7 Reasons Managed Desktop Can Help Your Business

So, what is a virtual desktop infrastructure?

VDI is a shadow copy of a desktop computer or device including its OS, installed applications and documents, stored and executed entirely from a host server. VDI provides users the ability to access their desktop remotely, often even from a handheld device. VDI is primarily used to provide global access, and is also used to design DR and backup solutions. Because a single main server controls the entire network of devices, the user experience is standardised, but it is also customisable. Users can adapt their desktop to reflect their own preferences and job needs, but business owners and the IT team still have the final administrative control.  As a VMware Enterprise Partner with desktop virtualisation competency, we recommend that you plan, design and install a resilient VDI platform for your business and here’s 7 reasons why you should…

What are some benefits and applications of VDI?

1. Instantly add new desktops to the network with zero downtime

Whether your network is made of 100 devices or 10,000, adding and subtracting new users is simple and seamless. VDI is scalable

2. Familiar desktop environment for end users

VDI offers both consistency and ease-of-use for your team members or students. This reduces the learning curve for new users and provides a seamless experience across different types of devices.

3. Remote access from anywhere

VDI technologies can help your business to stay competitive with an increasingly mobile workforce. Your employees may find incredible value in the ability to access their email from anywhere they go. And for sales-based or inherently mobile jobs, it is necessary.

4. Installing updates is simple, immediate and covers the entire network

Enjoy a peace of mind, knowing that security patches and software updates will be automatically applied to all users. The ease of manageability makes VDI a popular choice as organisations can ensure their software is up to date. Not only does this tick the ‘patches updated’ box, it means the infrastructure is more secure and there’s less weak points for cyber criminals to access.

5. Limits for users to download or install new programs, improves network security

These controls are especially useful in education, where students are shielded from downloading suspicious files or installing new programs. VDI is also well-suited for sectors with strict data protection requirements, like healthcare or financial services, because users can be given access on a “need to know” basis. Multiple desktops can be monitored and controlled and the IT team can select the most appropriate delivery configuration for virtual desktops. Therefore employees can have a highly personalised system, that is still secure and adheres to various privacy policies.

6. All IT tasks are handled by the remote help desk

Gone are the days of a single, frazzled IT staff member, constantly inundated with requests for simple fixes. Any difficulties with apps or backups can be sorted quickly and across the entire network. Managing numerous PCs is a complex and time consuming task – couple this with PCs that are spread across multiple office locations and you really have a headache of a task on your hands. Legacy systems cannot offer the proactive desktop management that VDI can.

7. IT Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity

Nowadays, downtime can equal huge amounts of lost revenue. This is only exacerbated by a distributed PC setting. So the benefit of VDI is that the computers do not store the data – therefore no individual PC troubleshooting  and fixing. The servers that host the systems are powerful and can backup data securely, meaning accessing it is much easier in times of crisis, minimising the amount of downtime a company experiences.