Editor's note
Before you dive straight into the desktop virtualization pool, dip your toes in and make sure it's right for your organization.
Start with a VDI assessment. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) doesn't make sense for all organizations, and your virtualization and management teams need to be up to the task. Even if everyone's ready to take the plunge, you still need to determine who will benefit from virtual desktops and figure out what resources and technology you'll need.
Your VDI assessment may indicate that you won't save money with a virtual desktop environment. The real benefits of implementing VDI technology will be simpler desktop management, less hardware and increased mobility and flexibility for end users.
Deciding whether to implement virtual desktops can be a challenge, but it will be smooth sailing if you know your goals and needs ahead of time. This VDI assessment guide can help you determine if virtual desktops are right for your organization.
1Including end users in a VDI assessment
Knowing your users is one of the best ways you can ensure the success of your VDI deployment. The technology isn't right for every user, delivering virtual desktops to workers who won't benefit from them can create very unhappy employees. Without user buy-in, your deployment can fall apart.
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Defining VDI users: Who should use virtual desktops?
Your VDI assessment should include the people who will be most affected by virtual desktops: the end users. Defining VDI users will help you determine if you need remote or mobile access, provisioned or dynamic virtual desktops and other considerations. Whether you have kiosk users, task workers or power users, identify their needs and then decide if a VDI environment is the right choice. Read Now
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Does a mobile VDI platform make sense for your users?
Some of your end users may want to use a mobile VDI platform to extend virtual desktops to tablets and smartphones. Before doing so, find out how much mobility your users will actually need in a VDI environment. Consider what apps they need to access, what your mobile device policies are and whether efficiency or convenience is most important. Read Now
2Are you ready for VDI technology?
Do a complete VDI assessment -- to understand how many desktops you'll need to support and the amount of resources that will take -- but don't marry the idea of deploying VDI. Just like it's not right for every user, it's not right for every shop.
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Assessing your IT infrastructure for desktop virtualization
A complete VDI assessment should take into account user support, memory, disk storage and more. Most importantly, you need to consider how many virtual desktops you want and how that will affect your data center resources. Once you've assessed your IT infrastructure, perform a pilot test to see how adding virtual desktops will affect your environment's performance. Read Now
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What VDI can and can't do for you
There are lots of myths about VDI technology. Some people think VDI is the be-all and end-all solution that eliminates the need for desktops. That's not necessarily true. Knowing what VDI can and can't do for you is crucial when considering a VDI environment. Read Now
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Four reasons why VDI might not be right for you
As you can see, a VDI environment may not be practical for everyone. Storage for virtual desktops gets costly and the additional server hardware needed can be expensive. Take these and other factors into consideration when you start your VDI assessment. Read Now