Hosted Virtual Desktops

Full Autonomy

Hosted Virtual Desktops allow interaction with exactly the same applications in exactly the same way as a traditional desktop, but unlike Terminal Services and some other DaaS offerings, the desktop is 100% autonomous with its own set of isolated CPU, RAM and Disk resources – so users can’t affect the performance of each other’s desktop environment.

Identical Look-and-Feel

We appreciate how important user experience is when it comes to replacing traditional PC’s with hosted desktops, and our DaaS platform delivers all the functionality users are used to. Our Partner’s HVD users enjoy a fast, persistent Windows 7 desktop that can be personalised exactly as normal. They can install whatever applications they need, store all their data securely, and access all this on virtually any device connected to the internet with no noticeable drop in performance – they can even watch YouTube on their lunch break.

Deploy any Windows Application

• Purchase applications through our on-demand catalogue. Carry across existing licenses from mainstream vendors, or bespoke, industry specific apps. Install apps on the fly, on a per desktop basis, or roll out complex client server applications

• Carry across existing in house file server. Keep and maintain existing file structure and associated permissions

User Management

• Active Directory Management – The foundation for Microsoft’s identity and access management solution, Active Directory provides central authentication and authorisation services for Windows-based services

• User Permissions Management – the IT infrastructure is kept secure and up-to-date with user permissions tools with easy to use and manage interfaces

• Group Policy Management – Group Policies provide the ability to centrally manage workstation and server configurations while streamlining administrative tasks and reducing IT costs. From a 30,000 foot view, tackle resource utilisation, shadow users, view processes/ services and taking corrective action such as rebooting or modifying live production desktops

Connecting to the Hosted Desktop

Hosted Virtual Desktops give user’s ‘go-anywhere-computing’ capability, so they can access everything they need for work – email, applications, file-sharing and collaboration on almost any device, wherever they happen to be. Simply browse to our login portal from a laptop, desktop or thin client and the hosted desktop appears as if it was running on a local machine. Users can print documents and use applications just as if the machine was under their desk.

• Minimize the effects of network latency on end users in branch offices, home offices and offshore locations
• Accelerate screen updates, images and multimedia content for an amazing user experience on different connections and devices
• Print, find local network drives plug and play, out of the box without configuration

Desktop Virtualisation Clients

• Windows XP to 7, 2003, 2008 (32 and 64 bit)
• Mac OS X 10.5.5 or later
• Linux: Ubuntu 8.04, 9.04, and 9.10; Debian 5.0 (Lenny), Fedora Core 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5.5
• Java
• Thin clients from HP, Wyse and many other manufacturers
• iPad 3.2 or later
• Zero PCs (Repurposed PCs) – 512MB RAM, 1GHz Pentium or better
• Android tablets and cell phone devices
• Ericom AccessNow for vWorkspace – HMTL5 RDP client

True Desktop from the Cloud = True Customisation and Security

Our Desktop as a Service (DaaS) platform is underpinned by enterprise-class desktop delivery technology. So instead of users logging onto a shared server, with little or no customisation potential and clear security weaknesses – we give users access to a singular, isolated virtual machine for maximum autonomy, security and performance. But what really makes our Hosted Desktops truly unique is the level of customisation and security that’s built-in to our DaaS platform:

• Install any Application - and run it locally, just like on a traditional PC
• Control on a Granular Level – User permissions, Active Directory, Group Policy
• True User Isolation – 1 user = 1 machine, meaning unparalleled levels of security and stability
• A Complete Windows 7 Experience – Users get a highly productive working environment they are familiar with

Legacy VDI versus HVDI

Legacy VDI is still the first choice for large organisations looking to deliver working desktop environments to their users. However, VDI platforms are expensive to build and complicated to manage and maintain, so it is not a technology within easy reach of SME’s and the Mid-Market. Using our economies of scale and technical expertise we are able to deliver a superior VDI solution, at an affordable price for most organisations.

• Pay Per Use – Only pay for resources consumed with flexible monthly pricing and no costly up-front setup fees.

• Highly Scalable – Add or remove Virtual Desktops on-the-fly as needed. Grow or shrink the virtual desktop estate to suit changing business requirements.

An alternative to a NAS box or office file server. A hosted file server is delivered securely from redundant data centres and provides exactly the same experience as having the file server in the office. The only difference is that it can be accessed anywhere by users depending on permission levels, and it is backed up regularly to ensure no data is lost.

Our cloud storage service integrates seamlessly with our Hosted Desktops. This way, users can access files over the internet in the form of a mapped network drive – from anywhere in the world.

Centralised

Our Shared File Storage is easily accessible through a network share that is automatically mapped to the Hosted Virtual Desktop. This presents a single, centralised storage area, accessible to all users within a Hosted Virtual Desktop environment.

Secure

All data is held in our secure data centres. In addition to comprehensive physical security measures, our networks provide fully redundant network links and equipment to provide businesses with an impressive
99.99% Service Level Agreement. All Shared Storage is backed up every 24 hours and is retained for a 14 day period.

Scalable

Our Shared File Storage solution is available in increments and can be easily upgraded or downgraded instantly using our customer Control Panel. Businesses only pay only for the services they need.