The birth of the PC was a boon for the democratisation of computing. Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s Mac operating systems allowed users to set up their own machine, and make it, well, personal. Many moons and OS versions later, that flexibility has also created an ongoing burden for IT departments. Maintaining a consistent desktop standard across all staff allows applications to run smoothly on everyone’s PC, and means issues like back up, security, user support and licensing can be better managed. Consistency makes management easier, and saves costs. But it’s hard to do, and so what is supposed to be a cost saving exercise in simplification for the IT department becomes expensive and complex in itself.

BYOD Computing
In parallel, users have sought out the best computing capabilities for their home situations, where often multimedia applications such as gaming, video and music are much more demanding on computing resources. They end up with much better gear at home than they have at work – and that brings frustration and animosity toward the IT team hamstrung by organisational policies demanding consistency.

Smart phones and tablets have further compounded the issue with individuals expecting to have the capability they are used to at home at their fingertips during the day. No surprise then that we all circumvent policies and connect multitudes of devices and applications to work networks and merrily remain connected.

“The workplace has changed,” says Nick Day, A/NZ sales executive for IBM’s Solutions for Smart Business team. “Where before, workers would head in to the office each day, the office is now at home, on the road, at the airport or in a coffee shop across the way. Employees are always on, always connected and working from mobile devices wherever they are,” says Day.

And so the idea of BYOD computing has emerged (that’s D for Device), and is rapidly gaining traction. Virtual desktop infrastructure and BYOD computing go hand in hand as users can access a standard desktop, but because it runs in a central data centre, it can be managed much more easily and consistently by the IT department, giving users flexibility as to how they access it. “

In this new office landscape, organisations need a smarter way of supporting this mobile worker and improving productivity. Virtualised desktop management can help them to do this,” says Day.

VDI – its not a disease
A Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is attractive for organisations wanting to rein in the costs of managing desktop computing, while at the same time delivering increased security, robust back-up and recovery and offering employees greater flexibility in terms of mobility and remote access. Typically 40-70 per cent of employees are likely to need only the most common office productivity tools (word processing, spreadsheets, presentation mail, messaging and internet connectivity) and are a great starting point for organisations to explore desktop virtualisation. “

A virtual desktop environment can benefit many industries or even teams within an organisation. Think about the value to a real estate agent of being able to access company email, CRM data and office programmes to make a sale while out of the office. Or imagine the savings in a call centre environment, where each worker needs access to specific data and applications but not the power of a PC,” says Day.

A virtual desktop makes working absolutely seamless across all devices. Workers can access their desktops whether online or not and still be productive, whether they are on their PC in the office, giving a presentation off their laptop in a client office across town or working on a tablet while travelling,” he says.

Why VDI?
When approached to discuss VDI, Jason Poyner, director of Citrix partner Deptive, says that his first question is always ‘Why VDI?’ “I almost come across as anti-VDI when I first speak about the subject, which is surprising since I run a business specialising in desktop virtualisation! But don’t get me wrong, I am not ‘anti-VDI’ at all. I just do not believe VDI is the first choice for desktop virtualisation,” says Poyner. “

Without fully understanding the business drivers and requirements, implementing VDI can end up a case of hammering a square peg into a round hole; it will not fit,” he adds.

Poyner explains that VDI is one of the four main types of desktop virtualisation available, at least in the Citrix world, as outlined in the table.

Download the full pdf article:
The desktop goes virtual

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