An Agile Alternative to Traditional PCs Desktop virtualization offers the performance and features that today’s users demand, plus the security, manageability, and reduced costs that IT departments need. Much like server virtualization, desktop virtualization is a win-win situation for both administrators and users. By separating the hardware, OS, applications, and data from individual desktop units, organizations can gain the cost savings of centralization while delivering the seamless computing experience across devices and locations that users need to be more productive. In addition, desktop virtualization greatly reduces the need for desk-side visits and makes it easier to deploy patches, upgrades, and changes to IT policy.
Divide and Conquer Choosing the right virtual desktop solution for your organization requires careful thought. In the past, users have been reluctant to adopt technologies like thin computing because of the perceived performance issues. You can dispel those old notions by tailoring a virtualization solution to your environment. This is not a case where one size will fit all—different users have different needs. The first step in your desktop virtualization project should be to assess your users’ requirements and divide them into groups based on usage patterns. Just like traditional PCs require different suites of software, your virtualized desktops will need to be customized to individual users’ required graphics performance, compute load, connectivity, and workspace.
Is Virtualization the Right Choice
for Your Organization? The next step in your desktop virtualization project is to determine if it will be cost-effective. There are many factors to consider when analyzing the TCO, so it’s important to look beyond the savings you’ll get from reduced hardware and support costs at the user level. Centralizing your computing
power means you’ll see reductions in real estate, energy usage, and hardware requirements for end users—but you’ll have to invest more in your data center. Bigger, more powerful servers require more advanced power and cooling solutions, and can affect the amount of free real estate in your data center. Network connectivity will be more important than ever, so be sure your infrastructure has the necessary bandwidth and reliability. Your software licensing costs may change to accommodate server applications as well as a cost per seat structure. Desktop virtualization touches so many components of your IT—from servers and storage to software and security—that you need to work with multiple teams and examine how each area will be affected.
Selecting the right software vendor for your desktop virtualization needs is crucial. Be sure to do your homework and ask the right questions. How will transitioning to virtual desktops affect your users’ performance, capabilities, and workflow? What administration and management benefits does their software offer your IT staff? Take a good look at your wish list and find a vendor that aligns with your organization’s priorities.
Plot Your Course with the Perfect Partner Transitioning from traditional desktops to a virtualized solution offers significant benefits, but such a far-reaching initiative demands thorough planning. Turn to the experts at GovConnection to help guide you through your virtualization project from design to deployment. We offer a complete selection of assessments and services to ensure your organization achieves the performance, flexibility, and manageability you require.
TURN THE PAGE to learn more about solutions designed to meet your desktop virtualization needs. Then call your Account Manager to get started simplifying manageability and reducing IT costs.
Take the Guesswork Out of Virtualization
More than ever, organizations want to realize the benefits of desktop virtualization—cost savings, ease of management, improved security, and platform independence. Our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Assessment (VDI) evaluates your unique server, storage, and networking needs in order to help you pick the right desktops to virtualize.
A VDI Assessment examines multiple aspects of your current computing environment to determine the desktops and users that are the best fit for virtualization. Make smarter investment decisions with valuable information on:
• Desktop virtualization criteria • Users and locations
• Breakdown by department and function • Access infrastructure and network • End-user computers • End-user applications
Call your Account Manager today to learn how we can help streamline your mobility strategy.
1.800.800.0019
www.govconnection.com/VDIassessment
1.800.800.0019
www.govconnection.com
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