Virtualization has taken over as the most sought after trend in the IT space in the past few years.
A virtual desktop is an individual user's interface in a virtualized environment.
The core concept is to "move PCs to data centre" to maximize security and manageability while maintaining the current usage and convenient features of business PCs.
The virtualized desktop is stored on a Centralized server rather than locally. Virtual desktops enable enterprises to centralize their desktop infrastructure in the data centre, dramatically improving remote access while retaining workspace personality. More and more organizations are increasingly becoming more aware of their environmental footprint and are deploying virtualization as a tool to reduce power utilization and computing waste. The idea of virtual desktops and their associated business value have inspired businesses to embrace virtual tools which can be a natural extension of the virtual infrastructure.
Virtualization is a key technology for the future Enterprise Computing platform. Virtual client solutions have advantages on data security, system manageability and TCO reduction over PC environment.
Virtual desktops provide a number of benefits that make them a preferred choice over normal desktops and notebooks. Some of the merits of desktop virtualization include:
• Increased security
• Better utilization of resources
• Reduced operational and maintenance costs
• Better manageability
• Mobility and flexibility
• Low Power Consumption
• Environmentally friendly
• Realize vendor independence
The overall market for virtualization in India is emerging, desktop virtualization is emerging as one of the major technology trends in enterprises among other verticals. Virtualization adoption in India, both on the server and the end point (desktop) side has been restricted largely to the IT intensive sectors, IT/ITES, telecom, and BFSI, apart from very large enterprises. With companies moving towards cloud computing, desktop virtualization will play a major role. However, this is expected to change over the next few years.
Although, the adoption of this technology is picking pace, there are certain hurdles that are restricting its wide spread deployment.
Some of the limitations are:
• Potential security risks in case the network is not properly managed
• Not suitable for graphics intensive applications
• Driver maintenance for peripheral devices is a challenge
• Multimedia operations can get tedious and complex
• It might cause increased downtime in the event of network failures. This can be prevented by the use of HA options, but will increase the cost
• WAN deployments are challenged by technology limitation
With popularity of cloud computing, application virtualization and reduced bandwidth cost, desktop consolidation will be able to penetrate the Indian market in coming years.
