The days of stressing out because you left your big presentation on your work computer or because your hard drive crashed, losing all the work you put into that major report, are over. Thanks to IronOrbit’s desktop virtualization, you can access your desktop from anywhere, on any device. The use of virtual desktops is rapidly growing, and it is predicted that there will be an 8-10% market penetration by the year 2015. Gartner predicts that, by the year 2014, the desire of employees to use their own devices for work purposes will make it necessary for companies to support corporate applications on employee-owned computers and cellphones. When considering desktop hosting as an option for your SMB, you should familiarize yourself with some of the terms used when referencing the topic, as well as the benefits of VDI, so that you make informed decisions.
Definitions
Unless you are an IT person or are just really into technology, there may be a lot of terms you are unfamiliar with when it comes to cloud computing and desktop virtualization. Below are two important terms you should be familiar with when you consider moving your SMB to a virtual desktop.
- Desktop Virtualization– Using software to separate operating systems, applications, and other data from a physical source.
- VDI– An acronym that stands Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. It is one of the forms of desktop virtualization available. It involves “running a user desktop inside a virtual machine that lives on a server in the datacenter.” It remains centrally managed but allows for customized desktops for individual users.
Benefits
A virtual desktop provides its users with several benefits.
- Virtual desktops are cost-effective. They allow for a centralized way of managing a large number of computers: upgrades can be conducted quickly and efficiently and new computers can be installed quickly. This means businesses can focus on their customers rather than IT issues, an aspect that is especially beneficial to SMBs that don’t have an IT person on-site.
- VDIs also allow for increased mobility. Now that smart phones and tablets play a major role in daily business, it is essential that employees can access their data from multiple sources. Since desktop virtualization allows data and applications to be centrally located, users can switch back and forth between various devices.
- Virtualized desktops are extremely secure. They are generally located behind firewalls and the connected devices don’t contain any local data. They are also protected by filters that seek out viruses and other threats.
IronOrbit’s VDI
IronOrbit is proud to partner with Citrix to bring our customers hosted desktops that are both fast and secure. Citrix’s VDI-in-a-Box is a streamlined VDI. This revolutionary technology consolidates several aspects of traditional VDIs into a single appliance. At IronOrbit, we bring you all the benefits of the VDI-in-a-Box for a great price: our virtual desktops start at just $1 a day. And you can stop worrying about time; we can have your network built up in less than two hours.
When you sign up for IronOrbit’s services, you can enjoy benefits such as the ability to access and edit your documents from any device, no matter where you are; the peace of mind that your data is secure and monitored at our data centers; and the knowledge that our experts are there to help you with any possible problems that may arise, 365 days a year.