In this blog post
The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizations around the world to adopt business processes & working styles they never imagined would be practical, sustainable, or productive in the long term. With governments suspending all business activities in the wake of the pandemic, and with nationwide lockdowns & travel restrictions, core business processes have been challenged. Thrown into the ocean of uncertainty, businesses have had no choice but to adapt in order to keep their heads above the water and swim to safety!
One of the main challenges for organizations during the pandemic has been to ensure a secure workplace for their employees. To steer through the challenges posed by the pandemic, businesses have had to embrace the remote work culture. Work From Home (WFH) which was once a privilege quickly became the only possible way to work! To that end, VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) hasproved to be the game-changer, enabling employees to connect & work securely from the comfort of their homes.
What is VDI?
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) allows employees to securely access desktop applications and servers from outside their physical office premises. They are provided with computing capacity via virtual machines, enabling them to work from any remote location. Virtual machines allow a business to deploy applications and operating systems via a dedicated host server.
An organization can deploy business data, dedicated applications, and many more components of IT infrastructure to employees through a VDI. Business resources and applications are deployed to the employees in a virtual data center. Virtual desktop resources are delivered as a service by leveraging the internet. Unlike a physical desktop, you don’t need an endpoint device to connect to these business resources. The virtual desktop resources are managed in a data center and are delivered over a reliable network. Employees can use the applications deployed via VDI as if they are running locally – from any device.
Desktop Virtualization and VDI
Desktop virtualization creates a virtual version of the end user’s desktop environment. A virtual OS is created from the end user’s physical desktop via virtualization. VDI is a deployment model of desktop virtualization that is used by businesses for remote work. There are other deployment models for desktop virtualization like remote desktop services and DaaS (Desktop-as-a-Service).
In VDI a desktop image travels through the internet to the employee’s device. VDI is always deployed with the help of a server in a data center. Once deployed, users can interact with desktop applications and operating systems remotely.
Why is VDI a great solution?
Many firms around the globe have already started using VDI for providing a secure workplace to their employees. The major pros of VDI that ensure seamless business continuity are:
- Centralized Monitoring:
With centralized monitoring and management VDI enables tighter control and saves a lot of time & effort for routine IT tasks. IT administrators can modify or patch virtual desktops at any time and can make changes to all the virtual desktops in a network at the same time.
- Data Recovery:
With VDI, essential business data will be backed up in the data center. This data backup process is typically automated. Employees can run a virtual desktop recovery program if they face abrupt shutdowns or connection losses. If an end user’s device gets stolen, the connectivity of that device to the VDI can be terminated. Such features ensure that data is always safeguarded.
- Enhanced Accessibility:
VDI empowers users to securely access their desktop from anywhere, at any time, and from any device, to gain access to their business files & applications. They do not have to use high-performing devices as computing capacity is also deployed under VDI – any PC, tablet, smartphone, or thin client can be used. This helps create a flexible work environment for employees.
- Personalized Work Environment:
Virtual desktop environments are highly customizable to suit user preferences and business needs. For any ad-hoc requirements, virtual desktops can be quickly customized as required – much faster than a physical desktop.
Is VDI Cost-effective?
A business does not have to invest in any special hardware to deploy VDI. No specialized training is required to be able to use VDI. Virtual desktops are easy to manage & use and work exactly like a physical desktop. Deployment of large-scale virtual desktops involves much lower IT costs than physical infrastructure. For example, deploying a virtual desktop Mac would be less expensive than buying an Apple desktop. Resources can be deployed as required, and when needed, resulting in reduction in wastage and IT operating costs.
In a Nutshell
The global VDI market size is expected to be USD 30 billion by 2026. VDI lends itself reliably to organizations as a business continuity strategy. It also empowers employees with tremendous flexibility in their work environment. Choose a reliable VDI for your organization and deliver a seamless working experience today! You can find information on zDesk, GAVS’ award-winning VDI + DaaS solution here.
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