The world has changed, and so has how we work. Work is no longer defined by a specific space or location. We’re living in a world where employees expect to be able to work from anywhere. In fact, 60% of employers now agree remote work is a pre-requisite for retaining and attracting talent.
For IT and technology leaders in the business world, implementing tools for flexible and hybrid work into the corporate environment can deliver dividends. It can improve productivity and employee retention, minimize burnout, and even reduce overhead costs. However, it comes with unique challenges to consider too. Specifically, IT leaders need to figure out how to empower, align, and connect staff members wherever they are.
Fortunately, new solutions for innovative collaboration and communication are emerging, transforming the way teams access support, knowledge, and tools. Solutions like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex have emerged to help teams stay functional and productive wherever they are. DaaS (Desktop as a Service) solution providers are giving companies a way to make the most of these tools, and improve team performance.
“Public Cloud-Based Virtual Desktops (Azure is who we use for Public cloud) are newer deployment options within the DaaS marketplace. We are working with our customers and the experts across our team and industry to figure out how we best communicate and educate our customers about the benefits of deploying DaaS within a private data center, on the public cloud (Azure), or a combination of those options. Adding the capability for a managed service provider approach to a DaaS environment will play a pivotal role in supporting the new hybrid way of working and a big differentiator for Evolve IP in the DaaS marketplace.
Evolve IP’s DaaS solution offers businesses an option that aligns and combines everything that a business uses into a single, secure solution. This is a massive step in improving security, productivity, and transparency across any business – giving them space to continuously improve processes and productivity. We’re living in a very tech-driven world and it’s a saturated space, DaaS enables a business to simplify these systems and provide clarity.”
- Scott Arnold – Compute Product Manager, Evolve IP
The Evolving State of Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops and apps have been gaining significant attention over the years, as the remote and hybrid work landscape has become the new norm. These tools promise to deliver boosted employee experiences wherever employees are working. However, traditional solutions have previously depended on on-premises deployment and management tactics with limited scalability.
Supply chain issues, chip shortages, and other technology issues have prompted IT leaders to turn to the cloud in search of agility and scalability. At the same time, these business leaders are utilizing the cloud to stay flexible, in a world where in-house resources are limited.
Cloud-based technologies and “DaaS” (Desktop as a Service) solutions allow businesses to leverage the flexibility of resources in the public clouds. This flexibility when applied to cloud hosted VDI solutions, in addition to new deployment options, simplifies technology management, delivers greater agility, and provides companies with new ways to accelerate time to value.
Not only are cloud-based systems more able to adapt to the changing needs of the workforce as they continue to evolve, but they can also deliver unique benefits on-premises systems can’t provide. For instance, cloud solutions can be more secure than traditional models, thanks to the use of security settings that prevent data from ever leaving the data center, and advanced access controls. What’s more, these tools help to reduce cost and capital expenditure, and empower teams to craft their own custom VDI experience.
The Benefits of Cloud-Based Virtual Desktops for Hybrid Work
The hybrid and remote workplace of tomorrow needs to adhere to the growing demand for employees to be able to work from anywhere without compromising on productivity, security, or staff experience. Comprehensive and customizable solutions in the cloud can deliver the technology, support, management, and expertise businesses need to thrive in this new landscape.
Some of the core benefits of switching to a cloud-based VDI for hybrid work include the following:
Greater deployment flexibility
A cloud-based solution for virtual desktop software allows companies to create their own unique plan for digital transformation. Companies can choose from managed DaaS services, which allow them to access the expertise and support of an existing technology brand.
Private cloud systems are available for businesses in highly regulated environments in search of more secure, reliable, controlled environments. Plus, public cloud solutions built on ecosystems like Microsoft Azure offer companies the freedom to expand and scale their solution according to their needs.
Exceptional security and control
With the rise of remote and flexible work comes new challenges and concerns linked to the security and privacy of data. Employees logging into environments from a virtual desktop need to ensure they’re using and maintaining a secure network.
Leading virtual desktop solutions delivered in the cloud today can provide business, and IT admins with more security, privacy, and compliance features than any traditional solution. The best tools come with not just robust firewalls and DDoS prevention, but also anti-malware software technology, automatic data backups, mobile device security, and remote management and monitoring tools.
Improved employee experiences
With cloud based VDI solutions, companies can deliver exceptional employee experiences to customers wherever they are, with minimal onboarding and setup complexity. Teams can leverage new DEX (Digital Employee experience) tools in an instant and access the services they need across any device or operating system. Solutions can even be customized to suit the unique requirements of different employee personas.
Innovative vendors of DaaS solutions in the virtual desktop landscape can even empower employees to take advantage of self-service and remote support solutions when they encounter issues. At the same time, business and technology leaders and managers can leverage cloud-based portals for software updates, hardware monitoring and more. Managed DaaS even removes many day-to-day tasks from workflows, allowing IT teams to focus on more important projects.
Tailored desktop experiences
Modern Desktop as a service solutions provide businesses with the opportunities to deliver tailored workspace experiences to all end-users based on their specific needs. Not only can companies ensure employees have access to all the tools they need to remain productive, from UC systems to contact center tools, but they can also integrate their ecosystem with existing services.
For instance, brands currently leveraging Microsoft Teams can build an all-in-one environment around the Teams ecosystem, which reduces the need for additional training when preparing employees for the age of remote and hybrid work.
Exceptional scalability
Solutions delivered in the cloud can adapt and evolve at the same pace as a growing brand. With an all-in-one cloud-based ecosystem, technology leaders can adapt and upgrade their virtual environment to meet the changing work environment. Additionally, IT can onboard and offboard users easily when needed Multi-session desktops that leverage one desktop for multiple users at different times like a shift worker use case provide a financial advantage to scalability as well.
Additionally, many leading virtual desktop solution providers will provide additional support, migration assistance, and guidance to help brands make the most out of their investments. Thanks to a zero-touch environment for provisioning, it’s also easy to scale the desktop experience to users wherever they are, in all corners of the globe.
Greater visibility
With a unified environment created and managed in the cloud, companies have more freedom to track and monitor the performance of their technology. Greater visibility in the current landscape not only improves privacy, security and compliance, it also gives businesses more of the insights they need to make better decisions about technology growth going forward. DaaS technology can even offer multi-session support, allowing one seat to be used by multiple users.
A flexible cloud-based environment gives businesses more freedom to securely watch over their team members, productivity levels, and critical metrics wherever they are, ensuring a consistent experience for every user. Plus, these powerful tools empower IT teams, allowing them to reduce the number of admin tasks they tackle each day, and focus on value-added work.
Improved efficiency
A virtual desktop solution can also significantly improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace. The right toolkit can prevent IT administrators and experts from focusing all their time on admin related tasks. This gives crucial team members more time to focus on strategic initiatives.
Plus, the right tools can significantly reduce the number of vendors, platforms, and tools IT admins need to manage on a day-to-day basis.
