Desktop Virtualization: Enabling Flexible and Secure Access to Applications and Data

As more organizations adopt remote and hybrid work models, desktop virtualization is playing an increasingly important role in empowering employees with flexible access to the tools and information they need to be productive from anywhere. Through virtualizing desktop environments and applications, companies can securely deliver the full functionality of traditional office computers from any device with an internet connection.

What is Desktop Virtualization?

Desktop virtualization refers to the separation of a desktop environment and underlying applications from a physical computing device. With this technology, a virtual desktop is hosted in a data center on virtual machines (VMs) and streamed to remote users over a network. This allows employees to access their complete work environment - operating system, applications, data, settings, and more - from any lightweight client device like a tablet, smartphone, thin client or personal computer.

There are a few different types of desktop virtualization:

Hosted Virtual Desktops (HVD): With HVD, the entire desktop operating system and applications run in a remote data center on powerful servers. Users connect to their virtual desktop over the network and interact with it in a way that feels native to their device through protocols like RDP or Blast Extreme.

Application Virtualization: Instead of providing a full virtual desktop, only specific applications are virtualized and streamed to clients on-demand. The host operating system remains locally on the user's device.

Server-hosted Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): Similar to HVD but applications and desktops are pooled together on centralized powerful servers and allocated on login. This provides a more flexible shared infrastructure.

Benefits of Desktop Virtualization

Increased Flexibility and Mobility: With virtual desktops, users can access the full functionality of their work environment from any location. They are no longer tied to a single physical computer.

Enhanced Security: Data and applications are centralized behind enterprise-grade security in the data center rather than distributed on devices outside the corporate network. Risk of data loss from theft is eliminated.

Simplified Management: Updates, patches and policy changes can be applied uniformly across all virtual desktops from a single management console, reducing IT overhead. Hardware refreshes are no longer needed for endpoint upgrades.

Elimination of Legacy OS: Desktop virtualization allows organizations to consolidate disparate legacy systems onto modern virtual infrastructures running optimized operating systems.

Improved Business Continuity: Virtual desktops provide a resilient platform that keeps business running even during outages or disasters by ensuring users can work from alternative physical locations or devices.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Capital expenditures shift to operational costs with virtual desktops. Hardware, software and support costs are significantly lowered by consolidating resources in the data center and extending device lifecycles.

Desktop Virtualization Deployment Models

Organizations can deploy desktop virtualization in different ways depending on requirements:

Public Cloud Model: Leverage cloud providers like Amazon WorkSpaces, Azure Virtual Desktop or Citrix Cloud to offload management and maintenance of virtual desktop infrastructure. Scalable pay-per-use model reduces upfront costs.

Private Cloud Model: Setup virtual desktop infrastructure internally in a company data center with virtualization platforms like Citrix XenDesktop, VMware Horizon, Nutanix Frame or Parallels RAS. Greater control but requires infrastructure investment.

Hybrid Model: Combination of public and private cloud - critical workloads remain on-premises while others utilize cloud flexibility. Allows burst scaling during peaks.

Hosted Private Cloud: Outsourced virtual desktop management - third parties host and manage internal virtual infrastructure in their secure data centers.

Key Considerations for Desktop Virtualization Projects

While desktop virtualization provides numerous advantages, successful implementation requires thorough planning and testing to ensure a smooth transition and adoption:

Application Testing: Virtual applications may require adjustments to work properly in virtual environments. Extensive testing is needed.

Network Assessment: Bandwidth, latency and protocol support need assessing to ensure optimal end-user experience over WAN.

Desktop Allocation: Right sizing of compute, memory, storage and number of concurrent users based on realistic usage profiles.

End-User Training: Employees need training on using virtual desktops and any changes to workflows/processes.

Change Management: Clearly communicated transition strategy and timelines help address change resistance.

Disaster Recovery: Develop and test backups, failover and business continuity for virtual infrastructure.

Monitoring and Optimization: Ongoing performance monitoring and adjustments are key to maintaining a smooth experience.

With the accelerated shift to hybrid work arrangements, desktop virtualization provides a secure, flexible platform for organizations aiming to empower employee productivity from anywhere. Proper assessment and planning ensures organizations reap the full benefits of this transformative technology.