Virtual Desktop Service

Benefits

• Enhance end-user productivity: enjoy shorter startup times and less PC downtime
• Enable better security: keep sensitive data off the desktop and in the data centre
• Improve efficiency: simplify desktop management and ongoing maintenance
• Transition smoothly to virtualisation: avoid upfront CAPEX costs; give users the same experience as with traditional Microsoft Windows desktops
  

Key features

• Rapid desktop rollout and streamlined management using a self-service portal
• Desktop image supplied by you or selected from our range of pre-packaged images
• Subscription-based service for simplified budgeting
• Underlying network, servers and hardware managed, operated and monitored by Colt
• Colt-provided second- and third-line support
• Additional onboarding and desktop management services available

Colt's Virtual Desktop Service provides a secure, cloud-based, hosted virtual desktop environment that's delivered on a subscription basis from a Colt data centre.

The service speeds up desktop rollout, simplifies maintenance and cuts down deployment and support costs. It's ideal for organisations that need to provision large teams of desk-based workers, such as contact centres or service desks; or want to reduce the resources required to manage desktop services and hardware, especially at small or remote sites – you can implement patches, updates and new versions of the image with no need for deskside visits.

Instead of installing desktop applications on local PCs, you provision virtual desktops via a portal. The virtual desktops can include standard office applications, such as Microsoft Office, and other applications your organisation uses. The service gives users the same desktop experience as a traditional Microsoft Windows desktop.

Because processing takes place in the data centre, users don't need special equipment or high-specification PCs – so you can buy lower-cost hardware or prolong the life of legacy devices.

Colt's Virtual Desktop Service also lets you improve security controls by locking down access to desktops and data – for example, you can restrict access certain drives only, or prevent copying of data to local drives or memory sticks.

Users access their virtual desktops using client software provided by us that you install on each user's PC. To connect your users to the service you need a Colt private network service, such as an IP VPN or a site-to-site internet VPN. Users can also connect to their virtual desktops via a remote connection to the corporate network.

There are two service options: 

You provide us with a gold image that includes the desktop operating system and the applications you want to make available to users. We install it on dedicated infrastructure in our data centre; and you retain ownership of the software licenses. This option lets you capitalise on the investment you've already made in developing your corporate desktop image.We provide you with a desktop image whose operating system and applications are licensed by Colt, and install it on shared infrastructure. We offer a range of pre-packaged images for you to choose from; you have the flexibility to add your own licensed software to a pre-packaged image if you wish.

We also offer a range of onboarding services to help you make a smooth transition to Colt's Virtual Desktop Service; and additional desktop management services that let you out-task activities such as patch management to us.

Service implementation

We will work with you to carry out the set-up activities that will enable your users to access the Virtual Desktop Service. Our set-up responsibilities include:

Optimising your gold image for the virtual environmentInstalling your gold image on Colt infrastructure and provisioning it as a virtual machine template that you can deploy to your users, andEstablishing the accounts and access rights that enable you to provision and administer your service through the portal.

Service management and support

We manage, operate and monitor the network, servers and storage hardware underpinning the Virtual Desktop Service. We analyse and resolve any alarms or warnings generated by our monitoring tools. We also carry out capacity monitoring and make recommendations if we identify any potential issues.

We back up the first-line support you provide to your users with second- and third-line support for nominated individuals within your organisation.

Colt works within an ITIL framework to ensure consistent processes and industry best practice.