Today it feels like everyone’s talking about virtual desktops but are they really that great and should you care? Well if their benefits are anything to go by then the answer is a resounding yes! Here we’ll talk you through how virtual desktops work and why if your IT provider is suggesting it as a solution for your business, you should sit up and take note.

What is a Virtual Desktop and how does it Work?

To put it simply, a virtual desktop is basically a virtual version of your desktop environment that exists in ‘the cloud.’ Rather than having your desktop environment, which is made up of icons, wallpaper, windows, folders, toolbars and widgets stored on a local PC or other computing device, with virtualisation, it will be stored remotely on another company’s server and accessed via the internet.

The remote server than runs and supports virtual desktops, will use software to create what’s known as a ‘virtual machine.’ This will simulate your desktop environment and features so you won’t even tell the difference. The advantage is that by using a virtual desktop solution, you will be able to access it over the internet, from anywhere, using any device.

Why should you care about Virtual Desktops?

As outlined above, desktop virtualisation provides users with on-demand desktops that they can access anywhere, at any time, using any device. This means that employees can access their desktop whether they are in the office on their PC, at home on their tablet or even on the go, using their smartphone. Being able to easily access a virtualised desktop allows for greater flexibility in terms of working environments and promotes increased productivity.

The fact that their employees can access their virtual desktop infrastructure from any location means that businesses have the option to allow their staff to work from home. This can be particularly beneficial if members of staff have young children or if you are experiencing poor weather conditions in the winter. Allowing staff to work from home is likely to result in a boost in morale and lead to much higher levels of productivity.

However, improved access and flexibility aren’t the only benefits of virtual desktops, if you are looking to lower your support costs and improve efficiency, then you should definitely take note of the next point.  From an IT perspective, using virtual desktops can greatly reduce the time it takes to set up new desktops for new members of staff. Not only that but they also lower the amount of desktop management required and can help you keep your support costs to a minimum.

Since your virtual desktop and its capabilities will be centrally managed, stored and secured by a professional company, you don’t have to worry about hiring IT staff to install software, update applications and scan for viruses on employees’ PCs, which will save you a significant amount of money. You can also benefit from improved security, as you won’t have to worry about your employees storing confidential information on their personal devices, as everything will be stored and backed up remotely.

A final reason why you should care about virtual desktops is that they facilitate a greener way of working. By allowing the use of thin clients, virtual desktops decrease the amount of energy you are using and therefore reduce your carbon footprint.

Conclusion

So whilst you may be fed up hearing about virtual desktops, there are plenty of reasons why people can’t stop talking about them. Now you know why they’re so beneficial, you may even want to consider using virtualization to improve your business.