Consider this your desktop and application virtualization crash course! We’ll give you the pros and cons of making the move, and some simple first steps you can take to get your company on the virtualization path.
Virtually anything! And it can be done by virtually anyone (provided they have the right tools). Gone are the days when virtualization solutions were limited to datacenters. Today, companies of all sizes embrace the ease it delivers. IT professionals concentrate their efforts on one – or a combination of – their: hardware, software, memory, storage, data, and networks. If you’re interest in digging into the weeds for more details on each, Petri’s introduction to virtualization will help.
Let’s dive into the basics of virtualizing desktops and applications.
Desktop virtualization is the act of separating an operating system from a client which accesses it, and comes in two flavors:
Host-based – in which users connect to operating systems on physical or virtual machines hosted remotely in a datacenter.
Client-based – in which operating systems kept on a disk image reside within a company’s network and accessed through local hardware.
Application virtualization follows the same principles of desktop, but with greater specificity. Individual programs are separated from a client which accesses them, and also come in two flavors:
Remote apps – using applications running on remote servers in datacenters.
Streaming apps – on-demand deliver of applications to local hardware.
Regardless of the form chosen, virtualized applications are relatively easy to administer since installations, patches, and updates can be issued from a central platform, rather than handled individually for each user.
Together, these techniques have been proven time and time again to ease common IT headaches like:
Imagine how great life would be if, in addition to the reasons above, you spent less time dealing with:
Your organization’s staff could access their work desktops from anywhere with an internet connection.
All of your data would be centrally managed and backed up to the host servers.
No longer visit a user to install or update software at their desk – it’s all centrally managed.
Access to shared desktop images makes controlling what’s available and installed a time-saving snap.
Monitor and maintain from a single, central point.
Of course, for every positive there’s bound to be a challenge to consider before making the virtualization leap. Thankfully, when it comes to desktop and application virtualization, the list is shorter than the positives. Here are a few to keep in mind:
As wonderful and flexible as remote access is, productivity can be stopped dead if there’s internet or network connectivity issues.
If your DaaS server (or a provider) goes down, it impacts everyone.
Desktop virtualization isn’t going to show an immediate ROI. It takes time to build up.
If you’re convinced it’s right for your organization, PC World published a terrific 10-step guide for virtualization newcomers. We suggest reviewing it before you try to move any critical functions. Guiding highlights include:
If you’re new to Windows Server and looking for training, let us know! We also provide end-user training to help with easing the friction a change like this creates.
Desktop and application virtualization can make life easier for organizations of any size. Once you familiarize yourself with the basics, and arm yourself with the standard tools/equipment, you can formulate a virtualization plan you trust - and from which your company will benefit.
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