What Type of Desktop Virtualisation Should You Use?
Who told you desktop virtualisation only comes by way of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)? There is more than one flavour for delivering virtual desktops to your workforce, such as app streaming, operating system provisioning and Remote Desktop Services (RDS). While any delivery model can improve IT management, the method you choose has a lot of do with the main problem you’re trying to solve. Here are a few example scenarios to guide you.
Scenario 1
You need: To deliver entire desktop images to remote employees
Then choose: VDI
VDI enables IT to deploy an entire desktop image to workers no matter where they are. For companies with multiple offices or a lot of workers scattered across locations, VDI provides a more secure way to access data and applications through the data centre. A key benefit for the IT department is it no longer has to worry about repairing a computing device or troubleshooting a glitch for an employee far offsite. Users must be able to connect to the network – keep in mind this means the end user’s experience is affected by network latency and available bandwidth.
Scenario 2
You need: Business-critical applications available across operating systems and devices
Then choose: RDS
For this hosted type of virtualisation, users just need to connect to a network on any device to access their applications. The setup makes this delivery model ideal for enterprises embracing the Bring Your Own Device trend, as it enables users to access specific apps on different devices. IT management is improved, as the department can oversee the applications and switch user settings if need be without worrying about apps being compatible with the operating system.
Scenario 3
You need: Tight control over app management
Then choose: Application streaming
The IT department retains ultimate control over who can access which applications when with this model. If you hire a lot of contract workers, this client-based virtualisation model also allows you to schedule when the license expires on certain applications. Users can access applications, which are delivered on-demand, when off the network, and IT gets the benefit of being able to run legacy applications on newer operating systems.
Scenario 4
You need: Employee mobility
Then choose: Virtual containers
You can lock down certain applications and use them offline with this virtualisation delivery model, which adds big convenience for mobile employees who regularly travel, such as sales associates. There’s a security win here as threats can be contained and the OS and apps are delivered through the IT department.
Scenario 5
You need: Reliable uptime
Then choose: Operating system provisioning
This client-based delivery model solves the uptime issue because only the OS and the applications are downloaded, which avoids burdening the network. Users can very easily access an operating system image by restarting their computer or moving to another desktop. This delivery method also, in effect, wipes the data from the device when the user powers it off, as everything is stored in the data centre. This delivery model works well for organisations with the same desktop image on a lot of different devices, such as contact centres and schools.
Have more questions on which desktop virtualisation delivery model to choose? A Datacom expert can discuss the options that best suit your business.