Communication solutions have been easy to come by. VoIP flexibility and programs, like Microsoft Teams, have allowed businesses to continue communicating despite environmental changes. But security, access, and ease of use are far more significant challenges in the long-term feasibility of a remote workforce. Virtual desktops provide a simple, cost-effective solution. They let businesses offer their employees secure access to the apps they’re accustomed to on any device, in any location.

“Virtual Desktop offerings are the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to flexible working and IT management,” points out Omar Armenteros, CEO of VirtuWorks. “While communication options like Microsoft Teams and hosted VoIP PBX are incredibly useful, giving employees access to an environment they’re familiar with is an invaluable productivity boon.”

A Virtual desktop environment allows for app and desktop virtualization in the cloud, with employees able to connect via a remote desktop client or even through their web browser, whether at work or home.

According to a 2020 business survey by Analysys Mason, many SMBs were not prepared for remote work and have had to acquire new solutions to meet demand. However, now that they have, 70% say they plan to maintain flexible work scenarios after COVID-19 restrictions are eased, with 43% of small businesses and 56% of medium-sized companies saying that cloud-based IT management is a top priority.

Virtual Desktops Maintain App Access and Security

For many firms, there’s a need outside and inside of the pandemic to ensure employees have access to industry-specific applications without information leaks. One example is in the legal industry, where software like Perfect Law or PC Law can be relied on heavily.

Such solutions can be exclusive to Microsoft’s OS, but a virtual desktop with Windows 10 gives employees access to the software from any device, regardless of specs. The use of a virtual desktop at work and home gives employees flexibility, allowing them to pick up another device and continue from where they left off.

These benefits come without the security implications of installing apps locally. With a virtual desktop infrastructure, all the information employees process isn’t stored on their device – it’s in a secure cloud environment, like Azure. If that device is stolen or compromised, the data is both difficult to access and has a backup in the cloud.

Virtual Desktops Can Cut Costs and Save Time

A virtual desktop infrastructure also lets network admins efficiently manage permissions and provisioning. Microsoft’s Windows Virtual Desktop solution recently received upgrades in this regard. It presents a new interface directly in the Azure portal that allows for quick deployment, management, and user assignment while providing integrated monitoring and diagnostics. Admins can also quickly change file access permissions to react to any threats and ensure sensitive data can only be seen by the right people.

This ease of management and infrastructure management can have a considerable effect on cost reduction. With a Windows virtual desktop, much of the hardware maintenance burden is no longer on the IT department. The heavy lifting is done in the cloud, by the service provider, and other issues can be resolved quickly from any location rather than requiring travel to the premises.

The same applies to the operating system and app deployment/maintenance. Admins don’t need to install the OS and apps, or their updates, individually. They can do so virtually and quickly, with little to no impact on productivity. Combine this with much of the security burden being shifted to the cloud provider, and you can see how virtual desktops are becoming popular for all kinds of businesses.

A Managed Service Provider Makes It Even Easier

Partnering with a managed service provider like VirtuWorks brings all of the security, productivity, flexibility, and cost-saving benefits of virtual desktops while mitigating IT-related expenses further and providing predictable monthly billing. VirtuWorks’ session-based Windows Virtual Desktop offering comes in at $39.99 per user/month for current accounts. You can schedule a consultation with us or give us a call at 888.484.7881 for further details.