Hosted desktops can help hospitals to:
- Reduce their IT costs
- Increase the security, manageability, and reliability of their IT
- Allow their employees to access their work-related files and applications from anywhere with any device
What Are Hosted Desktops?
Hosted desktops are Windows desktop operating systems that you access via the Internet.
They can be accessed from anywhere with any standard end-user device, including:
- Windows and Linux PCs and Macs
- iOS and Android tablets and smartphones
- Any brand of thin client
Hosted desktops appear and perform exactly the same as locally-installed Windows desktop OSes.
Among other things, you can use them to install and run Windows-compatible applications, store files, send and receive emails, and browse the Internet.
Each hosted desktop will be assigned to a specific user, and will retain that specific user’s applications, files, and setting even after he or she logs out.
Benefits of Hosted Desktops for Hospitals
For hospitals, the benefits of utilizing hosted desktops in general include:
1) Lower IT costs
Hosted desktops don’t require the purchase of any expensive onsite IT hardware or the hiring of any additional IT personnel. They can be accessed without any decrease in performance or reliability from low-cost, low-maintenance devices such as thin clients and old or low-end PCs without a decrease in performance or reliability.
Plus, hosting companies can provide you with hosted desktops for less than it would cost you to deploy and host virtual desktops internally, due to their specialization, economies of scale, and bulk purchasing power.
2) Increased data security
When a user accesses his or her hosted desktop, the only data that is sent from the IT hosting provider’s server to his or her device is the video and audio output of the desktop. All of the files and other data of the hosted desktop remain on the hosting company’s servers by default.
Hosting companies usually protect their servers and hosted solutions with advanced security measures such as enterprise-level firewalls, gateway antivirus, patch management, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and 24/7/365 security monitoring.
3) Easier IT management and maintenance
Your hosting provider may handle many aspects of the IT management and support of your hosted desktops for you. IronOrbit, for example, includes 24/7/365 monitoring, patch management (managed software updates), data backups, disaster recovery, and 24/7/365 technical support with all of our hosted desktops.
Hosted desktops can also make it easier to maintain your local end-user hardware, since they can be accessed from low-maintenance thin clients (or “fat clients” that serve as thin clients and are just as low-maintenance).
4) Increased reliability (less downtime)
Hosted desktops are protected from downtime and data loss with measures such as 24/7/365 monitoring and maintenance, data backups, redundant hardware, Internet, and power, environmental controls (redundant HVAC, raised flooring, hot and cold aisles, and smoke detectors and fire sprinklers), and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and diesel generators.
5) Increased accessibility
Hosted desktops can be accessed from anywhere with any device.
This allows hospital employees to access their files and applications from portable devices as they travel from room to room, not just from stationary terminals. It also allows them to access these resources from home.
Hosted Desktop: How to Sign Up
To sign up for hosted desktops, hospitals should contact an IT hosting company such as IronOrbit. The hosting company will deploy your hosted desktops for you according to your specifications, and you’ll pay the hosting company a flat monthly per-user cost for them.
To sign up for hosted desktops from IronOrbit, simply contact us at (888) 753-5060 or [email protected] today.