Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation Assessment

Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation Assessment

The consumerisation of IT is in full swing, thanks to the continuing uptake of the tablet and other mobile devices. The owners of these mobile devices aren’t just using them for personal pursuits. Today, employees expect to be able to access corporate information and applications from their mobile devices − and with good reason. They can be much more efficient and productive when they’re equipped with smartphones and tablets to communicate business information, wherever they may be.

While this movement is beneficial for businesses, it also brings a new level of complexity: IT leaders need to find ways to integrate mobile devices into the business while still supporting traditional desktop environments and business communications systems. They also need to develop plans to enable users to access corporate applications from both new and traditional end-user computing devices, regardless of their location. Then there’s the question of data protection and business risk – how do you strike a balance between enabling mobility and ensuring that data doesn’t get lost or fall into the wrong hands? Common questions and concerns include:

• How do I understand user application, data and mobility needs and develop a next generation desktop computing environment to address those needs? Where do I begin?

• I need to upgrade to Microsoft® Windows 7, or maybe even Microsoft® Windows 8 since Microsoft® Windows XP’s end-of-life is approaching – is this a good time to modernise my entire desktop environment to better cope with the evolving needs of my workforce and business stakeholders?

• How can I make sure my corporate data can’t be compromised, without inhibiting access to corporate information for remote workers? I need to find a way to ensure that important data is located securely in my data centre, rather than on range of mobile devices, which can easily be lost or stolen.

• How do I extend my information assets when acquiring new companies?

• Should I be considering a move to cloud computing? I could certainly benefit from its cost savings, agility and automation benefits, but I’m not sure which cloud model is right for my business.

There’s no better time to explore your alternativesMany organisations are eager to draw on the advanced desktop features available in recent releases of Microsoft software and virtualisation technologies from Microsoft, Citrix and VMware to change the way they manage and deliver access to desktop workspaces, applications and data. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for all user types and application workloads. It will take a combination of technologies (both traditional and virtualised), solutions and processes to deliver the richest computing experience to increasingly distributed and mobile workforces.

With vendors offering conflicting guidance, architectures and technology, independent advice becomes more important than ever.

“ Virtualisation will continue as the highest-impact issue challenging infrastructure and operations through 2015, changing how you manage, how and what you buy, how you deploy, how you plan and how you charge. virtualisation now drives efficient IT from all angles, including data centre design, platform updates, and application and infrastructure modernisation, as well as traditional and new delivery models, such as infrastructure utility and cloud computing…”

Philip Dawson, research vice president at Gartner

“ Gartner predicted that virtual desktops would account for 40 percent of the worldwide professional PC market by 2013.”

Gartner.

There’s no better time to explore your alternatives

Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation Assessment

CS / DDMS-0925 / 04/12 © Copyright Dimension Data 2012

Dimension Data’s Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation AssessmentOur Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation Assessment will help you to create a desktop environment that incorporates a modern, a well-managed user computing environment, incorporating various mobility, management and virtualisation technologies.

This environment may consist of any combination of traditional and virtualised desktops, where we combine multiple technology solutions for end-users’ work practices and application access needs and thereby optimise business productivity.

How it worksThe Next Generation Desktop Virtualisation Assessment combines a workshop and a series of interviews, along with automated data gathering tools to:

• Discover your application and data access needs around Microsoft® Windows®

migration, securing corporate data on the desktop and meeting the demands of a mobile workforce;

• Evaluate the potential use of virtualisation technologies to better address the application and data access needs of your workforce; and

• Develop a next generation architecture and high-level roadmap (incorporating agreed next steps) to help meet your corporate objectives.

Why Dimension Data?• There’s no substitute for experience:

we’ve successfully undertaken thousands of desktop engagements.

• Dimension Data is a leading partner with all the critical partners in the desktop management and virtualisation domains. We’re a:

– Global Citrix Systems Integrator

– Microsoft Global Alliance Partner

– Global VMware Partner

These partnerships enable us to provide you with informed, yet objective, advice on the most appropriate technologies for your particular environment.

• Dimension Data has a rich history in deploying and managing the desktop and extending it into other devices from a policy and process perspective. Over the last 10 years, we’ve deployed hundreds of thousands desktops, quickly, reliably and consistently for clients around the world.

• Dimension Data also has advanced domain knowledge of virtualisation, networking and cloud consulting, complemented by a long history of on-premise deployments. This experience means you can be confident that your virtual and physical infrastructures will be effectively implemented to match your business work practices and application access needs.

• We understand business drivers for cloud computing and therefore not only focus on your on-premise, managed desktops, laptops and end-user devices but can assist you to leverage the right cloud services at the right time, to meet both your immediate and longer-term requirements. Today this might include applications for desktops, enterprise application stores, application packaging or messaging. Tomorrow this may include hosted desktops. Whatever your need, whatever your journey, we are with you every step of the way.

As you step ahead on your virtualisation journey, it’s important to gain a thorough understanding of your user types and their specific requirements, to ensure you’re able to deliver the right applications and desktop environments to the right individuals. We believe organisations need to look beyond the desktop to understand and characterise user profiles, business application, data requirements, architectural and vendor preferences when defining a desktop strategy. Our close relationship with Microsoft, Citrix, Cisco and VMware enables us to provide you with informed – yet objective – advice.

During the engagement, our consultants will:

• Conduct a business-driven needs analysis, understanding drivers such as:

– Secure corporate data for remote workers

– Impact to business with the increased consumerisation of IT such as bring-your-own-device programmes

– Responsive to changes in workforce desktop needs

• Understand organisational scenarios and the technologies needed to support them. Scenarios typically include analysis of:

– Types of users – contractors, task-based users, mobile users

– Application response time requirements

– The number and ratio of desktops, laptops tablets, and smartphones

– Data centre infrastructure – servers, storage, hypervisors and networks

– Locations – branch office, home office, and road warriors,

• Develop architectural recommendations incorporating the optimal physical, virtual and cloud-based resources to meet your requirements.

Post-assessment, we’ll present you with a final report and executive presentation on our findings. This report will articulate our recommendations on the most appropriate way forward, including a reference architecture and project / next steps implementation roadmap.

For further information visit: www.dimensiondata.com

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