28 Aug Desktop Virtualization: a bet for the future or the eternal hope?
About desktop virtualization, for years, in one form or another, it has been talked about as a model that has the potential to redefine IT in a large number of companies. It has been a few years, and, looking at the cold, “desktop virtualization” (VDI) did not have the revolutionary impact that was expected, not even in the most developed markets. But the paradigm shifts and the way technology is consumed is a new launch pad for VDI. The proliferation of mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), the BYD (Bring Your Own Device) trend and the need for centralized and easy IT administration are some of the vectors that underlie the VDI growth.
vendors. The information and details of the projects carried out in this area are very summary, and there are numerous mistakes in the market on what is and what benefits this technology can bring. That’s why eFinance magazine has set out to dedicate a wide-ranging analysis of desktop virtualization. It will include conclusions and opinions extracted from discussions with the players in this segment: technology vendors (VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, Red Hat), vendors and their partners. We will also give you an insight from a UK specialist from VMware, Chief Market Technologist, End User Computing.
The themes that we will address:
- The interest of the local market for these technologies and the adoption degree of VDI in Romania
- BYOD, vector behind VDI?
- Objectives of a VDI project
- Benefits of moving to VDI
- Obstacles to adoption
- Stages in a VDI project
- Target companies
- Existing clients in Romania and case studies
- Up-to-date technologies on this segment
Respondent: Marius Tulea, GM Crescendo
What VDI solutions do you have in your portfolio? How many implementations of VDI solutions did you run?
CRESCENDO: From our IT & C integrator position and according to the specific requirements of our customers, first of all we come with business consulting from which it will result (on a business-case basis) if VDI implementation is justified and only then the best mapping solution on the infrastructure owned by the client. Traditionally, we are certified to provide consulting, implementation and support for solutions based on Vmware, Microsoft, and Citrix technologies. Of course, due to our transferable skills from one technology to another, we have the ability to successfully implement any other VDI solution required by the customer.
From the implementation point of view, we have two implementations and some other pilot solutions, tested at the client’s premises.
What type of companies are the ones you implemented the solution: domain of activity, number of employees, number of users for whom the VDI solution was introduced, the department where the solution was introduced, the implemented solution, etc. You can talk to us about a particular case without giving details about the customer’s identity, as we know there are limitations on confidentiality.
CRESCENDO: UAn example of a company that has adopted a VDI solution comes from the public sector. Crescendo’s proposed winning solution was based on Vmware View virtualization technology and ClearCube VDI terminals that provide fiber connectivity. The implemented solution manages to solve two of the organization’s main challenges, namely information security and standardization of the desktop park.
What are the companies / institutions / target areas for VDI solutions? What type of activity does virtualization technology suit?
CRESCENDO: In terms of the size of a company, virtualization of workstations is cost-effective for medium, large and very large organizations, or for companies which have territorially dispersed employees and for whom it is difficult to provide support / maintenance from the distance. In this category, we can include the public sector, companies that have both a production and distribution component, a financial-banking sector, call centers and more. Another way of segmenting the market is given by the company’s financial strategy, namely the distribution of operating costs versus investments. For example, for organizations that have high IT operating / operational costs and are facing major downside pressure, implementing a VDI solution becomes a viable solution.
How do you perceive the interest of Romanian companies for VDI?
CRESCENDO: Like any solution that brings a new approach to how IT is “consumed”, VDI solutions drive the interest / curiosity of companies through the new possibilities they bring. It is premature to talk about a maturity of this market, but we are certainly in the stage of understanding / studying these kinds of solutions. Perhaps the most eloquent proof is the 6 VDI pilot solutions (based on both Citrix and VMware technologies) implemented in enterprise organizations.
What are the main benefits of VDI?
CRESCENDO: By adopting a VDI infrastructure model, organizations get a number of benefits, almost impossible to achieve in a classical environment, such as:
- Centralization and standardization of the desktops and applications running
- Increase information security
- Help-desk effort reduced, given by the automation of the infrastructure and implicitly increasing the satisfaction and productivity of the internal users
- Quickly integrate / accommodate new users
- Last but not least, the rapid expansion / deployment of new applications
Many vendors are talking about cost savings as they migrate to VDI, but a number of specialists emphasize that desktop virtualization is not about cost reductions, at least in the short and medium term. Where do you get the problem of cost savings in desktop virtualization, given that the Romanian market is a very cost-sensitive one?
CRESCENDO: Any investment, especially in IT & C solutions, has a CAPEX component (capital expenditures) – the cost of the investment made – and one important, OPEX (operational expenditures) – the operating / maintenance costs of the solution. Therefore, when considering the return on investment in a VDI solution versus a classic solution, both aspects need to be considered.
That’s why: CAPEX is the investment in a VDI infrastructure is substantially higher than a simple acquisition of workstations because it involves the creation of a solid IT & C infrastructure tailored to the business. From the OPEX point of view, things are changing dramatically – the constraints and the effort of administration, maintenance and support decrease substantially, and the renewal of the perimeter of the computing park is no longer necessary.
The situation differs a lot, depending on the specifics of the company and its business needs. That’s why, in order to get a correct image, we provide our clients with our knowledge and experience, along with specific ROI-based tools / tools for VDI solutions, so customers can analyze how many users the investment makes cost-effective their organization.
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