Today’s digital workforce does not see flexibility as a luxury, but a necessity. They want to have the freedom and the choice to work from anywhere, whether it’s their home, office, or simply out on the go. Although various IT solutions have played a role in enabling this modern working model, virtualisation technologies hold a central position in allowing the digital workforce to thrive in this new working environment.
What is Virtualisation?
Virtualisation technology allows users to separate operating systems from the underlying hardware, creating a software-based (or virtual) representation of computer systems, servers, networks and applications. Organisations can then run more than one virtual system on a single server. Essentially, this means that key business resources can be virtually replicated and accessed no matter where an employee is working from.
What are your virtualisation options?
There are three key virtualisation technologies that your business should be aware of: virtual machines, remote desktops and virtual desktops. We’ll help you differentiate between them and assess their benefits.
Virtual Machines
Virtual machines (VMs) are computer resources that use software, rather than hardware, to run programs and deploy applications. Many different virtual machines can run on a physical host machine. However, each virtual machine will run its own operating system and functionality separately from the other VMs on the same host machine. This helps to save physical space, time and management costs.
Remote Desktops
Remote desktops allow users to access a physical computer’s desktop remotely, from anywhere. Remote desktops are part of Microsoft’s terminal servers. Users will establish a connection to one or more centralised terminal servers within the terminal server environment. The user’s application will then run directly on the terminal server rather than in a virtual desktop environment.
Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops rely on virtualisation software, which separates the operating systems, applications, data and processing power from a computer’s underlying hardware and makes it remotely accessible. Virtual desktops can be hosted either on-premises or in the Cloud and users can access a virtual desktop from any compatible device via the Internet.
Virtual desktops enable employees to work fully flexibly from a familiar environment – their user experience is identical to how it would be if they were operating from the office. By comparison, remote desktop users sometimes have to use terminal server desktops. Virtual desktops also allow for a high degree of personalisation as they’re made up of collections of virtual machines that can be used to serve different individuals or departments within a business.
Which virtualisation solution is right for your business?
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cutting-edge virtualisation solution that lets you work from anywhere with ease. It’s not just your run-of-the-mill system; it’s a powerhouse that brings unmatched capabilities to the table. Its combination of flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and efficient management make it a standout choice for businesses looking to optimise their operations and empower their workforce.
AVD can be dynamically scaled up or down depending on how your usage fluctuates. As it operates with a consumption-based, pay-as-you-go pricing model, cost efficiency is built right in. Additionally, managing your Azure Virtual Desktop environment is simplified by the built-in native and third-party monitoring functions. This makes issue identification and resolution far more efficient.
See How Azure Virtual Desktop Security Stacks Up
At Ortus, we have the expertise to help you strengthen the protections of your Azure Virtual Desktop environment. To discover more about Azure Virtual Desktop security, and how its features compare to legacy servers, download our free battle card today.
