon Virtual Desktops. Unquestionably, a more reliable, secure and smarter way of working is catching the eye of the modern Irish workforce in 2015.

 

 

Hidden ROI
“Considering high licensing costs and the chunk of the budget needed to build a support infrastructure, presenting a sound case highlighting the business value a switch to a VDI will bring is absolutely essential” Kevin_reid_sureskills_webSureSkills.com: Kevin Reid, CTO
There are multiple reasons why it would be advantageous for an organisation to adopt a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) — enabling quick and simple provisioning of further desktops, standardisation of security configurations, enhanced security of sensitive data, centralised patch management, and facilitating full use for mobile workers — but the slow and/or hidden return on investment can make building the business case for its implementation a tough one.Considering the relatively high licensing costs involved and the chunk of the budget that will be needed to build a support infrastructure, presenting a sound case highlighting the business value a switch to a VDI will bring is absolutely essential.
The key starting point is having a clear understanding of what the end point will be, what it will bring and also displaying clarity around what the total cost of purchase will be.Stressing factors such as the fact that a VDI is built for disaster recovery will get the ball rolling while the centralisation of data security will help move the argument in its’ favour.The enablement of remote and mobile workers begins to build the savings case with the organisation experiencing lower energy costs. In terms of the office, the reduced heat and noise owing to the removal of machines from the desktops — and moving some workers from their desks to their homes — makes for a much more pleasant environment.There will also be indirect cost savings accrued elsewhere such as from freeing up overstretched IT workers from having to perform some of these menial tasks to work on more proactive projects.By adding all these factors, savings it makes, extra functions it brings, together and using them to build a sound case for the increased value a VDI will bring to your business, you will have the best chance to get the finance department to release funds for the project. A move to a VDI makes sense in the vast majority of cases where it is proposed, but explaining the reasons why and what it will bring will be crucial to gaining approval. 

 

Secure and cost effective
“Workspace as a Service enables customers to centralise end user computing services, simplify administration and increase control” Andrew Finnigan_webColt Technology Services : Andrew Finnigan
The largest trend we see is in mobility and how enterprise organisations provide their end users with secure, anytime, anywhere access to their corporate applications and data across the whole range of today’s modern end user computing devices. How they do this in a secure and cost effective way AND balance the equation of time spent on maintenance versus value contribution to the business is the cause of most headaches.Additionally, we are seeing transformation of the workspace driven by departments other than IT. For example, HR and Finance are more than ever in tune with the need for effective and secure delivery of their applications and data to the key users alongside selected groupings including contractors and in-sourced users to seasonal or temporary users. By having an awareness of technology and how it can enable better business decision making HR and Finance leaders can be pioneers of change for the modern desktop. With mobility driving how services are consumed, access to data and applications for critical users to support rapid decision making places significant demand on IT to have in place easy to use, cost effective and scalable solutions.Colt is an acknowledged leader in hosted end-user compute solutions based on the VMware Horizon Suite. Our service offers a faster than traditional PC performance in an integrated cloud solution. Workspace as a Service enables customers to centralise end user computing services, simplify administration and increase control. The service is composed of three distinct feature sets:• Horizon View – Virtual Desktops: A service that enables the customer to provide end user access to a standard virtual desktop service
• Horizon Workspace – Virtual Workspace: A service that enables the customer to provide end user access to applications, virtual desktops, files and data from anywhere through a centralised workspace manager
• Horizon Mirage – Physical Desktops and Image Management: A service that enables the customer to centrally manage and support end user desktop and laptop devices using a layered image deployment model to the users x86 based desk or laptop.

In addition, IT end users can centrally backup and restore data of defined type on demand. Each of the feature sets above can be deployed individually or in combinations to enable the secure delivery and management of the desktop operating system, published applications, files and data, offering a comprehensive and flexible IT service to the end users.
The service also offers flexibility to customers: they can either provide their end users with devices, or allow the users to supply their own.

Findings from a recent Colt study revealed more and more businesses are set to adopt a service based model for the delivery of applications and IT. Their goal is to improve the customer experience, boost employee productivity and to bring their business what it needs to adjust to future demands, with IaaS and SaaS expected to grow in the coming years by 52% and 55% respectively. Business leaders recognise that success stories and proof points are now here and that by embracing enterprise cloud services and other service centric IT models, they will be better equipped to facilitate flexible and mobile working, improve collaboration between employees and improve employee productivity.Consequently, by boosting productivity and working more effectively together, businesses will be in a better position to meet their performance targets over the coming years. Therefore, by moving away from on-premise hardware and software that requires substantial CapEx investment, towards an OpEx-focused service-based delivery of IT with per user per month commercial models, Workspace as a Service will have a direct and positive impact on the bottom line.

 

 

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