In traditional business environments, workers suffer from productivity loss in many ways, including downtime during PC refreshes, patches and updates, or simply when they are away from the office. Application and desktop virtualization centralizes apps and desktops in the datacenter, rather than on local devices. This allows IT to deliver apps and desktops to users on demand, to any device, anywhere.
Take the following response from a desktop virtualization user:
Experience from the field
Take the following response from a desktop virtualization user: As a remote employee for [company], I struggled every time I needed to access the company’s intranet, which forced me to VPN into
the network. I also kept data on my local device because trying to access it over my broadband connection was too slow. Some coworkers did the same and lost data due to a virus, thankfully I was
luckier.
Depending on my mood (and the weather), changing devices and locations was a challenge as I had to have my applications and data copied to many different endpoints. I know this was unsecured,
but I didn’t care because I was more concerned with flexibility.
Since moving to a virtual desktop, I’m able to use any device. I’m able to work from any location. And best of all, I don’t have to worry about copying my data and applications onto all of my personal
devices. I paid for these devices; I don’t want work to clutter up my personal space.
Unfortunately, organizations sometimes struggle to achieve this level of success. Why does one organization succeed while another organization struggles?
If we compare the factors between success and failure between desktop virtualization and other technology related projects, we see that there is little difference:
• Lack of justification – Without a solid business reason, desktop virtualization is simply a new way to deliver a desktop. A business justification gives the project team a goal to strive towards.
• Lack of a methodology – Many people who try and struggle to deploy a desktop virtualization solution do so because they jump right in without understanding or implementing the appropriate
prerequisites. A structured methodology provides the path for the project.
• Lack of experience – For many who embark on a desktop virtualization project, there is a lack of experience, which creates a lack of confidence in the design. Architects begin to secondguess themselves and the project stalls.
Our hope is that this handbook can alleviate the anxiety associated with desktop virtualization by showing how challenges can be resolved in a manner that is technically sound, but also feasible and
effective for organizations facing deadlines and other organizational challenges.
Citrix Consulting has successfully employed the methodology, experience and best practices shared within this handbook across thousands of desktop virtualization projects.
The Citrix Virtual Desktop 5.x and Virtual Desktop 7.x handbooks are not the only resource to guide you through the desktop virtualization journey. Citrix also provides Project Accelerator; an interactive online tool creating customized sizing and design recommendations based on the methodology, best practices and expert advice identified within this handbook.
