Boosting User and IT Productivity

through Desktop Virtualization

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution can grant or restrict network access
with more granularity, allow users more flexibility, and affordably streamline high-availability
and disaster recovery (HA and DR).
By Travis Brown

Modern desktop virtualization has evolved dramatically since

its early days when the technology simply allowed task workers
to access text-based applications. Advances in virtual desktop
infrastructure (VDI), particularly in the areas of access control and
user/device policy setting and enforcement, have enabled a range
of compelling security features along with the ability to affordably
streamline high-availability and disaster recovery.
As bandwidth and protocols have improved with each successive
generation, desktop virtualization has been able to deliver a
nearly frictionless experience complete with multimedia and local
printing. The technology has extended into use cases beyond the
basic needs of task workers and powering customer kiosks into
more comprehensive use cases and deployments.
Historically, adoption was limited to organizations where security
and compliance were a top priority. Indeed, nearly 70% of those
adopting VDI solutions between 2011 and 2013 were sectors with
strict regulatory mandates such as healthcare, financial services,

retail, and government. Today, given the growing awareness of the

threats to data security, other sectors are considering the benefits
of desktop virtualization, which inherently keeps data highly secure
within datacenters, since user files and workloads never reside on
endpoints or client devices.

Broader Business Acceptance

More recent advances in networking and desktop virtualization
protocols have made VDI solutions even more capable. Today,
businesses are using VDI to increase employee productivity,
enable mobility, and facilitate device flexibility that users
increasingly feel is not only a boon but a right.

Increased productivity
for users and IT
According to a 2104 IDC survey, 138
IT managers reported their primary
motivation for VDI adoption was
simplifying desktop management.
Other important factors included
enhancing security, enabling flexibility
and achieving cost savings. Our end-toend VDI solutions leveraging integrated
appliances or traditional enterprise
solution stacks make this possible.
Simplicity: Desktop virtualization
decouples data from its historic devicecentric paradigm. This allows users to
access apps and enterprise workloads
from nearly any fixed or mobile device,
including tablets, thin/zero clients, PCs
and laptops.
In this modern era of smart devices
and flexible schedules, users demand
the ability to shift workspaces between
work, home, and wherever they can get
a decent wi-fi signal. They want to be
able to log in from any device and access
applications and data from anywhere.

Daughters of Charity Health System

(Healthcare US)
Benefit: Clinicians can spend more
time with patients
each employee has a dedicated
virtual desktop that runs independently
of end devices. Justin Johnson,
network design senior advisor at
DCHS, says, What sets our Dell Wyse
VDI solution apart is its integration with
Imprivata OneSign, because it allows
us to provide users with one-click
access to a virtual desktop that runs
in the Dell Cloud. Employees can tap
their badge on a scanner and within
8 to 10 seconds, they have their
virtual desktop presented to them
anywhere in the hospital and it
appears just as it did when they left
the previous location.

For example, the ability to access

targeted workspaces from almost
anywhere, and from almost any device,
has enabled productivity gains in medical
environments. Session persistence adds
flexibility because it allows instant access
from a range of endpoints allowing
doctors to move more quickly between
patient exam rooms.
Our cloud client-computing architectures
and endpoints limit downtime and
increase productivity in non-medical
environments as well. Users are not
slowed down by break/fix issues at the
edge since data is stored, saved, and
backed-up in the data center; facilitating
high availability. With faster boot times and
less downtime, virtual desktops improve
productivity.
Desktops can be provisioned within
minutes by simply reassigning a master
image, which is especially helpful after an
endpoint failure.

AeroMexico (Transportation LATAM)

Benefit: Delivers fast access to
business tools when and where staff
need them
Employees communicate and
collaborate anytime, anywhere,
with a unified communication and
collaboration solution that provides
telephony, email and web portals
via Microsoft Lync 2013, Exchange
Server 2013 and SharePoint Server
2013. Ramon Sanchez Ortega, IT
infrastructure manager at AeroMxico
Delta TechOps, says, Communication
and mobility are very important.
With our Dell and Microsoft solution,
our users stay connected and
communicate whether theyre at their
desk or on the go.

This centralized management also

accelerates upgrades, patches, installation,
and other maintenance to be performed
quickly at any point during the workday
without affecting productivity. This is
completed without user intervention or
interruption.
Previously, the regular upgrade and
patching cycle often led to downtime
as users were required to sit idle as
their software was patched or as they
conducted their own irregularly scheduled
backups. Still others were sidelined waiting
for IT support.
Going forward, users no longer have to
stop working during updates, or waste
time on IT housekeeping tasks that slow
productivity. All enhancements can be
done quickly and centrally. This is a win
for IT professionals as they no longer have
to physically maintain devices and can be
redirected toward more strategic projects.

Desktop virtualization allows enterprises

to provision a smaller range of virtual
desktops to their users, reducing
the need to configure a spectrum of
desktops for each employee. Master
versions of specific departmental virtual
desktops can be created to accelerate
provisioning, departmental mergers, or
employee onboarding. The use of master
images helps companies grant access
to applications or data to new hires or
contractors using just a few mouse clicks.

Arvato (Outsourcing services

EMEA / France)
Benefit: Happier customers because
staff gain quick and easy access to
each customer environment
Its easier to retain our best staff since
we moved to our virtualized desktop.
Clients are happy because data is just
as secure, and personnel are happy
because they can work from home.
User satisfaction with our Dell Wyse
solution is extremely high.

