As technology plays an ever-greater role in mission-critical processes, businesses of all sizes are always looking for ways to improve operational efficiencies and regain control over their expenditures. One of the best ways to do this is to add virtualization into the mix.
Virtualization refers to the creation of software-defined computing resources, which allows you to utilize your hardware more efficiently. A virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a desktop operating system, such as Windows, along with all its associated drivers and apps, that runs from a centralized server in a data center. A single server can run multiple virtual desktops, depending on the available hardware resources.
Enable Complete Workforce Mobility
A VDI gives each user access to their own desktop computing environment in which all computing workloads are handled by the remote server. That means the device in front of them does minimal processing work by itself — all it needs to do is connect to the server and provide connectivity for a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. But now that many VDI systems are mobile-optimized, even a smartphone might be enough. This means your employees will have a virtual workspace they can carry wherever they go.
Easily Scale with Demand
A virtual desktop is effectively an entire virtual desktop computer stored in a single file known as an “image,” so you can move them around and duplicate them as you do with any other file. That makes scaling back and forth with demand far easier and quicker, since adding a new user simply requires you to create a new image or copy an existing one and provide the necessary access credentials.
Virtual desktops make far better use of the available hardware resources, cloud-hosted or otherwise. They allow one physical machine to function as multiple individual ones. Add the cloud into the mix, and you have practically unlimited scalability.
Onboard New Employees
Since VDIs offer greater scalability and flexibility, they’re also more effective when it comes to onboarding new employees. This degree of freedom is essential for any growing business that’s rapidly taking on a lot of new employees. Rather than buying a new high-end workstation every time you enroll a new member, you can simply set up a new virtual desktop for them in a matter of minutes, which they’ll then be able to access from any office computer or even their own laptop or mobile device.
uilt-in Disaster-Recovery Planning
Since a VDI is essentially a single file much like any other, it’s much easier to back up and copy over to another machine. In other words, you can back up every virtual desktop onto a local storage area network (SAN) or cloud storage system. If you’re hosting your virtual desktops with a cloud service provider, they’ll have redundant systems that automatically store constantly updated and dynamic copies of your virtual desktops.
More Efficient Use of Resources
Virtualization is all about making a single machine perform more simultaneous roles, which is inherently more efficient. There are no more wasted computing resources, since a single machine will be able to function like multiple individual workstations. If paired with cloud-based virtualization, your virtual desktops should be hosted in cutting-edge data centers for maximum performance, reliability, and data redundancy. More importantly, it’s a lot more cost-effective. With the cloud model, adding a new VDI is typically a matter of adding a new user account and having everything set up for you all for a predictable monthly expense.
Safebit Solutions offers cloud-hosted VDI solutions that allow businesses to benefit from the latest hardware, unlimited scalability, and enterprise-grade security. Call us today if you’re ready to reduce costs and simplify the desktop lifecycle.
