Work Remotely with a Windows Virtual Desktop solution

Virtual Desktop provides remotes access, 24/7 connectivity, and continuity. They are an absolute necessity for successful day-to-day operations. Accessing work documents and applications through ‘desktop virtualization or a hosted virtual desktop (HVD) is now the way forward as an increasing number of employees and contractors work remotely.

The HVD or Desktop as a Service (Daas) concept has been around for quite a while. In fact, the market has steadily grown at an accelerating rate with major players such as Cisco, Citrix, Dell, Ericom and Huawei transforming the way we work. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic event, social distancing measures have been implemented, forcing ‘digital transformation’ overnight. Hosted virtual desktop services are now a daily requirement for all businesses and in the new technology world, so is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Today, over one billion Windows 10 users worldwide are using devices to access their Windows Virtual Desktop. Due to unprecedented demand for a hosted virtual desktop solution, developers are quickly gaining momentum building apps for a mass global user base. The days where virtual desktops were only run out of a server ‘farm’ or third party are finally over, thanks to Azure’s virtual desktop infrastructure offering that includes simplified management, access, support and security.

How can Virtual Desktop help your business?

Hosted virtual Desktop offers more benefits for both the user and IT management with all the advantages of classic remote desktops. Here are the most four most important aspects.

• Standardized User Experience

• Accessible From Anywhere

• All Workloads are in the Cloud

• Fully Scalable as your Business Grows.

Standardized user experience

Azure not only allows for more productivity, but across the board, users have the same standardized capabilities with a clean desktop to work from. Let’s say, for example, a mechanical contractor with 15 field staff plus 10 office staff want a simple and easy way to access project applications such as Quantum Manager, Revit, Sage Estimate, Quick bid and Microsoft Project plus, the entire Microsoft Office Suite. Perhaps requirements between field and office staff vary slightly, but overall, all 25 users need access to project folders, files and work emails.

A standard profile can be assigned to each user or even a group of users based on specific requirements. This is a more streamlined and efficient way of managing access rights, as oppose to the old way of manually assigning profiles to each individual user. For the unbeknown user, access is as simple as launching the hosted virtual desktop from another computer or device. What programs gets accessed when the HVD is launched is up to management and IT to decide, which can be implemented centrally across the organization.

Accessible from anywhere

Where is the workplace? Is it in one or many places? Traditionally, the workplace is a commercial space where all staff members meet. Today, hot desks, remote offices and working from home is more common and therefore, companies are no longer constrained by the physical walls of an office. In unpredictable circumstances such as a pandemic or blackout, being able to work from anywhere and at any time allows for business continuity. With a hosted virtual desktop solution, remote access means business as usual.

All workloads are in the cloud

Windows Virtual Desktop runs in the cloud. Most architectural, engineering and construction businesses are already migrating to the cloud and virtually all use Microsoft Office 365, which is a cloud-based application. If your apps and devices are already operating in the cloud, integration between virtual desktop and work programs are seamless. Your IT team should have extensive expertise on both Windows Virtual Desktop and Azure, therefore maintaining all technical requirements and updates regularly. If you need additional resources for management and support, our highly skilled team are more than happy to help in any specific area of cloud IT specialization.

Fully scalable as your business grows

The term ‘scalable’ is commonly coined among entrepreneurs, but how does that impact IT performance in a small business? To accommodate inevitable growth as your business scales, Windows Virtual Desktop is engineered to handle expanding workloads. Faster network speeds, reliable connectivity, higher loads of file storage and better performance are all integral not just today, but as your demands increase. While it’s tempting to only think about what resources you need right now, it’s important to consider how your needs will change long-term as your business expands.

Watch this brief and simplified explanation of Windows Virtual Desktop on Azure and how a fully managed hosted virtual desktop solution in the cloud is efficient for your business:

If you have questions about setting up a cloud hosted virtual desktop, contact us now, or click to Book a Demo.