Gerald Eve (Professional Services)

We have gone from having to manage
300 plus PCs to five desktop images,
making a huge saving in time and
energy that we can devote elsewhere.
Previously we had to worry about regular
software patches. Now when we need to
introduce applications or services for our
end users, the roll out simply involves
adding a new short cut on the desktop.

Flexibilty: Greater flexibility in accessing

critical data and applications from many
devices and from nearly any location
leads to employees that are happier, more
productive and efficient.
Since the desktop experience is delivered
through a more manageable platform,
the wired-mobile professional, connected
consultant, part-time telecommuter and
remote based employees can increase
their productivity. This capability could
further empower crucial client-facing
roles such as customer service.
Desktop virtualization delivers a higher
level of control to both the individual,
mobile worker and broader IT department.
Security: With desktop virtualization,
access to corporate apps and data can
be protected and managed from one
location. This allows IT to achieve a
higher level of security and identify and
mitigate potential gaps. Companies can
promote a higher level of security hygiene,
reining in use of third-party data lockers
among employees, so that data is better
protected.

Security issues impacting one virtual

machine can be contained before
proliferating to others. Additionally, the
technology allows IT managers to be more
effective in protecting endpoints from
viruses. Virus updates can be pushed out
to all users simply by updating a single
master (gold) image, without having to
physically go to each individual PC.
Thin clients specifically offer a more
resilient environment against viruses.
Rebooting a thin client returns it to its
original state, thereby eliminating any
potential threat. Additionally, Wyse thin
and zero clients from Dell, running
the Wyse ThinOS are virus and
malware immune since they have
zero attack surface.

Israel Electric Corp (Utilities /EMEA)

Benefit: Employees boost productivity
with less disruption
Because the endpoints dont store
data, desktop security is tighter.
Shai Levy, Head of VDI project at Israeli
Electric Corp says: We had hundreds
of security alerts with our PCs each day,
but now we get maybe eight a month,
maximum.

First Choice Emergency Room

(Healthcare / US)
Benefit: Security
We have really narrowed the
scope of our security footprint
and increased our redundancy by
deploying the Dell Wyse thin clients
and the Dell SonicWALL appliances,
and by virtualizing our environment
with VMware. Now, our securitysensitive data is all housed in our
new data center, rather than in each
ER facility. Dave Duclos, Senior
Director of Technology, First Choice
Emergency Room

Cost savings: These benefits accrue to

your bottom line, in the form of reduced
costs. The bulk of desktop virtualization
savings come from reduced OpEx
spending over time, but there are often
CapEx benefits that can be captured as
well. This is especially true with institutions
with multiple remote sites. Since virtual
desktops can be remediated and updated
from the data center, engineering teams
do not need to be onsite for break/fix or
modernization. CapEx savings are derived
from significantly extending the legacy
endpoint refresh cycle. Additionally, Dells
cloud client-computing appliances come
at a reasonable cost of entry for pilots or
proof-of-concept deployment.
Thin and zero clients have no moving
parts, extending mean time to failure to
an average of 30 years. The minimal I/O
requirements tied to processing KBD
inputs of thin and zero clients also help
keep onboard processor and memory
needs consistent.
Desktop virtualization allows for a more
flexible choice of hardware, providing
more secure thin/zero clients which are
typically less expensive than legacy PCs.
This translates to a thin or zero client
refresh interval of 5-7 years versus a 3-5
year refresh interval of a traditional PC.
Finally, because the software licensing
requirements are smaller, desktop
virtualization allows for more streamlined
management of software licenses. IT can
track and pay for those licenses being
consumed by specific users vs. purchasing
a block of endpoint software licenses
which ultimately may not be used.

Banco De Brasilia (Finance / LATAM)

Benefit: Reduced operational
expenses by $60,000 a month, cut
energy use by 98 percent
After a 16-month payback, were
now realizing approximately $60,000
a month in operational savings with
Dells cloud client-computing model
and the Wyse thin clients.

China Power Complete (APJ / China)

Benefit: Virtualized platform delivers
80 percent consolidation
Implementing the desktop
virtualization platform has meant our
desktop terminal acquisition costs
have reduced by 70 percent, and
IT maintenance staff have tripled
their efficiency. We can reallocate
resources towards continued
technology innovation rather than
support and maintenance.

For additional information about the vWorkspace virtualization software and the
reference architecture for Wyse Datacenter for Microsoft VDI and vWorkspace,
visit www.dell.com/wyse/vWorkspace or contact us.

Dell is the global leader in Cloud Client-Computing. The Wyse portfolio includes industryleading thin, zero and cloud PC client solutions with advanced management, desktop
virtualization and cloud software supporting desktops, laptops and next generation mobile
devices. Wyse has shipped more than 20 million units and has over 200 million people
interacting with their products each day, enabling the leading private, public, hybrid and
government cloud implementations worldwide. Dell partners with industry-leading IT
vendors, including Cisco, Citrix, IBM, Microsoft, and VMware as well as globallyrecognized distribution and service partners.
For more info, please visit www.dell.com/wyse

Travis Brown
Dell Cloud Client-Computing Sr. Product Manager
Travis Brown is a senior product manager at Dell, specializing in desktop virtualization.
He has been in the virtualization delivery industry for 12 years and regularly speaks to
customers about client virtualization projects in Dells Executive Briefing Center, in one
to one conversation with enterprise customers, and at industry trade shows.

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