09 May Desktop Virtualization: Cost Savings and Improved Productivity
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), optimizing IT infrastructure and reducing costs are key priorities.
What is Desktop Virtualization?
What is Desktop Virtualization?Desktop virtualization is a technology that can help companies reach their cost and productivity objectives. As you research your options, may also hear virtual desktop solutions referred to as “desktop as a service” (DaaS)
Virtual desktops are created instead of a network of individual machines. These virtual machines run on a central server located in a secure data center.
Desktop virtualization is a practical and secure IT solution for small businesses. It offers cost savings, enhanced security, improved productivity, flexibility, and scalability. By implementing desktop virtualization, small businesses can optimize their IT infrastructure and remain competitive in the digital age. SMBs should consider exploring desktop virtualization as a valuable tool to enhance their business operations.
In this article, we will examine the advantages of desktop virtualization for SMBs using real world examples of how firms across different industries are using a virtualized environment to advance their business objectives.
How a Small Accounting Firm Uses Virtual Desktops
The Problem:
A small accounting firm has multiple offices and lacks the IT support to maintain and manage their network of individual desktop computers. Plus, fluctuations in seasonal demand meant slowdowns during peak times, like tax season. Additionally, they were concerned about the security risks posed by the sensitive data they receive regularly from clients.
Benefits of desktop virtualization:
- Cost Savings: Transitioning to desktop virtualization allowed the firm to reduce hardware costs and maintenance expenses.
Instead of feeling the pressure to upgrade their current desktop computers, the company was able to extend the life of their machines by transferring the processing demands to a secure data center. They no longer had the capital expenditures associated with needing adequate processing resources for high demand periods and the frustration of having expensive servers largely idle during slower periods.
- Improved Security: Nearly 64% of all cyber attacks target SMBs with under 1000 employees.
Shifting to virtual desktops, housed on a centralized server in a secure data center means the accounting firm benefits from another set of eyes monitoring and controlling access to data more easily. Having a dedicated cyber security presence improved their overall data security and reduced the risk of data breaches.
- Increased Productivity: Desktop virtualization can improve productivity by allowing employees to access their desktops and applications from any approved device.
Employees can work remotely, collaborate on projects, and access company data even while on the move. Virtual desktops can also be provisioned quickly so seasonal, or contract employees can be onboarded efficiently and up and running to support the firm during busy months.
How a Law Firm Can Benefit from Desktop Virtualization
The Problem:
The midsize law firm was growing more concerned about the security of their client data, especially in certain sections where medical records and other sensitive data were being received by staff attorneys and paralegals. They also had several big clients that needed attorneys to work at their location and the firm’s current system wasn’t designed to accommodate these new demands.
Benefits of a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI):
- Improved Security: VDI provided the small law firm with improved security by allowing them to “hand off” their IT infrastructure to a secure hosted environment.
With all desktops running on secure servers, the law firm could more easily monitor and control access to client data. The desktop provider’s support team could set up secure user profiles and access controls to restrict potentially unauthorized access to data.
These controls protected client data and reduced the risk of data breaches and other types of cyber-attacks. Additionally, all the virtual desktops were configured to include data protection features such as data encryption, firewalls, and antivirus software, which further strengthened the law firm’s security posture. They were also able to house medical records on HIPAA compliant servers.
- Remote Access: By moving their desktops to a virtual environment, the law firm was able to provide their employees with remote access to their desktops and applications.
Having remote access enabled the firm’s employees to work from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. This helped the law firm meet new demands to work efficiently and securely at a client’s place of business.
This flexibility also increases productivity by allowing employees to work from home, the courthouse, or while traveling.
Remote access can pose security risks if not properly managed, but desktop virtualization allows access to be managed and secured in accordance with set company policies so only authorized employees can access company data or access the network remote locations.
In Conclusion
Desktop virtualization provides small businesses with a secure and cost-effective IT solution that offers flexibility, security, and increases productivity. By improving resource allocation and cyber security, companies can process and protect their client data more effectively. Desktop virtualization is a valuable tool for organizations looking to optimize their business operations and remain competitive in their industry.
We Have Experts on Staff to Answer Your Questions About Desktop Virtualization
Interested in finding out how partnering with an award-winning cloud hosting provider can help you achieve your business goals while reducing your overall technology costs?
Our trained team of cloud computing experts can help by answering all your questions about industry guidelines and compliance standards including the benefits of transferring your computing operations to a cloud hosted virtual environment,
We’ll demonstrate how to use our efficient cloud-based storage and processing solutions in your business to improve your security, productivity, and profitability.
Let us demonstrate exactly what CyberlinkASP can do for you – using your own data and workflows.