Desktops in the Cloud, Where They Belong
I recently met with a person from a well-known enterprise software security company who shared information with me about one of their 100,000-desktop companies for which they provide audit and assurances. While the main reason they shared the information was driven by their interest in a secure desktop-as-a-service offering for enterprise and mid markets, they offered another piece of information about this use case that really sparked my interest.
They told me that of the 100,000 desktops they catalog for usage, over 60,000 have profiles that have been modified with unique applications or versions of software that are preferred over the standard profile they use to build their desktops.
I believe that it’s far more relevant to focus on what “the cloud” in its many forms actually does for companies than it is to spend my time defining what the cloud is. I have come to realize that the cloud allows organizations to focus on their core business. It allows government to focus on governing, a bicycle company to focus on bicycles or a service company to focus on providing great customer service. With this in mind, I see the cloud as an offering that is just getting started. I expect its ability to allow organizations and individuals alike to experience the most optimized computing environment without the distraction of building customized services (like the company I spoke with) to fuel tremendous growth for the cloud.
Desktops are the most prolific and customized computing experience on the planet. There are many types and versions, maintained in numerous ways. I have seen information published on the crazy cost of operations per desktop, which dwarfs its up front capital cost. There is also the tough-to-measure stuff like how much personal or business time is spent making a desktop one’s own, as well as building it to fit the needs of an individual solution. What is needed is a consistent and uniform way to deploy desktops that people can use quickly and effectively, desktops in the cloud…
V3 Systems is fully committed to moving desktops to the cloud. I consistently rave that people will not adopt a desktop in the cloud unless it performs at least as well as their current desktop. This is one of our guarantees. We also guarantee other important metrics like offline availability, uptime, and utilization.
The one consistent experience I have seen from our customers is the transition beyond Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to something even more valuable: The realization of a fully customized, virtual and persistent desktop that is personalized and delivered as a service without sacrificing current needs.
Yes, BYOD allows one to choose the device through which they access information, but I am seeing something greater than that. Desktops in the cloud are empowering users to leverage the device most relevant to what one needs to accomplish, as a service at the time it needs to be done, ultimately maximizing the value of each computing device.
Primary desktops belong in the cloud. In the near future we will see the transition of current technology, which is rooted in the concept of a single primary desktop per user, to complete desktops in the cloud delivered as a service. This is something we have all longed for. In this model, I see managed service providers delivering virtual desktops specifically designed to replace desktops for purposes such as these:
- Guaranteed Secure Virtual Desktop
- Guaranteed Trusted Virtual Desktop
- Large Law Firm Desktop as a Service
- Software Developer Desktop as a Service
- Media Center Desktop as a Service
- Point of Sale Desktop as a Service
- Hospital Bedside Desktop as a Service
- Retail Outlet Checkout Desktop as a Service
These are but a few sample environments to which a managed service provider could deliver real value by moving desktops to the cloud. V3 Systems is working diligently with partners to provide the best cloud-based desktop solution possible as a service. Our goal is to empower organizations and even the IT groups within them to focus on improving and optimizing their core business in ways previously reserved for only the largest, best funded organizations.
Success in delivering primary desktops in the cloud will begin with guarantees around performance, availability and utilization and will grow from that point. V3 Systems currently delivers on these key areas, and we are continually recruiting partners to help in the adoption of the cloud for primary desktops to deliver these best-of-breed virtual desktop services.