What is Virtual Desktop and Why Do I Need One?

Published on 29 October 2021

As the work environment evolves, Forbes estimates that by 2025 70% of the workforce will be working remotely at least 5 days a month. With this in mind, it is important to consider steps your business can take to secure your competitive advantage and keep up with business continuity. Virtual Desktops can do both

What is a Virtual Desktop?

A virtual desktop is a piece of software that imitates the desktop you would typically see on your PC. It allows you to access your desktop environment remotely from any device via an internet connection. The virtual desktop looks and feels like a physical desktop you would experience when using a PC. You would have access to all your operating systems, software, data and applications. The benefit is that regardless of what device you are using (for instance your phone) you will experience the same familiar environment and access to your data every time. All you need to do is open your browser and log in.

The Advantages of Using Virtual Desktop

Employees and Flexibility

• Virtual Desktop enhances mobility and remote access. Let your employees have access to their files, software, and applications anywhere at any time. Ideal for employees who frequently travel for work or contracted workers.
• Virtual desktops can support many different types of devices. This allows employees to choose a device they are familiar with.
• Improve business continuity. Have the ability to react promptly when sudden changes happen to your office environment.
• Increase employee productivity. Employees have the same experience whatever the device or location, keeping consistency and productivity.

Security

• Virtual desktops lower the risk of data leaks as a result of a device being lost or stolen because all your data is stored on the cloud.
• If you are following a Bring Your Own Device strategy in your business, virtual desktops prevent any data from being stored on personal devices.
• Strong security in the cloud. The cloud is one of the most secure places you can store your data. Companies, like Microsoft, invest heavily and are constantly evolving their cyber security.

Cost

• Reduce expenditure on hardware when using virtual desktops. Virtual desktops require less physical equipment, allowing you to utilise your expenditure more effectively.
• Efficient scalability, easily add new employees without the added cost of new hardware.

Centralised Management

• Your IT provider can easily manage a large number of employees, located in any location, from one place. Cutting downtime when an IT issue arises, it can be fixed remotely.
• Easily manage and monitor data access. Add or remove an employee’s access to data remotely. For instance, if you have a disgruntled employee who is threatening to leak data, you will quickly be able to limit them because all the data is in the cloud and not on their physical device.
• Your IT provider can administer software updates all at once, rather than machine by machine, saving cost and time.

Why do you need a Virtual Desktop?

Virtual desktops give your business’s IT flexibility, whilst improving your security and cutting down on costs. Keep your employee’s productivity high by giving them a familiar desktop and work environment no matter the device. Manage their access and your data from a singular location and fix any IT issues with ease remotely. Improve your cyber security by keeping all your data on the cloud rather than employee devices. Reduce expenditure by reducing the amount of hardware and devices your business uses, whilst being able to quickly scale up or down.

There are many virtual desktop systems available, so it can become overwhelming, especially when things start to get a bit more technical. At Bluebell IT Solutions we recommend Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop. Azure Virtual Desktop goes beyond traditional virtual desktop infrastructure to increase collaboration, scalability, cost and productivity. Speak to an expert today about Azure Virtual Desktop, or call us on 01908 044202.