There are many scenarios where multiple workstations are required and must be managed by a single or a group of administrators. This can be at home, in a school or in a company where each member wishes to have their own office environment.
However, it is not always possible to buy a personal computer for each member of the family at home, each student at school or each employee of a company. It gets even trickier when you want this desktop environment to share apps and files, or be accessible remotely. Fortunately, there are ways around this problem, and one of the best ways is to implement a virtual desktop infrastructure.
So what is virtual desktop infrastructure?
A virtual desktop infrastructure is essentially a technological variant of the client-server computing model that uses a virtual machine to host and manage virtual desktop images. The virtual desktops are then accessible to the customer on the network, on site or remotely.
The customer accessing the virtual desktop environment provided by the virtual desktop infrastructure can interact with the virtual desktop operating system and its applications as if they were running locally on their device. In this scenario, the applications do not run on separate individual client devices, but on the server or data center and each client’s device can access them. For example, end users can use online Microsoft Access databases in the cloud .
The devices customers use to access a desktop image can be any type and run any operating system.
Virtual desktop infrastructure is far from glorified virtualization
It’s easy to confuse virtual desktop infrastructure with computer virtualization. The two are not competing for solutions, but rather an extension of each other. While computer virtualization uses parts of the hardware resources of the computer or server to create virtual machines running separate operating systems, virtual desktop infrastructure uses the virtual machine to create, host and manage multiple desktop environments. desk.
Virtual machines can run on any operating system using virtualization software and each virtual machine runs its individual operating systems and can contain different applications. When using virtual desktop infrastructure, a virtual machine is created on top of a hypervisor and the virtual machine’s desktop environments share the operating system and applications.
Types of virtual desktop infrastructure?
There are variations in how virtual desktop infrastructure is implemented. The variations change depending on the environment or industry in which it is implemented. Types determine how a user interacts with the provisioned desktop environment. Let’s look at the two ways virtual desktop infrastructure can be implemented.
Persistent virtual desktop infrastructure
A persistent virtual desktop infrastructure is a setting where the user connects to a desktop environment assigned to them and they can make customizations to their likings and save files to their environment.
This is ideal for regular users because the user’s customizations and files are saved and can be viewed on the next login. This is ideal for a workplace or home where end users may want to personalize their desktops knowing they will use them again.
Non-persistent virtual desktop infrastructure
For a non-persistent virtual desktop infrastructure, desktop environments are provisioned to revert to their original state once the user logs off. All customizations and saved files are only temporary.
This type of deployment is ideal for public computers like in a library, internet kiosk, or school. Users are greeted with a new workspace each time they log into a desktop environment.
What are you going to win?
You may have already noticed that implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure is like putting computer virtualization on steroids. There are many more benefits to using the solution than not. Let’s look at some of the ways virtual desktop infrastructure can be helpful.
Makes the task of administrators easier
Simultaneously managing all user devices in a company or school is every administrator’s dream. Using a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Solution makes it easy to do. System administrators do not need to be at the client device to provide help desk assistance.
All fixes to application software issues or software updates are performed on the host virtual machine and the changes are reflected in all desktop environments.
Ensures data security
Since all desktop environments are run from a centralized virtual machine, users are not expected to carry data across their devices. This adds a great layer of data security.
Businesses and schools store a lot of data that their customers can access. They always want to make sure that the data is safe and secure. Storing data in one place and allowing customers to access it from this centralized storage prevents data loss due to broken or stolen devices.
It is cheaper to implement and scale
It is expensive for institutions to buy computers for all their users. It becomes even more expensive for a start-up and for families to acquire enough computers for everyone. With virtual desktop infrastructure, they can spend less on expensive hardware and focus on getting an optimal data center server with a good hypervisor and running everyone’s desktop from a centralized point while giving access to all users.
Increased employee productivity
These days, remote work is becoming a thing in all industries. Statistics have shown that employee productivity increases in companies that implement fully remote or hybrid work systems.
There’s no better way to set up a remote work system for your employees than using a virtual desktop infrastructure. The solution will give access to official data and applications to employees, allowing them to work from the comfort of their own home.
Better virtualize and evolve
We have looked at what virtual desktop infrastructure is and how it can be very useful in many different scenarios. We’ve discussed how it’s a must-have tool for a system administrator, employer, or stay-at-home parent looking to reduce IT hardware costs while still benefiting the ability for all users to access a desktop environment with full applications and data access. .
If you want to achieve the same thing, and more, consider implementing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and see how it will change your experience with computer virtualization.
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