VDI News Roundup: Week of July 17

In case you didn’t have time to keep up with this week’s virtual desktop headlines, here are a few of our favorites for the week of July 17, 2017 – including some big news about Microsoft Windows licensing!

Microsoft Finally Allows Hosted Desktops on Multi-Tenant Hardware

There have been rumblings about this move but the official announcement is finally here. While Microsoft has allowed virtual Windows desktops for a while now it required that these desktops be run on client-dedicated hardware. This ran contrary to the growth of secure multi-tenancy solutions (and the benefits thereof). Microsoft is finally lightening up a bit beginning in September, reportedly because partners were asking for the change and in the spirit of allowing consumers to use Windows the way they want to.

Favorite quote:

The new regime will allow Azure and third-party hosts to run hosted Windows VMs for those whose licences include virtualization use rights. There will also be “roaming rights” so that users licensed to use Windows on one device can also access the OS from a cloudy VM on another device. This idea’s advanced as a way to let workers access Windows desktops from personal devices beyond the office.

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Travel Down the Nonpersistent or Persistent VDI Road

One of the first questions an organization has it ask itself when implementing virtual desktops is whether they need persistent or non-persistent (concurrent) desktops. This TechTarget article gives a high level review of the difference between persistent and non-persistent cloud desktops and is a good place to start if you need a general understanding.

Favorite quote:

Lastly, the choice is not as black and white as [Robert] Frost puts it in his poem. One organization may want to deploy both nonpersistent and persistent desktops. Perhaps one location, department or branch office is better suited for persistent VDI, and the others are not.

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For a more technical overview and in depth use case exploration of this topic, read Persistent vs. Concurrent Virtual Desktops.

Desktop as a Service Emerges as MSP Growth Opportunity

If you’re in the channel space, you’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about how adding a desktop as a service partner can enhance your portfolio. This Talkin’ Cloud article explores this growing opportunity and features insights from industry experts (including Dizzion’s Margie Sims).

Favorite quote:

In contrast to Google Apps and other online office suite virtual applications, its DaaS runs in a more secure, comprehensive desktop environment. For example, it gives companies real control over how data and documents are accessed, handled and saved (e.g., prohibits printing, screen captures, saving to an external drive). MSPs can offer this service, too.

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To learn more about the channel benefits of offering a desktop as a service solution read Channel Trend: Partnering with DaaS Providers.